Media's Influence On Body Image

Body image has become one of the most important factors in people’s lives. It is the way one sees themselves and how they imagine another pictures them. Body image includes people’s imagination, physical appearances, their emotions and perception. Media has been able to influence body image daily, according to NEDA “Over 80% of Americans watch television daily. On average, these people watch over three hours per day.” Television is just one of the few influences; media goes as far as advertisements and even toys. Media causes body image pressures that guide men and women to have false ideal body images which cause low self-esteem and eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. One source of media that causes body image pressures are advertisements.