How Advertisements Affect Body Satisfaction in Women

A study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly examines the impact of images of "thin-ideal" women in advertisements on women with and without prior feelings of body image concerns.

Studying a group of female undergraduate students who viewed advertisements featuring thin-ideal models, researchers found that those who had feelings of body dissatisfaction were likely to compare themselves to models in advertisements, leading to feelings of lower self-worth, depression, body dissatisfaction and ultimately a preoccupation with diet and exercise. Meanwhile women who were content with their bodies did not show adverse effects from viewing the ads.

"Women who already have low opinions of their physical appearance are at an even greater risk for negative effects from media images," says Gayle R. Bessenoff, Ph.D., author of the study. "Understanding who will compare to media ideals and when this comparison will take place can help further our understanding of the role of the media in the development of eating disorders."

Read more: Feelings of self-worth impacted by advertisements