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Essay / Impact of media on body image and health consequences
There are major ethical questions surrounding the known impacts of media on perceived body image, and how these changes in perspective are one of the main causes of certain medical problems. In the United States, photographs widely distributed on media platforms are often retouched to represent the current “perfect” version of the human body. Often the final image depicted does not even represent a possible structure of the human body. These same images have been proven to have a great impact on how we perceive others and ourselves. The media is well known for its influence on its followers, often starting new trends in clothing, equipment purchases, and influencing thought and morals. These platforms have the capacity to change what we, as consumers, can consider beautiful, useful, good or bad. There are few restrictions on how these platforms can share material, allowing them to spread non-factual information or distorted images of the human body that appeal to our psyches but not our health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay From a business perspective, it makes sense to do what sells. If you need to follow trends, create new ones, invent stories or tell exciting and one-sided “truths”, why not. If sex sells more than a good read magazine, then sex sells it. These companies devote a lot of resources to discovering what is current, new and exciting. They are willing to pay a lot of money for designers to give their opinion on how to be different and “push the boundaries”. Companies are willing to do this because the return will be greater than the money spent on discovery; their job is to sell, sell, sell. From a consumer perspective, it's a win/lose situation. While these magazines may offer temporary pleasure as you read them, or provide you with the next biggest thing so you can ride the popularity trend, it's usually a loss in the long run. Perception of body image is often skewed toward an unattainable body, and attempts to reach the tiny waste line often lead to very unhealthy lifestyles. Young girls influenced by such depictions of beauty in the media often develop eating disorders or manipulate their diet according to the new fashion, which seriously contradicts their health. “In 2011, the American Medical Association published findings showing that altering advertising photographs to enhance models' bodies was linked to eating disorders; a year later, the Health Care Research Agency also noted a 119% increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders among children during the years Photoshop became widespread. We prioritize beauty over health and deny that health is beautiful. These forms of media, which have such influence on the consumer, should have ethical rules to prevent them from influencing the public in a way detrimental to their health. In Israel, it is illegal to Photoshop women for use in the media without clear warning. The same law also states that they must have a BMI of at least 18.5, which is the lowest considered "normal" without falling into an unhealthy category. Not only do they represent real body images and support the