Sizing Up The Media: Decoding the Messages Presented by: Leta Marchand BSW, RSW Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association Windsor, ON

Statistics on Eating Disorders 1 in 5 women will suffer from an eating disorder 1 in 5 women will suffer from an eating disorder Young men represent about 10% of individuals with eating disorders Young men represent about 10% of individuals with eating disorders 70% of women and 35% of men are dieting at any given time 70% of women and 35% of men are dieting at any given time 98% of all diets fail and not for lack of will- power 98% of all diets fail and not for lack of will- power Canadian children in grades 3 & 4 say they’d rather lose a parent, get cancer or live through a nuclear war than be fat Canadian children in grades 3 & 4 say they’d rather lose a parent, get cancer or live through a nuclear war than be fat In one study of 500 schoolgirls, 81% of 10 year olds reported they had dieted at least once In one study of 500 schoolgirls, 81% of 10 year olds reported they had dieted at least once

Dying to Be Thin and Our Fear of Fat What stereotypes and thoughts surround the following words: What stereotypes and thoughts surround the following words: THIN THIN FAT FAT

Impact the media has on all of us: Average person sees ads per day, that’s 50 million ads by the age of 60 years. 1 out of 11 commercials has a direct message about beauty Average person sees ads per day, that’s 50 million ads by the age of 60 years. 1 out of 11 commercials has a direct message about beauty 1990’s showed that Americans spent $50 billion annually on diet products. This exceeds the projections for the entire federal Education, Training, Employment and Social Services budgets by five to ten billion dollars. 1990’s showed that Americans spent $50 billion annually on diet products. This exceeds the projections for the entire federal Education, Training, Employment and Social Services budgets by five to ten billion dollars.

Impact the media has on all of us: dieters reporting the cost to be $180 per pound." Fraser, L. (1997), Losing It: American’s Obsession With Weight and the Industry That Feeds On it. New York: Dutton. dieters reporting the cost to be $180 per pound." Fraser, L. (1997), Losing It: American’s Obsession With Weight and the Industry That Feeds On it. New York: Dutton. Thinness not only represents attractiveness but also symbolizes success, self-control, and higher SES Thinness not only represents attractiveness but also symbolizes success, self-control, and higher SES

Plastic Surgery Statistics Nearly 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2006 Since 1997 the overall number of cosmetic procedures has increased 446 percent Since 1997 the overall number of cosmetic procedures has increased 446 percent Breast Implants are up 18 percent from 2005 Breast Implants are up 18 percent from 2005 Since 1997, surgical procedures increased 123 percent, while nonsurgical procedures have increased 749 percent Since 1997, surgical procedures increased 123 percent, while nonsurgical procedures have increased 749 percent

…..Continued Americans spent just under $12.2 billion on cosmetic procedures; $7.6 billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.5 billion was for nonsurgical procedures Americans spent just under $12.2 billion on cosmetic procedures; $7.6 billion was for surgical procedures, and $4.5 billion was for nonsurgical procedures COURTESY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY (ASAPS) COURTESY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY (ASAPS)

PORTION DISTORTION IN OUR SOCIETY

Steve Erhardt The obsession to become a real life Ken doll. Over 30 Plastic Surgery's! Sarah Burge-”I'm the human Barbie doll” This was actually her 26th operation. Before she decided she wasn't happy with her bum, this 46- year-old mother of three had 'corrected' almost every other part of her body.

Health-related costs of violence against women in Canada exceed $1.5 billion a year

Three basic techniques are used to establish superiority or power: size, attention and positioning. People in charge of their own lives typically stand up straight, alert and ready to meet the world. In contrast, the bending of the body conveys unpreparedness and submissiveness (Goffman, 1976) Three basic techniques are used to establish superiority or power: size, attention and positioning. People in charge of their own lives typically stand up straight, alert and ready to meet the world. In contrast, the bending of the body conveys unpreparedness and submissiveness (Goffman, 1976) A Quote from Goffman

Activity: Critique the following images: 1

Question the motives of the advertisers and the fashion industry! Advertising Standards Canada Advertising Standards Canada 350 Bloor St. E. 350 Bloor St. E. Toronto, Ont. M4W 1H5 Toronto, Ont. M4W 1H Newspapers and Magazines Newspapers and Magazines Publishers and Editors names listed in the masthead (first few pages) Publishers and Editors names listed in the masthead (first few pages) Media Advocacy Groups: Media Advocacy Groups:

5 Ways to LOVE your Body Stop criticizing yourself and holding yourself to unrealistic ideals. Stop criticizing yourself and holding yourself to unrealistic ideals. Learn difference between what you can change and what you must learn to accept. Learn difference between what you can change and what you must learn to accept. Throw away the scales. Throw away the scales. Fight back against socially defined ideals. Fight back against socially defined ideals. Practice self-acceptance through self-talk. Practice self-acceptance through self-talk.