[underthesun]

I just think it's really strange that lots of articles about women and their images of their body (like the article above) often say that society puts too much emphasis on being thin.

It is not just articles that put the pressure on. Just look at post#69, I know this was meant as light hearted in this case but it is images like this that are through out the media an a daily basis that make women want to achieve something that is unrealistic. Yes we should emphasize keeping weight to a healthy level not over or under but I think the first step needs to be that we change society's idea of the ideal weight. To often are pictures of these airbrushed women thrown out to the public as being "perfect" and something to aspire to. It is sad.

[luckodeirish]

The funny thing about the pciture in post 69 is this, that person is Cory Everson, who had a career as a female bodybuilder, admitted to steroid use, and has had a fairly good about of plastic surgery (if you look at her through the years it is more than clear).

[68skylark]

Just look at post#69

Okay, you don't have to ask me twice.

Seriously, you make some good points.

"Society" does put out a lot of images of especially thin women, for a lot of reasons. And if this causes distress to anyone, well I'm sorry about that and I don't think it's done to cause harm.

These images don't seem to encourage people (especially women) to keep themselves at a health weight -- obesity is just way out of control (especially in the small town area where I live -- it's not so extreme other places).

It would be nice if there was a way "society" could put out some effective messages about why it's in the best interests of individuals to keep themselves down to a healthy weight. But I don't really know what those "effective" messages might look like.