By university, most ladies probably know someone who has battled with anorexia, bulimia or some form of an eating disorder. Though it’s not a gender specific disease, it is most prevalent in young women. Researchers from the London School of Economics recently did a study on eating disorders, finding them to be “socially transmitted diseases.”

This is the first ever economic analysis of anorexia and found that “social and cultural environment influences” influence young women to starve themselves in hopes of achieving what they consider to be the “perfect” body. The research is limited to Europe, but it did find that in countries where women are thinner, there is also a higher prevalence in eating disorders.

The economists also reported that they believe if the media reduces the mass imagery of tiny models or celebrities it could eliminate some of the social pressures women feel. They believe that governments should more carefully regulate the fashion industry — encouraging the regulation of models on runways and in fashion magazines. Read More »

Lately, every fashion magazine on the newsstands has had some variation of a plus size model photo spread. Editors claim to be celebrating the real American woman, but we know it’s just a feeble attempt to boost sales and save their dying businesses.

Being a plus sized girl myself, I’m torn on the whole trend. On the one hand, it’s great to see women with a little meat on their bones (or any meat on their bones, for that matter) displayed so beautifully across the pages of my favorite fashion mags. It’s refreshing to finally be able to look at a fashion spread and see how clothing really looks on real people. People like me.

On the other hand, though, focusing entire spreads and features on plus sized women seems a little exploitative. It’s as if the magazines are saying, “See! We like fat people, too!” And if their goal, as they state, is to change the way we view beauty and really represent the real women living and shopping in this country, they’re going about it all wrong. Read More »

Really skinny girls dressing up as men. Yep, that’s my idea of entertainment.

My weird choice in TV shows aside, I think last week’s Top Model shoot should have been considered ‘adolesent-boy’ drag because not one of those beanpole girls could pull off a mature male look. Sure, Natasha’s hip-hop guy pose looked the most like a real dude, but that’s only when her body wasn’t included in the shot.

Which brings me to the elimination portion of the episode — buh-bye, Diana. It’s funny, but also not surprising that one of the ‘plus-sized’ models was voted off. After all, isn’t this show about finding the ‘ideal’ model? Ya know, the one who doesn’t eat, but still has a great personality and drive for success? Read More »