BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: GUEST,daylia
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 03:48 PM

Right on, sIx. And not all of us are wise enough to know that commercial images of the perfect bod are so unimportant - especially before the tender age of 10. That hype can become a one-way ticket to the hospital - or the grave - or at least few decades, maybe even a lifetime of self-hating misery.

Here's some interesting stats about the Media and Eating Disorders.   

In 1950 mannequins closely resembled the average measurements of women. The average hip measurement of mannequins and women were 34 inches. By 1990 the average hip measurement was 37 inches, while the average mannequins hip measured only 31 inches.

If today's mannequins were actual human women, based on their theoretical body-fat percentages they would have probably ceased to menstruate

Twenty years ago the average fashion model weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today she weighs 23% less.

Kate Moss is 5'7" and weights 95 pounds. That is 30% below ideal body weight.

Supermodels Niki Taylor and Elle Macpherson also meet the Body Mass Index physical criteria for Anorexia.

Gisele Bundchen was Vogue's model of the year, in part the magazine states, because she strays from the rail-thin image. Gisele is 5'11" and weights only 115, that is 25% below her ideal body weight.

Four out of five U.S. women are dissatisfied with their appearance.

81% of ten-year-old girls are afraid of being fat.

Over one half of normal weight white adolescent girls consider themselves fat.

Following viewing images of female fashion models, seven out of ten women felt more depressed and angrier than prior to viewing the images.


That last point and this little poem by one sufferer of an eating disorder may help explain why some people react to "supermodelling" with annoyance or disapproval.

"One day I actually picked up one of those subscription cards
That are always falling out of magazines
It was dropped by a woman who was everything I wanted to be
Beautiful
(thin)
tall
(thin)
rich
(thin)
successful
(thin)
perfect
(and God, she was thin)

perfect.

I looked down at myself,
My mediocre self
And I thought it was time to get a subscription
I took the card home and filled it out
And dropped it in the mailbox
Not knowing that when I signed my name I also signed away
Freedom
Peace of mind
Health
Hope
And happiness

When the issues started coming
I soaked them in greedily
But still I remained nothing more than me
And I thought
This isn't working, I have to try harder
So I found a community
Of people like me
And we shared what we were
What we should be
And how we should get there.
Some of us succeeded and some of us failed,
Some of us got fed-up and stopped reading
Some of us got the magazine ripped out of our hands,
And some of us died.

I never thought it would go this far, never thought that at
21
I'd be thankful to be alive
I tried to cancel my subscription, but was denied.
Didn't you read the fine print?
Once you signed you are stuck with me for life
A never ending barrage of models and
Grapefruit diets and
How to please your man and
How to tone your thighs and
How to slowly kill yourself by aiming for the unattainable.

I shove each new magazine in the back of my closet
But something in me can't bear to throw them out,
All those back issues of angst and devotion
I admit sometime my curiosity gets the better of my
Common sense
And I open the pages just to see what's new inside
Just to see
And God they are thin (perfect)
But it's not hard to seem flawless when you're
Two-dimensional.

I looked down at my arms and I turned them and
Pinched the flesh I tried for nine years to melt away
I sighed with the resignation that
I was 3-D.
I stood up and left my house and started
To resume my life."

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 03:53 PM

Quoted above, (a couple of times) "Beuty is in the eye of the beholder"
I prefer the Spike Milligan quote:






"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,
Get it out with Optrex"

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Homeless
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 04:44 PM

bobad-
"So the prime factor seems to be fame rather than money"
Does not one beget the other?

Not necessarily. There are many famous people who have died penniless (or worse) and many who had their 15 minutes of fame but did not get rich. Conversely, there are a large number of millionaires in the US who have never had any fame.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Amsel
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 05:39 PM

The hype is indeed partly responsible for many eating disorders not least of all for overeating. Far more people are dangerously overweight than underweight. They suffer from diseases like heart disease, high blood preasure, diabetes, osteoporosis, diseases of the joints, etc. The irony of the situation is, that the models who advertise Coca Cola, Mc Donalds, etc are invariably slim and have perfect teeth and skin. I wonder how much Coca Cola they drink?
Daylia and leeneia both pointed out, that the weight of a woman's body is within her own control. So why are they so bitter about supermodels being a different shape to the one they choose?

