The Powerful Pressure to Be Thin

If there were more realistic images of women in the media and fashion industries, we could drop our obsession with thin bodies.
The media and fashion industries have a powerful influence on our perception of beauty. 

Society is obsessed with being thin, and has truly put a monumental amount of pressure on both men and women to keep up with this desire.

A recent study showed that there could be a decreased obsession for thin bodies if there were more realistic images of women in the media and fashion industries. 

President and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, Lynn Grefe, explains the effect this pressure has on the number of eating disorders, body image, and how we can change as a society.

Additional Info

  • Segment Number: 4
  • Audio File: staying_well/1309sw1d.mp3
  • Featured Speaker: Lynn Grefe
  • Guest Bio: LynnGrefeLynn Grefe has served as president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association since 2003. In that role, she has led the creation and expansion of innovative and ground-breaking programs to meet the needs of those seeking recovery, their families and friends. Recent accomplishments include the NEDA Navigators mentoring program; Loss Support Network; NEDA's Helpline, which serves in 14 languages; an ever-growing national conference; an interactive website for U.S. teens, Proud2BMe.org in partnership with Rivierduien; and an annual "Proud" summit. Grefe recently launched the expansion of the STAR program, to include federal advocacy through NEDA's Action Center; and has led several successful public media advocacy campaigns. A published author and NEDA's national spokesperson, Grefe's career has long centered on issues, advocacy and solutions. Prior to NEDA, she worked in the criminal justice system; the private sector for a variety of corporate and non-profit clients on issues advocacy in the U.S. and abroad; and within the political arena representing women's reproductive health.
  • Length (mins): 10
  • Host: Melanie Cole, MS