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| Photo courtesy: Smart Couponing |
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| Photo courtesy: Men's Fitness |
The two magazine covers further demonstrate the way the media is influencing the body image of both men and women. This cover of fitness has multiple headlines about how to lose fat and appear slimmer. "Walk Away Every Bulge," "Peel off 10 pounds,""DE-JELLY your belly," and "Fat to firm at any age" are just a few examples of the articles in this magazine that all address body image. Also, all of those articles are examples of the media telling woman how they should appear. Without even opening the magazine, it is evident that being skinny and firm are qualities the media has deemed important. On the cover of Men's Fitness, a similar message is being sent. The man pictured has big, well-defined muscles and the caption next to the picture reads "Get This Look." Several other headings include "7 ABS Secrets," "Lift Less, get more Muscle," and "Get Huge Arms." This magazine also makes it evident that the media attempts to control how men should look. Men are being told they must have 6 pack abs, huge arm muscles, and be skinny in order to be noticed. With magazines like these present everywhere in our lives, is it really a surprise that body image is an issue?
Our ongoing exposure to these perceived ideals has led to a warped perception among the general public as to what our bodies should look like and what many desire to achieve. We live in a world of false stereotypes as we idealize characters on television who are often shown with unrealistic, "perfect" bodies. Women are repeatedly shown as too thin and men are shown with larger-than-life muscles. Photographs in magazines or billboards are edited on the computer to erase flaws and imperfections. This leads people to obsess and put themselves at risk in order to obtain these ideals. Women may starve themselves, take dangerous diet pills, and work out in excess in hopes of being pin thin. Men may work out to the extreme, use dangerous supplements or even steroids, and put their bodies under unnecessary stress to get those large muscles or washboard abs. It is a scary thought that many celebrities receive notoriety or fame when they are teetering on the verge of being anorexically thin. Why is this negative behavior being rewarded with media and press coverage and attention? It perpetuates the cycle and encourages the average woman to put her health and life at risk to be celebrity like.
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