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Monday, June 21, 2010

Study Associates Gossip Mags, Eating Disorders

Teenagers who read celebrity gossip magazines are more likely to have eating disorders, according to new study from Great Britain.

  • Dr. James White of Cardiff University and Dr. Emma Halliwell of University of the West of England studied 546 children ages 11 to 16 years old from South Wales in terms of their use of media and eating behaviors.
  • Although television viewing and reading other kinds of magazines were not factors for eating disorders, reading celebrity gossip magazines was.

"This study suggests that there should be a greater awareness of the potential impact of exposure to the kind of images of celebrities and models in gossip magazines can have on adolescents' eating habits," said Dr. White. "(Such exposure) increases the risk in adolescent boys and girls of using unhealthy eating behaviors without their awareness of being influenced."

The study was presented at the Appearance Matters conference in Bristol, a conference highlighting research around appearance-related issues for adolescents.
 

Labels: media_influences, causes of eating disorders

Posted By: Jane St. Clair

Comments:

Kensington on 9/13/2010
Someone who already is on the edge of an ed or has one often uses these types of magazines in an unhealthy way. It's sad enough when celebrities are lined up under headings such as "Great beach body" and "Too fat". When you add in impressionable folks looking at these pictures, comparing themselves and not factoring in the photoshopping that is out of control - it ain't a good thing. I don't think magazines are to blame for an ed, but if a person is vulnerable, it's worth limiting exposure to them.