Only 3% of women like their bodies (WHY ALERT)

The Evening Standard ^ | November 5, 2002 | The Evening Standard

[MadIvan]

Only 3% of women in the UK are totally happy with their body and 73% think about their size or shape every day, according to a new survey.

The survey of 5,000 women, commissioned by REAL magazine, found that 91% of women were unhappy with their hips and thighs, 77% were dissatisfied with their waist and 78% said they had cellulite.

Three-quarters of British women were unhappy with their shape, 71% with their weight and six out of 10 said their body image made them feel depressed.

Some 65% of those surveyed felt their life would improve considerably if they were happy with their body.

The women who took part in the survey had an average age of 33 and more than half fell within normal weight limits for their height.

But 84% of those who were of normal weight wished they were slimmer, by an average of nine pounds.

Some 68% blamed their body obsession and insecurities on other women who they said were most likely to criticise their shape and looks.

Sian Rees, editor of REAL, said: "A woman's body shape dominates her whole life - it's a modern day obsession.

"One of the driving forces is that women are increasingly influenced by celebrities - who let's face it don't live a normal life - and it can make a cruel comparison for real women trying to juggle work and family."

The Female Body Survey found 67% of women said they would definitely or possibly have plastic surgery now or in the future to improve their bodies, and that some 84% of women said they had dieted at some point.

[albee]

Re: Post #19

I hope someone told the Russian artist Kulik to watch were he puts his hands!

[MadIvan]

Poor SJP, does NOT look like a horse! *L*

Let's let the public decide.

Yes, she's worthy of a "Frau Blucher" moment. ;)

Love, Ivan

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

A lot of this comes from the unspoken question, "Who would want me just the way I am?"

Women who are confident with exactly who they are are sexier than those chasing the shape of someone else.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Sarah Jessica Parker, Calista Flockhart, ewwwwww. I haven't had breakfast yet.

Like I tell the soon to be Mrs. VC when she complains about gaining 5 pounds, I'm no model and I don't expect you to be.

[Churchjack]

I'm sure I could make up the difference...I'm happy with the other 97% of women's bodies!

[rintense]

Maureen! She's one of my favs- and a class act to boot! I remember her on Larry King going off on women who 'let themselves go' as they get older. It was great.

[SkyPilot]

Old boy, you are just asking for trouble with this post!

_{I love it.......}

[areafiftyone]

I will tell you why. Working in NYC all I see is women obsessed with not eating fat, not eating sugar and not eating PERIOD. They go to the gym 5-7 nights a week. Women have been told since the late 50's that thin is good and you should be skinny. Most men make fun of women if they have a little weight on. They say things like "Wow look at that wide load". I am not fat but I am not thin but I hear what they say and sometimes get so disgusted by it. No wonder if a woman has any weight on she feels horrible. Besides, the fashion designers have changed the size range. It used to be when I was young you could go to a regular store and buy up to size 16 (at least). Now 14 and up is considered a fat ladies store. So everyone who is a size 14 and up has to go to a large women's store where they swim in most of the clothes there. Men and women have been taught since the 60's that women should be skinny and women are obsessed with looking thin for men. This is all due to Fashion designers who hate the woman's figure. They want women now to look like men (small hips and small chest). The hourglass figure is gone. Have you ever seen a big chested model? Oh yea if they shove every part of their body from the bottom up into their bra they may jiggle on the runway. But these girls are told to be skinny by gay fashion designers with a hatred for the hourglass figure. This will continue until the fashion designers decided that a little weight is okay. Besides the big boom in business for the diet product companies which don't help.

[FreedomPoster]

Congratulations! Didn't know there were nuptials impending.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"Congratulations! Didn't know there were nuptials impending."

Why thank you. We're aiming for a small ceremony in March.

[Happygal]

Well, I thought Mr. Ed was cute, so there! *L*

[DC native]

I want to know where they keep all of the men like you and Ivan!

[Desdemona]

It is not easy to feel totally secure in how you look when being repeatedly bombarded with pictures of Anna Kournikova from drooling Freepers, eh?

Amen. Especially when one's body, below the neck, anyway, resembles more of a Marylin Monroe or some other such voluptuous pin-up.


(It's a good thing overall to keep the weight down health wise despite that men claim they don't care. They don't care? Uh-huh. tell me another one)

[sauropod]

Big ol' Graduate of the Boortz Institute for Insensitivity Training Ping!

[Desdemona]

Things will sag. Wrinkles will appear. Hair will fall out.

You blasphemer! (says the lady who is obsessed with the little laugh lines which have suddenly appeared around her eyes)

[Momforgold]

It's just biology: men are more visually oriented then women, which is why it's more important to them that the woman looks attractive (i.e. doesn't weigh too much). Most women really don't care if the guy needs to lose a few pounds.

Anyone who hates their body & doesn't do exercise should start.

Any woman who exercises and is only a few pounds away from ideal should start thinking like a man & not worry about it.

Any woman who says her husband should love her for who she is on the inside & not care if she carries a lot of extra weight (more than the day she was married) but doesn't even try to exercise & eat right is not dealing with reality: he may still love her, but he's not going to want her the same.

Any man who says he loves her for what's inside & doesn't care about the outside is full of it. He's definitely being nice, but he's full of it.

It's my duty as a wife who wants her husband to remain monogamous to at least attempt to keep in the same shape as when he married me. It's not fair to him to say don't ever cheat on me, but love me for who I am even if I've gained 50 pounds, and rarely have sex with you anymore because I don't feel attractive because I've gained 50 pounds!!

Even after 2 kids, I still exercise. If you don't have the time, run around with your kids!!

This politically incorrect message will probably get me a lot of hate mail from the women.

[sauropod]

Pshaw! How about Kathy Ireland?

[MadIvan]

Well, I thought Mr. Ed was cute, so there! *L*

Yes, but in a horsey sort of way, darling. ;)

Love, Ivan

[sauropod]

I'm a man...

But I can change....

If I have to....

I guess.

[MadIvan]

I want to know where they keep all of the men like you and Ivan!

My lady keeps me locked up in my flat in Islington most of the time. ;)

Regards, Ivan