Looks Are More Important To Girls Than Life Latest Survey Suggests

Main Category: Eating Disorders
Also Included In: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 30 Mar 2011 - 16:00 PDT


30% of women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight and shape. Latest research conducted for new eating disorder charity The Succeed Foundation, in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE), also found that in order to achieve their ideal body weight and shape:

• 16% would trade 1 year of their life
• 10% would trade 2-5 years of their life
• 2% would trade 6-10 years of their life
• 1% would trade 21 years or more of their life

The survey conducted at British Universities by Dr Phillippa Diedrichs also discovered that in order to achieve their ideal body weight and shape 26% of the women surveyed were willing to sacrifice at least one of the following:

• £5000 from their annual salary (13%)
• A promotion at work (8%)
• Achieving a first class honours degree (6%)
• Spending time with their partner (9%)
• Spending time with their family (7%)
• Spending time with their friends (9%)
• Their health (7%)

The survey results suggest that body dissatisfaction was common among the women surveyed, with 1 in 2 women saying that more needs to be done on their university campus to promote healthy body image.

• 46% of the women surveyed have been ridiculed or bullied because of their appearance.
• 39% of the women surveyed reported that if money wasn't a concern they would have cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance. Of the 39% who said they would have cosmetic surgery, 76% desired multiple surgical procedures. 5% of the women surveyed have already had cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance.
• 79% of the women surveyed reported that they would like to lose weight, despite the fact that the majority of the women sampled (78.37%) were actually within the underweight or 'normal' weight ranges. Only 3% said that they would like to gain weight.
• 93% of the women surveyed reported that they had had negative thoughts about their appearance during the past week. 31% had negative thoughts several times a day.
• When asked which celebrity has the perfect body Kelly Brook came top of the list.

Notes

320 women studying at 20 British universities completed The Succeed Foundation Body Image Survey in March 2011. Age Breakdown: Range 18-65 years. Average age= 24.49 years.

In response to the fact that it is common for women attending universities to have body image issues, on April 2nd and 3rd 2011, The Succeed Foundation is launching The Succeed Body Image Programme in UK universities. This is a scientifically supported programme that aims to improve body image and prevent the onset of eating disorders.

The Succeed Foundation was founded in 2010 by Karine Berthou, with the mission of raising awareness and providing support for those affected by eating disorders. The aim is to introduce new programmes and fresh research to halve the average recovery time of sufferers; by creating networks, delivering programmes and adapting new technologies in prevention, education and coaching. All programmes or projects are scientifically supported and easily replicable, enabling availability to the widest number possible.

Source
The Succeed Foundation

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