The Context of Society and the Media

In order to challenge society’s distorted emphasis on weight and shape, part of our role is to critically appraise the messages given to us by advertising and the media. The Health Education Authority has found that teenage and women’s magazines are a key source of information¹. Recently, a small picture of a professional model on page 194 of Glamour Magazine caused a flurry of media and public interest because her minor 'imperfections' had not been edited out². In our seminar "It's not just about food!" we look at the many conflicting sources of information that are widely available.

We can see all around us the effects of celebrity, status, image and the increasingly competitive society in which we live. Even the resulting stress of the credit crunch can mean that food and eating are being used more often as a means of coping with pain and stress rather than a celebration of life.

1. Finch H, White C, Physical activity:what we think. Qualitative research among women aged 16-24. Health Educ Auth 1998.
2. How one model's picture shook the world (flabby tummy and all), Linda Kelsy / Daily Mail.