How Does Media Affect Body Image?

By Lily M. Bowles, M.S.

You can’t turn on the TV or open a magazine or browser window without coming across a highly stylized, edited, and unrealistic representation of beauty. Most media present a fictional, unattainable image of what "ideal" beauty is and typically that beauty is exceedingly thin and seemingly perfect. We internalize what we see around us, and the constant barrage of these kinds of idealistic images can have very real and very negative effects on our self-esteem, sense of self-worth, and our overall mental health. The constant comparison between our own real and imperfect bodies and those depicted in the media can also profoundly affect our body image. Body image is the perception of our physical selves and the thoughts and feelings that relate to that perception. Here, we’ll examine the relationship between what we see in the media and our body image and mental health. We’ll discuss how and why images in the media can be so damaging and ways to work to combat this phenomenon.  

 Our thoughts, feelings, and attitudes about our bodies are not just a result of what we see in the mirror. They're also shaped by what we see around us and societal norms of beauty in general. Media has long been using tricks like lighting and precise angles to makes models seem more beautiful and thinner and perfect than they really are. The advent of photoshop only added to the ability of advertisers to propagate these unrealistic images. It's no wonder then that when comparing our own very real and sometimes dimply, round, or blemished bodies to these impractical images that we can come away feeling less attractive. The problem is that these images we see in the media are not representative of how real people look. They are purposely deceptive, often with the ulterior motive of encouraging you to associate their unrealistic beauty depiction with some product or service they are trying to sell you. The average model is a size 0, 2, or 4, whereas the average woman is a size 10 or 12. This disparity is intentional and problematic. 

In addition to just making you feel "less than," these unrealistic portrayals can seriously negatively alter one’s body image. Body image directly relates to our mental health in several ways. People with negative body image have a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder and are more likely to suffer from feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, low self-esteem, and obsessions with weight loss. This phenomenon is not isolated to young girls. While it is true that adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to these kinds of influences, we all internalize media and can have it negatively impact our sense of self. Men and boys are also affected by unrealistic portrayals in the media and can find themselves comparing themselves to others in terms of fitness, physique, or slenderness, among other characteristics.

We know that body image is both a result of the actual image we see and the internalization of that image, which are sometimes different. Proponents of the social comparison theory speculate that people rely on external models on which to form their own self-perceptions. That suggests that what you feel about your own body is as much about you as it is about those around you. While you can't do all that much about those that surround you in real life, you can make conscious decisions about the kind of bodies and the type of beauty you encounter in media. Making decisions to tune out or avoid unrealistic perceptions of beauty like those in reality or celebrity TV or advertisements and to include more body positive and unedited images of real people in the media you consume can help to shift your external model to more realistically depict the way other people actually look. 

In addition to trying to alter the kinds of media you consume, you may find that limiting media, in general, is helpful when possible. When you find yourself comparing your body to someone else, try to turn it off or tune it out. Some people may find it helpful to reframe the narrative and remind themselves that what they are seeing is not original life, and it is not representative. Keeping that perspective is essential. Try positive self talk to counteract any negative thoughts you have about your body. Incorporating more body positive and realistic media in your life can help with this as well. Lastly, vote with your dollar and your attention. Recognize when brands or shows are depicting unrealistic beauty standards and don't buy those products or watch those shows. Take note when brands or companies are showing real and representative beauty in their media and support it! You can also voice your opposition to unrealistic and unrepresentative media when you come across it. There is a significant shift to be more inclusive and real in ads lately, and while it certainly won't change overnight, it is refreshing and important.

Even with an influx of real beauty portrayed in media, it is unlikely that the media will stop the unrealistic portrayal of beauty in our lifetimes. In fact, with ever-increasing engagement on screens and new ways to advertise, we're likely to come across more images of unrealistic beauty each day than at any other time in human history. While we can take certain steps to limit this exposure, the most important steps we can take are within ourselves. Striving to accept our bodies exactly as they are and to love them and see them as beautiful for all that they do for us is a goal we can all work towards.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

• Body Image & Eating Disorders. (2018, February 19). from National Eating Disorders Association website: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-eating-disorders

• Eyal, K., & Te’eni-Harari, T. (2013). Explaining the relationship between media exposure and early adolescents’ body image perceptions: The role of favorite characters. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications, 25(3), 129–141. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000094

• Grabe, S., Ward, L. M., & Hyde, J. S. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin, 134(3), 460–476. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460

• How the Media Affects Body Image. (n.d.). from https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-the-media-affects-body-image/

• Media Exposure and the “Perfect” Body. (n.d.). from Psychology Today website: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/media-spotlight/201311/media-exposure-and-the-perfect-body

• read, W. P. L. updated: 8 J. 2018 (2016, June 17). How the Media Affects Body Image. from //psychcentral.com/blog/how-the-media-affects-body-image/

• The Media and Body Image. (n.d.). from https://www.mirror-mirror.org/the-media-and-body-image.htm

• Thompson, J. K., & Heinberg, L. J. (1999). The Media’s Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders: We’ve Reviled Them, Now Can We Rehabilitate Them? Journal of Social Issues, 55(2), 339–353. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00119