The images of “beautiful" women that you see on television, in magazines, on billboards and all over the media seriously affect your perception of yourself. The truth is, the ideal of the “waif” supermodel and the perfect TV or movie star promoted by the media is severely misleading. Remember that most of the fashion models you see in ads or on the runway have a bodyweight that is 23% less than the average female. That is extremely unhealthy, and is what medical professionals call malnourished. What about those actresses you see prancing around TV with the super-defined muscles and the perfect hair? Well, most actresses are paid millions of dollars to look good, which means they have all day to exercise with a personal trainer … not to mention the personal hair stylist, makeup artist, fashion consultant and lighting coordinator who all work to get the desired effect. So the actress you see on TV is a carefully manipulated “effect” that does not reflect reality. Also, don’t forget that the magazines you read erase anything unwanted from their photos. Pimples, wrinkles and pounds are removed instantly with the help of the computer to produce that “ideal” woman on the page.

Although you don’t have to stop watching your favorite TV show or cancel your subscription to all your mags, it is important to keep a level head in the midst of media influence. Teens like you often fall under the belief that they should look like the unrealistic images they see in magazines, movies, music videos, commercials and TV shows. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Look around at your friends, your mother and other real women. They reflect reality. Don’t forget that the average woman is a size 10-12 and is not a supermodel.