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: GUEST,daylia
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 06:19 PM

You think I'm bitter now? I'm glad you didn't meet me at 92 lbs!   :-)

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 06:30 PM

I think I'm going to beat it now. I don't move too fast anyway with these excess ten kilos I am carrying...

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: number 6
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 06:34 PM

Good one alanabit !! I liked that.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 07:05 PM

"the weight of a woman's body is within her own control"

That is an incorrect statement. It might be marginally true for a particular portion of the population, but it is NOT true for many.



Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: dianavan
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 07:24 PM

While its true that some people are influenced by the models in the fashion industry, not everyone suffers from eating disorders as a result. Low self-esteem combined with other psychological factors must contribute to the disorder or else everyone would be effected. Not everyone thinks they have to look like a fashion model or a movie star.

Gimme a break!

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 03:16 AM

Thank-you Dinavan, your penultimate sentence is also exactly what I said in my final paragraph of 0443 on 7/8/05.
So if a person's weight is not within their control, who does stuff those hundreds of excess calories into their bodies? No one here is arguing that it is a good idea to try and make yourself look like Kate Moss. I am arguing that you are more likely to feel good yourself and to look good to others if you eat healthily and exercise properly.
Gross over eating is encouraged by a whole industry - as is essentially passive behaviour. There is also a problem with the sheer amount of sugar and fat which is "hidden" in many foods (breakfast cereals for instance), which are ostensibly something else. You have the choice though whether to do what they want you to. If you ingest filth like coca cola and sit watching videos more than you exercise, you just might end up overweight. Anorexia is tragic, but far more people die of heart disease, diabetes and liver failure.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 07:53 AM

"So if a person's weight is not within their control, who does stuff those hundreds of excess calories into their bodies?"

There are MANY people with metabolic disorders, many of which are caused by years of wreaking havoc on one's body TRYING to slim down. Others have hypothyroidism (medical condition)which means their metabolism is incredibly slow. A person with this condition can eat half of what you eat in a day and still manage to gain weight....their bodies just do not process at full speed. Still others put on weight as a side effect of certain medications.

Not all people who are "fat" are stuffing their faces with garbage.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: GUEST,daylia
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 09:35 AM

I agree Michelle, and with alanabit and dianavan too. While everyone exposed to the media is influenced by it, and often in unhealthy ways, certainly only a few develop an eating disorder. There are many other predisposing factors - the article I linked to above lists quite a few. ANd it is interesting to note that the media is more likely to influence the vulnerable toward obesity than toward anorexia/bulimia. Yet, the behaviors which produce either condition could be called "eating disorders", no?

I'd like to point out that while Amsel attributed the statement "the weight of a woman's body is within her control" to myself and leeneia, a quick check over my posts above shows I said no such thing! Not sure leeneia did either.

And I do NOT agree with Amsel's statement! Certain elements of a person's physique - like height, eye and hair color, and yes even basic build (relative proportions of muscle/fat/bone) - are determined by genetics. Now granted, people can modify their weight alot easier than their height - but the biological 'template' people are born with is not under their conscious control.

What I'm trying to get at is why healthy people choose to modify that 'basic template' - because once that decision is made, the "hows" of such modication can lead to eating disorders - and obesity, anorexia, bulimia etc.

The "whys" have already been discussed here thoroughly - obviously, most 10 year old girls don't start "dieting" on their doctor's orders, but because they want to look like Britany! Over the years I've had quite a few of my pre-adolescent (female) students tell me they're on diets, even though only a couple are what I'd call overweight. (I often leave little snacks out for them while they wait - nuts, bowls of candied fruit, pretzels etc. That's how I know! THe bowl empties so fast when the boys are around - but the nights I have mostly girls 10 and over I hardly ever need to refill)

I had a very pretty little 6 yr old, with the very normal healthy little padding of baby fat for that age - tell me all down in the mouth last fall that she was way too "fat"!   Pretty sad .... but then again, if I were her Mom I'd have been saying "No, not yet!" the makeup and pantyhose and heels and provocative little lacy see-thru tops (complete with push-up bras size 26AAA?!?) that kid was always wearing too. What IS it with the fashion industry these days? Just check out little girl's stores like "LaSenza Girls" - honestly, the clothes look like mini-versions of what you find in women's lingerie shops! Are they are trying to cater to pedophiles, or am I just a sour old fossil at 47 - or what?!? I'm just thankful I was dressing boys all those years as Mom!

