ID :
86537
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 10:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/86537
The shortlink copeid
Negative body image 'harming Aussies'
(AAP) - The federal government is serious about tackling an unhealthy obsession with body image among young Australians, Youth Minister Kate Ellis says.
A report released on Tuesday has recommended a voluntary industry code of conduct be
established to help counter "the unhealthy epidemic" of negative body image
affecting the lives of young Australians.
The code is one of a raft of recommendations and forms part of a plan to develop a
national strategy on body image to encourage advertisers, the media and the fashion
industry to promote more positive body image messages.
Organisations that show support for the code would be publicly recognised through
the use of logos and a public listing of their support.
The report also recommends that, as part of the introduction of standardised sizing,
the government consider consulting body image experts and the textile, clothing and
footwear industry to ensure size labels do not encourage competitive weight loss.
The report was prepared by a government-appointed advisory group chaired by former
Cosmopolitan magazine editor Mia Freedman and including model and television
producer Sarah Murdoch and Girlfriend magazine editor Sarah Cornish.
"With regard to the fashion, media and advertising industries, it is clear that
people in these industries have a tremendous amount of influence in determining what
our society looks like," Ms Freedman said.
"It's time that everyone involved in these industries becomes more responsible with
this influence."
But Ms Ellis was forced to defend the appointment of the women amid suggestions they
portray the very images the use of which the initiative is aimed at countering.
"When I appointed this particular group to this body image advisory group, I did so
on the basis of their background and their expertise and their passion in this
area," Ms Ellis said.
"I think what this is about is actually recognising people on the merit rather than
just trying to take everything back to swiping about how people appear and their
physical appearance."
She said the government was serious about tackling the body image obsession and
plans to deliver its official response early next year.
"It's a serious issue which is affecting the health, the confidence, the
productivity of thousands of Australians, and particularly young Australians," Ms
Ellis said.
"It's an issue that we as a government intend to act upon."
Figures show body image was rated as the highest concern among young people in a
2007 survey of young Australians by Mission Australia, and third in a subsequent
survey in 2008.
Ms Ellis said that between 70 and 76 per cent of Australian high school girls
consistently chose an ideal figure that was thinner than their own.
And at least 20 per cent of underweight women were currently dieting and believed
they were overweight, while 65 per cent of healthy weight men consider themselves to
be overweight.
"These figures all show us that body image is a serious condition affecting ... a
huge number of Australians," Ms Ellis said.
A report released on Tuesday has recommended a voluntary industry code of conduct be
established to help counter "the unhealthy epidemic" of negative body image
affecting the lives of young Australians.
The code is one of a raft of recommendations and forms part of a plan to develop a
national strategy on body image to encourage advertisers, the media and the fashion
industry to promote more positive body image messages.
Organisations that show support for the code would be publicly recognised through
the use of logos and a public listing of their support.
The report also recommends that, as part of the introduction of standardised sizing,
the government consider consulting body image experts and the textile, clothing and
footwear industry to ensure size labels do not encourage competitive weight loss.
The report was prepared by a government-appointed advisory group chaired by former
Cosmopolitan magazine editor Mia Freedman and including model and television
producer Sarah Murdoch and Girlfriend magazine editor Sarah Cornish.
"With regard to the fashion, media and advertising industries, it is clear that
people in these industries have a tremendous amount of influence in determining what
our society looks like," Ms Freedman said.
"It's time that everyone involved in these industries becomes more responsible with
this influence."
But Ms Ellis was forced to defend the appointment of the women amid suggestions they
portray the very images the use of which the initiative is aimed at countering.
"When I appointed this particular group to this body image advisory group, I did so
on the basis of their background and their expertise and their passion in this
area," Ms Ellis said.
"I think what this is about is actually recognising people on the merit rather than
just trying to take everything back to swiping about how people appear and their
physical appearance."
She said the government was serious about tackling the body image obsession and
plans to deliver its official response early next year.
"It's a serious issue which is affecting the health, the confidence, the
productivity of thousands of Australians, and particularly young Australians," Ms
Ellis said.
"It's an issue that we as a government intend to act upon."
Figures show body image was rated as the highest concern among young people in a
2007 survey of young Australians by Mission Australia, and third in a subsequent
survey in 2008.
Ms Ellis said that between 70 and 76 per cent of Australian high school girls
consistently chose an ideal figure that was thinner than their own.
And at least 20 per cent of underweight women were currently dieting and believed
they were overweight, while 65 per cent of healthy weight men consider themselves to
be overweight.
"These figures all show us that body image is a serious condition affecting ... a
huge number of Australians," Ms Ellis said.
