Thin Thin Thin

The topic of media and body image has been discussed so often that I tend to tune it out. Mostly because I am not a parents nor do I have any little children in my life at all. I'm very confident in my body and it took me a long time to get to that point. There were always little insecurities on how I looked or how people viewed me socially as an adolescent but that's expected and yes intensified by media. I didn't really think about how it could affect children as young as seven or ten! That seems insane to me. At that age body image was the absolute furthest thing from my mind. Kids my age never brought up those sorts of things that I can recall. It's insane that kids are introduced to media as young as they are now and grow up with it. I think to myself now that when I have kids I'll have to diligently monitor how much media intake I allow. I don't think it's healthy to be raised on touch screens and wi-fi.

It's ironic that while we culturally are obsessed with this "ideal body" and all desire to be thin, we also have a major obesity epidemic. This is a very unhealthy way to live. Unfortunately I saw this comment from someone on the blog,
"I understand that many kids are concerned about their body image and I do know the media's image of the human body is unrealistic, but honestly...why does it have to be considered a bad thing? I mean, think about it: With all these kids going on diets, it'll be good for their health! And it also lowers the rate of obesity that we see in this country! So if kids wanna go on a diet, I say 'Let them give it a shot!'"

Yeesh, can we say bad parenting? You want to put a ten year-old on a diet? Seriously adults need to be more diligent and promote healthy living. Honestly, my mom has had terribly body image, and is overweight. She still complains about it and yet because she encouraged me and my healthy living I can see myself in a positive light.

Being as involved in digital media as I am and as most of us are, I think we have a greater knowledge of what we're dealing with and need to be smart consumers. If we're smart consumers, maybe we can become smart producers and give back to the world something that can stop contributing to the problem, but solve it.