Eating disorders: effects and prevention through the mediaOur society today is strongly influenced by the media and the images they show. Although it may be indirect, the media spreads unhealthy messages about ideal size, sexual attractiveness and weight control that cause women to perceive themselves in a negative way. Magazines, television and movies influence teenage girls on what they think their body image should be. The images they show set the standard for what is considered physically attractive in our society. Using Photoshop, the media depicts falsified images of models and actresses to create a perfect look unattainable for the average woman. This creates a desire among teenage girls to be like these often-shown stars. When adolescent girls look at these images, they compare themselves to these images and then judge themselves based on these comparisons. These judgments can potentially lead to eating disorders. To prevent the risk of eating disorders among teenage girls, the media should present a typical image of people, rather than idolizing a specific standard of beauty. Media and the way it affects our society has changed enormously over the past few decades. Our population of children who spend a lot of time in front of the television or on social media continues to increase, creating a superficial view of themselves and what they should be. This superficial view was created by the media because they preach to our society what matters. Not only are there millions of advertisements urging people to lose weight and buy certain products to look beautiful, but there is also a specific beauty standard that models and actresses must meet. These standards include large eyes, volume...... middle of paper......." Psychology & Health 26.10 (2011): 1273-1291. SPORTDiscus with full text. Web. April 17, 2014. Haas , Cheryl J., et al. “An intervention for the negative influence of the media on body esteem”. College Student Journal 46.2 (2012): 405-418 with full text Web, April 17, 2014. Levine, Michael P. and Sarah K. Murnen. “Everyone Knows Mass Media Causes Eating Disorders”: A Critical Review of the Evidence for a Causal Link Between Media and Negative Body Image and Eating Disorders in Women. Journal Of Social & Clinical Psychology 28.1 (2009): 9-42. Web Academic Research, April 17, 2014. Lopez-Guimera, Gemma et al. Body image and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors Women: An examination of effects and processes. Media Psychology 13.4 (2010): 387-416. Communication and mass media completed.. 2014.