- Skinny Models In Ads Cause Immediate
Anger, Depression In Women
-
- Magazine ads featuring female fashion
models have an immediate negative impact on a woman's self-esteem, according
to a University of Toronto study published in the International Journal
of Eating Disorders.
-
- Led by Dr. Leora Pinhas, researchers
asked 118 female university students about their mood, body satisfaction
and eating patterns. One week later, the women were asked the same questions
immediately after viewing a series of ads, with half of the women being
exposed to ads from popular women's magazines while the others looked at
images which contained no pictures of people.
-
- "The experimental group responded
immediately with depression and hostility after viewing the "ideal
women" shown in these ads," says Pinhas, a lecturer in U of T's
department of psychiatry. "And this was only after viewing 20 pictures.
Think about how many hundreds of photos are in some of these fashion and
lifestyle magazines, not to mention billboards, television and movies."
-
- Pinhas says Western culture needs to
rethink how it portrays the female body so more women can feel comfortable
about themselves and not be pushed towards eating disorders. "I know
I'd be hard pressed to find a young woman who felt good about her body,
never dieted and ate normally."
-
- Pinhas is also director of the Eating
Disorders Treatment Program at York County Hospital.
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- CONTACT: Steven de Sousa U of T Public
Affairs (416) 978-5949 e-mail: steven.desousa@utoronto.ca Note: This story
has been adapted from a news release issued by University Of Toronto
for journalists and other members of the public. If you wish to quote from
any part of this story, please credit University Of Toronto as the original
source. You may also wish to include the following link in any citation:
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/04/990427133817.htmhttp://www.scien
cedaily.com/releases/1999/04/990427133817.htm
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