Marketing health to women received a boost thanks to Tyra Banks and her reality show America's Next Top Model. And Tara Parker-Pope is hip to it in Hot, Maybe, but Not Smoking - Well - Tara Parker-Pope - Health - New York Times Blog.
Since the guidelines issued last year by the fashion industry's trade group, Council of Fashion Designers of America, failed in their attempt to ban stick thin teen models from the catwalk, we have no reason to believe health comes before fashion on the catwalk.
Nonetheless, I have no objection to Tyra's anti-smoking stand. Going "cold turkey" as a strategy can be debated but pre-teen young girls should not be exposed to cigarette smoking as fashion. Body image and weight continue to wreak havoc with young girls self-esteem.According to a recent study published in the Journal of Health Promotion, girls who started to diet doubled the odds that they would begin smoking.
Interesting. Researchers did not find the same link in boys, who were also less likely than girls to diet.
Kudos to Tyra for taking the first step...but when all the body images going to become "healthier"?
