Girls (up through adults) are increasingly obsessed with their looks and achieving the "perfect" body in particular. I can't cite any particular study that would define this trend. I'm just extrapolating from my own observations. But a good indicator of the extent of this problem might be a rise in the cases of anorexia among teenage girls.
Why is this a problem? There are many reasons, both positive and negative. Positively, poor body image can result in pathological behavior among girls and young women and, along with the impossible expectations of young men, also makes it more difficult to achieve healthy long term relationships, i.e. healthy marriages. In our culture, women are increasingly measured by the sum of their body parts, not the content of their character.
Secondly, this "cult of the body" is an enormous waste of time and talent. Young women simply waste an enormous amount of energy and resources in a hopeless pursuit of bodily perfection. This vice used to be known as vanity. Which wife is of more value, a plain, virtuous wife or vain, pretty wife? Which will contribute more to society? The classic example is the amount of ink spilled over the deaths of Mother Theresa versus Lady Diana in the media.
If I read your post right, you're making a similar point to the author of this piece, and it's a point that's also been made (over and over) in other articles. The point seems to be that "society" is putting too much emphasis on keeping thin.
I'm just not sure I agree with the thrust of this argument -- my perceptions are pretty much the opposite.
It seems to me I see far more people making themselves sick and unhappy from being way overweight, compared with the numbers who make themselves sick and unhappy through excessive weight loss.
Seems to me that "society" isn't doing enough to get out messages to young people about the importance and benefits of keeping their weight under control.
Let me know what you think.
Fortunately, I have a pretty virtuous wife. I mean my wife is pretty and virtuous. I think most people here understand the balance. If someone thinks so little of themselves that they can use their navel for a koozie, I probably don't want to be around them. On the other hand, at a certain point in time, you have to say, "I've spent enough time on my looks, let's get on to the rest of life."
It's like everything else. Keep it in perspective, and things will work out.