How Does Media Affect Body Image

Do you wake up earlier than you should to look “presentable” to society? Does the media affect your perspective on yourself and others? Media can take a huge toll on society and vice-versa. It perceives the way we view people and things. Media often puts an image in people’s head of how something “should” look, leading to many internal and external conflicts with people of all different ages. Studies and statistics show that the media does affect body image in young women and the way we socialize today. People will often get their information and news from some sort of social or mass media, without even knowing facts. The media takes a huge strike on society negatively in today's society. What is Media? Media is the means of communication things like, radio,television, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. They reach and influence people worldwide. Media is commonly used today to keep people updated on what is occurring in the world, or simply just for entertainment. Some form of media is used by almost all of the population. There is a large …show more content…
It causes health problems, normally more common within teens. “In a survey of girls 9 and 10 years old, 40% have tried to lose weight, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute .” (Teen Health and the Media, National Institute on Media and the Family) This is a clear example of how the media affects body image, causing health problems, such as unhealthy weight loss. Media does this by making appearances such an important factor in what defines you. “In movies, television shows and the accompanying commercials, women's and girls' appearance is frequently commented on: 58 percent of female characters in movies had comments made about their looks, as did 28 percent in television shows and 26 percent of the female models in the accompanying commercials.” (Teen Health and the Media, National Institute on Media and the