Today, MEP Nessa Childers is hosting meeting in Dublin to propose that airbrushed photo’s used by magazines and other media be labelled as such, so that people are aware that they aren’t real.
This idea is a practical approach to a major problem that effects all age groups, not surprising given that Childers worked as a psychotherapist for 25 years before entering politics.
Society’s obsession with it’s physical image has increased as the years roll on; so much so that “selfie” is 2013’s word of the year as determined by the editors of Oxford dictionary.
While an interest in ones physical appearance isn’t unhealthy, obsession isn’t. The cause of eating disorders cannot solely be blamed on famous celebrities and glossy magazines; an eating disorder is a complex disease that is usually rooted in issues around control. A person in the throes of an eating disorder can feel that while other aspects of their life are spinning out of control, their food intake is something they can control.
A picture that has been digitally enhanced. Photo: nextnature.net
Emotional distress, trauma and self-esteem issues can all contribute to the development of an eating disorder. But while the blame can’t be solely blamed on our self-obsessed society, it plays an extremely negative role.
The banishment of fashion magazines showing pristine perfect models wouldn’t banish eating disorders. To believe so is to show a lack of understanding of the disease. But the portrayal of unhealthy body weight by magazine editors and fashion designers alike has made woman worldwide feel inadequate. Young men and women, looking at the media that surrounds them everyday – from billboards to newspapers, TV shows and social media – constantly tells them in a not so subtle way that there abnormal.
A video showing the dramatic changes Photoshop can make went viral. Photo: webpronews.com
A size zero accompanied by a blemish-free complexion, lustrous hair, cutting-edge outfits makes many feel as is they are failing because their image doesn’t match up to the one portrayed. The funny thing is, neither does the real image of the model in the photo. The prominence of airbrushing has increased in the last decade, as if it wasn’t already traumatizing enough to compare yourself to the most beautiful stars and starlets in Hollywood, we’re now forced to do so when they have been computer enhanced to a level beyond perfection.
The rise of the selfie alone shows what weight we put in a person physical attributes. Young teenagers, taking cue from a host of celebrities, take photographs of themselves with enough make-up, hair extensions and fake eyelashes to make a drag queen blush. But for many, that still isn’t sufficient, they’ll use Instagram filters to make their photos flawless. The process is completed when photos are uploaded to social media – where there self-worth is determined by the amount of “likes” a photo gets.
The horror that this message is sending – that acceptance and appreciation by your peers is determined first and foremost on your physical appearance?
While eating disorders and body issues are not solved by a simple, magic solution – a simple act of labeling unreal images for what they are can go a long way to helping us all stop comparing ourselves unfairly.
If you’re concerned about some of the issues raised in this article, the following supports are available:
BodyWhys: The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland
ReachOut.com: An dedicated online youth mental health service
WhatToKnowNow 
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