Ban Photoshop

53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies a survey found, and when aged 17 this number increases by over 20%. The majority of these girls compare themselves to pictures they see of celebrities and models that they see in magazines and they want to be skinnier just like them.

I do understand that magazines use Photoshop and airbrushing to make their products - mainly clothing - look more appealing in the hope that more people will purchase them but surely there are much more negatives surrounding Photoshop than there are benefits?

Photoshop and airbrushing leave teenagers with an unrealistic idea about what the "perfect body" should look like and this can lead to them feeling ugly and worthless and can lead to things much more severe such as depression and eating disorders. Trying to obtain the "perfect body" is never going to happen as the photos of models in the magazines are not real and have been edited by the latest computer software.

If you look at Cara Delevingne, one of the leading ladies in the modelling industry, it is clear to see the problem. At a height of 1.76 metres and weighing just 51kg this leaves her with a BMI of just 16.4 putting her at the lowest side of the spectrum and classified as severely underweight. This is NOT healthy and girls aspiring to look like these models do not realise the drastic effects that being this underweight can give you. Being this underweight damages your health, immune system and bones as well as giving you a lack of energy and in the future may lead to fertility problems.

Cara Delevingne

More magazines should start to follow "Seventeen" who as a magazines aimed at female teenagers have taken the "no Photoshop pledge" to stop giving the idea to young teenagers that being thin is the most important thing. They should instead use real life celebrities with more curves such as Holly Willoughby, Beyonce, Adele and Jennifer Lawrence to show that personality, intelligence and talent is much more important than how thin you are and the way you look.  

Holly Willoughby at a much healthier weight