Women Are Dying To Be Thin: Are The Fashion Industry And Media To Blame?

WOMEN ARE DYING TO BE THIN ARE THE FASHION INDUSTRY AN D MEDIA TO BLAME? MANNEQUINS An Accurate Representation An Increasing Disparity 1950's: Mannequins were fashioned to mimic the average measurements of women. The average hip measure- 1990's: By 1990, the average hip measurement had grown to 37 inches, while the average mannequin's hip measured had shrunk to 31 inches. ment of mannequins and women were both 34 inches. 1950 1999 34 Inches 31 Inches MODELS SIZE 12 6 |40lbs 117lbs SIZE 12 6 The average U.S. woman is 5'4" and weighs 140 pounds, whereas the average U.S. model is 5'|l" and weighs 117 pounds. Most runway models meet the Body Mass Index (BMI) physical criteria for anorexia. Ten years ago, plus-size models averaged between size 12 and 18.The majority of plus-size models on agency boards today are between size 6 and 14. PUBLICATIONS 69% Only 47% 29% of girls in one study said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape of girls in 5th-12th grade felt magazine pictures influenced them to want to lose weight. were actually overweight. ADVERTISING 58% GET SHINNY QUICH! 1-800-555-1234 of commercials aimed at girls spoke about physical attractiveness, while none of the commercials aimed at boys referred to appearance. Each year, the average adolescent sees over 5,260 advertisements mentioning attractiveness. PERCEPTION 90% FOUR QUT OF FIVE 88% of women overestimate their body size. of women who answered a People magazine survey responded that images of television and in the movies make them feel insecure. men U.S. women are dissatisfied with their appearance. A DANGEROUS REALITY National Eating Disorder Association reports 10 million American women have eating 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems. disorders, while the South Carolina Department of Mental Health estimates I million men suffer from an eating disorder. EATING DISORDERS HAVE THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE OF ANY MENTAL ILLNESS. If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder- don't wait, seek help today. rader programs 1.800.841.1515 www.raderprograms.com Statistics taken from raderprograms.com, healthyplace.com, anad.org, womeninads.eebly.com and Myers et al.