![]() Over time the cultural ideal for women’s body size and shape has become considerably thinner and leaner and men’s body size and shape has become stronger and more muscular. Studies have reported a significant change in the weight and size of female and male models portrayed throughout the media in western society and the concept of the ‘perfect or ideal body’ ( 8– 10). Over the past 20 years, several articles have proposed a link between the thin female beauty ideal and the muscular male body ideal portrayed in the media with a range of psychological symptomatology including body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. Staggering statistics reveal that, on average, a child or adolescent watches up to 5 h of television per day ( 7) and spends an average of 6 to 7 h viewing the various media combined ( 6). Today’s children and adolescents grow up in a world flooded with the mass media (television, films, videos, billboards, magazines, movies, music, newspapers, fashion designers and the Internet) ( 6, 7). ![]() In addition, we examine how media content might be attended to and positively incorporated into the lives of children and adolescents. This paper reviews some of the evidence regarding the influence of the media on the development of an adolescent’s self-perception, body image, weight concerns and weight control practices. Many researchers have hypothesized that the media may play a central role in creating and intensifying the phenomenon of body dissatisfaction and consequently, may be partly responsible for the increase in the prevalence of eating disorders. These behaviours have been suggested as possible risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Little is known about how these body image- and weight-related concerns arise. Today, more than ever, adolescents are prone to concerns about their weight, shape, size and body image, and as a result, diet to lose weight ( 2– 5). ![]() Approximately 1% to 5% of adolescent girls meet the criteria for bulimia nervosa ( 1). ![]() The reported prevalence rate for anorexia nervosa is 0.48% among girls 15 to 19 years old. Epidemiological studies have suggested that the incidence of eating disorders among adolescent girls has increased over the last 50 years. ![]()
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