The Media's Negative Influence On Weight Loss

Unrealistic images in the mass media may promote disordered eating behaviors in children and adults. A child or adolescent spends about six or seven hours viewing various media, according to a 2002 study published by J.D. Brown and E.M. Witherspoon in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Because media is so pervasive in children's lives, psychological effects and behavioral effects of media viewing have been investigated and will continue to be studied.

Background

Eating disorders are mental illnesses in which a person has a distorted self-perception and excessive concern about weight or shape. Disordered eating habits occur when a person uses unhealthy behaviors in an effort to lose or maintain weight. Disordered eating does not in all cases meet criteria for an eating disorder, though. An estimated 0.6 percent of the adult population in the United States will suffer from anorexia in their lifetime, states a 2007 study published by James I. Hudson and colleagues in Biological Psychiatry. About one percent will suffer from bulimia, and 2.8 percent will have a binge eating disorder.

Youth

Among fifth through 12th grade girls, 69 percent report that magazine pictures influence their perception of the ideal shape, and 47 percent report wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures, according to a 1999 study published by Alison E. Field and colleagues in Pediatrics. Both girls and boys who report wanting to look like same-sex figures in the media are more likely to report being very concerned with their weight, notes a 2001 study published by Alison E. Field in Pediatrics.

Adults

Most young women report higher weight concern when exposed to media images, but women with low initial body dissatisfaction do not, found a 1998 study published by Heidi D. Posavac and colleagues in the journal Sex Roles. Among women, the viewing of thinness-depicting and thinness-promoting media predicts disordered eating, drive for thinness and body dissatisfaction, according to a 1997 study published by Kristen Harrison and Joanne Cantor in the Journal of Communication.

Behaviors

Fifth through 12th grade girls who read magazines are more likely to report having dieted or exercised to lose weight, found the 1999 Pediatrics study. Trying to look like females on television, in movies or in magazines increases risk of purging to lose weight among girls ages 9 to 14, reports a 1999 study published by Alison E. Field and colleagues in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Prevention/Solution

Physicians should regularly inquire about media viewing to ascertain risk for disordered eating behaviors. Health care providers, parents, teachers, school officials and other professionals should become aware of the impact of the media. Interventions might include health communication campaigns, entertainment education, media advocacy and media literacy training. Media literacy is the ability to view mass media critically.