http://www.about-face.org/concerns-over-body-image-outrank-school-and-stress-for-girls/

Occasionally, media critics will get told that they take advertisements too seriously, and that messages being sent through various media channels aren’t that strong or meaningful. I know I have faced this accusation many times, and have been told that I’m either over-analyzing or am too sensitive.

I’ve also been told that teens and adolescents are able to tell the difference between reality and advertisements – that, for example, girls know that lots of companies photoshop their models and that no one is that skinny/tall/busty, or has such flawless skin/hair/clothing.

I’ve long believed that understanding these differences is irrelevant – the exposure that adolescent girls (and boys!) face day in and day out from shows, commercials, billboards, and ads really builds up and has an impact. Luckily, research has helped to prove us media critics right.

One recent study in particular, out of Australia, has determined the number one concern of girls between 11 – 24 years (most between 11 – 19). Any guesses, fellow media literates? Yep: body image.

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