In a unique effort to combat eating disorders and distorted body image among women and girls, French parliamentarians have proposed a new law for digitally enhanced ads and fashion photos.

A Sept. 22 Agence France Presse (AFP) article provided the following details:

Parliamentarian Valerie Boyer, a member of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, and some 50 other [members of parliament], have proposed a law aimed at fighting touched up images that distort reality.

"Such images can lead people to believe in a reality that often does not exist," Boyer said in an explanatory statement.

The proposed legislation calls for photographs of people "whose body image has been digitally manipulated to be accompanied by a statement saying 'digitally enhanced to modify a person's body image.'"

It also calls for fines of 37,500 euros (55,000 dollars) for non-compliance with the health warning.

Unrealistic media images have been identified as potential causes of poor self-image and unhealthy body image in young consumers -- problems that, in turn, have been associated with increased risk for depression and eating disorders.

Labels: media_influences, legislation, international

Posted By: Aspen/CRC