This article written by J.
Kevin Thompson and Leslie J. Heinberg discusses the influence of advertising on
eating disorders. In a study, performed by the two professors, a 10 minute
video of commercials, such as women in bikinis selling beer, were shown to a group
of college women. All of the commercials presented featured women displaying
and highlighting society’s idea of beauty, such as a thin figure or overall
attractiveness. After the viewing the women had higher levels of depression,
anger and weight and appearance discontentment than the group of women who
viewed neutral commercials. This shows that beer advertising is having a
negative impact on the women of society. According the Eating Disorder
Association of New Zealand website approximately 68,000 New Zealanders will
develop an eating disorder. The website also states that the portrayal of women
in advertising as young, thin and vulnerable explains why 90% of people who
suffer from eating disorders are female.
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