Awareness and perceived influence of body ideals in the media: A comparison of eating disorder patients and the general community

Few studies have empirically investigated the role of the mass media in the etiology of eating disorders. This study investigates the reported awareness of media body ideals among a group of eating disorder patients and a community sample, together with the reported influence of these ideals on subjects' body shape- and weight-related attitudes and behaviors. Patients with eating disorders were significantly more likely than controls to report being influenced by the body ideals presented in the media. Our findings suggest that treatment programs for eating disorders may need to address directly the images and ideals presented in the media.