Media’s impact on body image

Adolescents are the most vulnerable for falling for Media’s idea of beauty. In the adolescent years boys have more confidence than girls. Girls go through puberty before boys, and have a hard time seeing the changes to their bodies. They turn to media to see what puberty should bring. When they don’t look like the girls on the screen or the magazines they go to extremes to do so because of the low self- confidence they develop from going through puberty and having their bodies change.  

“The National Eating Disorders Association reports that one in every 3.8 televisions commercials conveys an “attractiveness message,” telling viewers what is considered attractive. These messages convey the idea that extreme thinness is much more attractive and desirable than a normal, healthy weight. The typical American teen sees more than 5,260 of these “attractiveness messages” every year. You can see why there would be a connection between eating disorders and body image.” These “attractiveness messages” are false advertising. The people in the commercials, magazines, and social media are re-touched and edited. Adolescents are going to extremes, such as starving themselves or bingeing to look like the impossible “body goals” that media displays.