Super model, covergirl

According to Nada Stotland, a professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical College in Chicago, "We know seeing super-thin models can play a role in causing anorexia." Why, then, do we as a society continue to see harmful images in fashion magazines, in movies, and on television? Body-image researcher Sarah Murnen says, "The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies." Experts link eating disorders, depression, and dysmorphia with this trend. As a society, we need to return the message of "thin as beautiful," with a counter message: "we love our bodies!" The body image-related messages we receive from the media are designed to feed an industry that makes millions of dollars a year at the expense of our self-esteems. Recognizing the issue is not enough as it has become so ingrained in our culture, the effects are inescapable. Kudos to Madrid for placing regulations on the size of their models during fashion week last year - they required that all models be in a normal weight range, which means a 5-foot-9 woman would need to weigh at least 125 pounds.