Faith Hill:
http://jezebel.com/278919/heres-our-winner-redbook-shatters-our-faith-in-well-not-publishing-but-maybe-god?tag=gossipphotoshopofhorrors"
Britney Spears:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1265676/Britney-Spears-releases-airbrushed-images-digitally-altered-versions.html
Dove Evolution:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Research Topic Short Paper
For my research paper, I want to concentrate on the ambassadorship topic I have been following throughout the semester: body image in pop culture. My starting question for my paper is: How does body image portrayed in the media influence the behavior of adolescent girls? I already know that in the realm of pop culture, there is a constant pressure to be thin for models, celebrities, and other public figures. Adolescent girls look up to these people, and view them as role models. Therefore, this idea that thinness is associated with beauty and perfection has an impact on these girls’ thoughts and behaviors. Being a girl myself, I know the pressures to be thin, and I know many girls who have negative body images. I assume that the manners in which body image is portrayed in the media can have a great influence on their behavior and self-esteem. Sometimes, the influence can even be detrimental to girls’ health; for example, some girls develop eating disorders.
After searching Google for some information regarding my topic, I have discovered some interesting articles from credible sources. The first article at the top of the search is from Web MD, which describes the power of media images and how parents can help to foster healthy body images in adolescent girls. The article mentions that younger and younger girls are beginning to feel the impact of the media on body image as they are surrounded by media images constantly. Another article from USA Today describes the dangers of using too-thin models in fashion shows that are watched by young and impressionable girls. A website called Media Awareness has an article called “Beauty and Body Image in the Media” that has some interesting information regarding previous studies done on the topic. I did not know that even preadolescent girls, as young as five years old, are influenced by the media too. Because of the media, many girls are trying to reach an “unattainable beauty.” Another intriguing piece of information I found from this article stated that “women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery.”
After having done this preliminary research, I now want to investigate other studies that have been done on this topic. I want to know which types of media influence the behavior of adolescents more, such as magazines or television, and I want to know which age group is most affected. I think it would be interesting to find out how the differences in behavior among adolescents after viewing body images portrayed in the media—how many of them are susceptible to develop eating disorders, low self-esteem, and how many of them will not. Also, I want to learn how we can prevent people from developing negative body images. There have to be some measures that the media can take to help this cause, and I want to know if any companies are doing so. I believe that my research topic is very relevant to the world today because the portrayal of body image in pop culture affects millions of girls everyday.
After searching Google for some information regarding my topic, I have discovered some interesting articles from credible sources. The first article at the top of the search is from Web MD, which describes the power of media images and how parents can help to foster healthy body images in adolescent girls. The article mentions that younger and younger girls are beginning to feel the impact of the media on body image as they are surrounded by media images constantly. Another article from USA Today describes the dangers of using too-thin models in fashion shows that are watched by young and impressionable girls. A website called Media Awareness has an article called “Beauty and Body Image in the Media” that has some interesting information regarding previous studies done on the topic. I did not know that even preadolescent girls, as young as five years old, are influenced by the media too. Because of the media, many girls are trying to reach an “unattainable beauty.” Another intriguing piece of information I found from this article stated that “women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery.”
After having done this preliminary research, I now want to investigate other studies that have been done on this topic. I want to know which types of media influence the behavior of adolescents more, such as magazines or television, and I want to know which age group is most affected. I think it would be interesting to find out how the differences in behavior among adolescents after viewing body images portrayed in the media—how many of them are susceptible to develop eating disorders, low self-esteem, and how many of them will not. Also, I want to learn how we can prevent people from developing negative body images. There have to be some measures that the media can take to help this cause, and I want to know if any companies are doing so. I believe that my research topic is very relevant to the world today because the portrayal of body image in pop culture affects millions of girls everyday.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Freshman 15: An Overestimate
Being a freshman in college, I immediately was interested in an article that I found on abcnews.com entitled "The 'Freshman 15' Is More Myth Than Reality -- the 'Freshman 3.5' More Accurate, Study Finds." According to the article, a recent study has been done which shows that college freshmen will not gain a huge amount of weight. In fact, it stated that the average weight gain is 3.4 pounds for men and 2.4 pounds for women. Fewer than 10 percent of freshman gain 15 pounds or more, and 25 percent actually lose weight.
The study covered 7,418 students throughout the country; these students had already been recording their weight and height every year as a part of the 1997 National Longitudinal Study of Youth. This study was more expansive than previous studies that had been conducted on the Freshman 15, which had only looked at small groups of students at one college. It was discovered that the little weight that freshmen do gain is attributed to several factors such as: freedom from parental supervision, high-calorie foods in the dining hall, increased stress levels, and lack of sleep.
However, the largest factor in weight gain for freshmen is heavy drinking. According to the study, this was the only factor that had a significant difference on weight gain. Even so, the weight gain isn't that much-- only a pound or less as compared to those who do not drink as much.
