Linda J. Hofschire and Bradley S. Greenberg

Teens are inundated with messages about the importance of their appearance. Studies have suggested that media images of ideal body types produce negative self—perceptions for women. Few of these studies examine the dilemma in relation to teenagers; this article presents research specifically about adolescents. The evidence indicates that teenage boys and girls might be particularly vulnerable to stereotyped body images of the slender, toned girl and the slim, muscular boy. Girls especially tend to become dissatisfied with their own bodies and engage in dieting and exercise to change them. In some cases, this dissatisfaction can lead to unhealthy extremes such as binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia.

Linda J. Hofschire's research examines the effects of media on adolescent sexuality and body image. Bradley S. Greenberg's foundational work about sexual content in movies...