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

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A few years ago, Rachel Johnston thought the eating disorder organization B-eat was the enemy. When her mom posted questions to the online forum, Rachel told her she was being brainwashed. What Rachel didn’t realize – or refused to admit – was that she was the one being brainwashed – by an eating disorder that almost killed her.

“Her lowest point was in February 2009, when she decided enough was enough and took a cocktail of sleeping tablets and other drugs. Her weight plummeted for four-and-a-half stone [just over 60 pounds]. But now, more than a year after her last hospital stay, she is looking to the future.” - Source: Warrington (UK) Guardian

Today, Rachel is an ambassador for B-eat and spends her free time educating others about the signs and dangers of eating disorders. She admits that she hasn’t fully recovered yet, but she finally sees light at the end of the tunnel.

Labels: awareness, international, online, prevention

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