Overall, I find it a relief that college freshmen should not be concerned gaining the dreaded 15 pounds in their first year. However, we should still be taking care of ourselves by trying to eat healthy foods and exercise, even though it may be difficult with cafeteria food and a busy schedule. Jay Zagorsky, one of the authors of the study said, "Don't worry about suddenly going to college and becoming a blob...Don't worry about the freshman 15 -- it doesn't exist."
The study covered 7,418 students throughout the country; these students had already been recording their weight and height every year as a part of the 1997 National Longitudinal Study of Youth. This study was more expansive than previous studies that had been conducted on the Freshman 15, which had only looked at small groups of students at one college. It was discovered that the little weight that freshmen do gain is attributed to several factors such as: freedom from parental supervision, high-calorie foods in the dining hall, increased stress levels, and lack of sleep.
However, the largest factor in weight gain for freshmen is heavy drinking. According to the study, this was the only factor that had a significant difference on weight gain. Even so, the weight gain isn't that much-- only a pound or less as compared to those who do not drink as much.
Overall, I find it a relief that college freshmen should not be concerned gaining the dreaded 15 pounds in their first year. However, we should still be taking care of ourselves by trying to eat healthy foods and exercise, even though it may be difficult with cafeteria food and a busy schedule. Jay Zagorsky, one of the authors of the study said, "Don't worry about suddenly going to college and becoming a blob...Don't worry about the freshman 15 -- it doesn't exist."
A Personal Trainer's Journey from "Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit"
Yesterday on Good Morning America, there was a segment about a personal trainer who is going to the extreme to understand his clients. Drew Manning has embarked on a journey in which he makes himself fat over the course of six months, and then becomes fit again during another six-month period. The purpose of his mission, called "Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit," is to understand his clients and the emotional and physical obstacles they need to overcome to become fit. Also, he wants to inspire them to work out and eat right, and show them how to do it on his journey to become fit again.
Manning initiated this project in May 2011 at 193 lbs. Today, he is in the 25th week of the process at 269 lbs. This Saturday, November 5, he will begin the journey from "Fat 2 Fit." Throughout the past six months, he had an unrestricted diet, eating junk food in huge portions, and he did not exercise. On his blog, he always accepted "Food Challenges" from his followers, which challenged him to eat large amounts of food such as doughnuts or corn dogs. Overall, he has gained 76 pounds. When he begins the reverse journey on Saturday, he will invite his followers to join him; he will post his meal plan and exercise schedule so that they can participate and lose weight as well.
During his interview on GMA, Manning addressed the effects that this journey has had on him so far. He stated that he underestimated the mental and emotional consequences; he had thought it would mostly be a physical change. However, he realized that he was becoming more self-conscious about his body, even in front of his wife. He also became too exhausted to keep up and play with his two-year-old daughter, something which had an emotional toll on him. His health obviously declined as well, with his blood pressure skyrocketing. However, Manning said, it was "definitely worth the risk."
Overall, kudos to Drew Manning for going through this difficult journey. Even though there are many health risks associated with his project, I think that the benefits will outweigh the risks. Already, he has inspired so many people, and many of them are bound to follow his program back to being fit. Also, I think it's important because he now has better understanding of the struggles that his clients face. It's easy for personal trainers to tell their clients what to do and not realize how difficult it really is for them. I definitely will continue to follow Manning's progress as he works his way to becoming fit again.
Manning initiated this project in May 2011 at 193 lbs. Today, he is in the 25th week of the process at 269 lbs. This Saturday, November 5, he will begin the journey from "Fat 2 Fit." Throughout the past six months, he had an unrestricted diet, eating junk food in huge portions, and he did not exercise. On his blog, he always accepted "Food Challenges" from his followers, which challenged him to eat large amounts of food such as doughnuts or corn dogs. Overall, he has gained 76 pounds. When he begins the reverse journey on Saturday, he will invite his followers to join him; he will post his meal plan and exercise schedule so that they can participate and lose weight as well.
During his interview on GMA, Manning addressed the effects that this journey has had on him so far. He stated that he underestimated the mental and emotional consequences; he had thought it would mostly be a physical change. However, he realized that he was becoming more self-conscious about his body, even in front of his wife. He also became too exhausted to keep up and play with his two-year-old daughter, something which had an emotional toll on him. His health obviously declined as well, with his blood pressure skyrocketing. However, Manning said, it was "definitely worth the risk."
Overall, kudos to Drew Manning for going through this difficult journey. Even though there are many health risks associated with his project, I think that the benefits will outweigh the risks. Already, he has inspired so many people, and many of them are bound to follow his program back to being fit. Also, I think it's important because he now has better understanding of the struggles that his clients face. It's easy for personal trainers to tell their clients what to do and not realize how difficult it really is for them. I definitely will continue to follow Manning's progress as he works his way to becoming fit again.
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