Sorry this is so long, but one last point - it's not just lack of exercise or overeating the 'wrong' foods, but often dieting itself that causes obesity. My poor mom, who was genetically endowed with a naturally 'big-boned' physique - has been on different diets all my life.   She's 70 now and she's still overweight, and STILL trying new ones! Did they ever work? Well, maybe for a few weeks, then the weight would reappear - with interest. Did she ever overeat? Not that I remember - she gained the extra pounds during her six pregnancies, and just never was able to lose them. She always ate like a bird, severely restricted her food to a few unsavory choices, never ate the family meals (even though she cooked them). She was either fasting or living on less than 1000 calories/day for years. No wonder her metabolism is so slow by now she can hardly eat anything without gaining weight!

What's worse is her painful attitude toward herself though ... I can't imagine what it would be like to hate what you see in the mirror every morning for 50 years straight.   :-(   Anyway, thanks for listening!

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:12 AM

I think we are getting somewhere now. Yes, the media is telling us a constant pack of lies about what we can do to our bodies - although most of the damaging messages - "Drink coke!", "Eat fast food!" tend to be subliminal.
I am also in agreement with the assertion that constantly going on diets is likely to do no good at all. We have long known that it can actually hinder the body's ability to process food.
Not many health professionals I know, however, blame obesity on genetic factors. In fact, only a small minority of cases are due to that.
Reading what I have about one country, in particular, makes me realise why it is so very hard for people in some countries to maintain a desired body weight. If the following were true where I lived, I would certainly be grossly overweight:
I were not able to cycle the three or four miles into work a couple of times a week.
I were not able to walk an average of two or three miles a day just shopping or walking with my children.
I were not able to buy museli and breakfast cereals, which did not contain huge amounts of hidden sugar. (True of other foodstuffs too).
I did not have time to clean fresh vegetables and prepare fresh food.
If I could not buy drinks without a high sugar content.(This used to be true in Eastern Europe).
If I were not able to do a proper fitness routine several times a week.
It is also worth noting that you may welll need less calories if you are in a hot environment (although you certainly still need to eat properly) or if you have a sedentary lifestyle. In my case, I know I am overweight because I have failed to adjust my eating habits now that I am not out one man banding (physical work) every day. It is within my control though.
The bad news is that advertisers are investing enormous sums of money in trying to persuade us to eat badly. The good news is that we can ignore them.
With regard to Daylia's remarks about the sexualistion of children - I could not agree more. I think it is repulsive - as evil and despicable as cigarette advertising.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: GUEST,daylia
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:21 AM

PS   I was kidding about weighing 92 lbs, folks. I haven't weighed that since I was about 11 years old.   A ;-) rather than :-)   would have been clearer - sorry bout that. Just to clarify - yes I've struggled with anorexic tendencies, and I do know what it's like to make yourself so thin you're sickly and weak all the time, to regularly starve oneself to the point where you can't eat without pain even when you want to - but I never did let it get to the point of full-blown clinical anorexia.

What "cured" me? Well, bearing and feeding babies can do wonders for the appetite. Watching a family member destroy her health and happiness with bulimia for years was a wakeup call too - but the most effective "cure" I ever found was simply throwing out the bathroom scales about 15 years ago! I've never replaced them. I assess my weight today by how my clothes fit, and that's it. And when I do occasionally get on a scale at the doctors or in someone else's bathroom, at least the numbers revealed don't seem to set the emotional tone for the whole day anymore, like they used to. What a relief to be free of that stupid obsession - I highly recommend it!

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: alanabit
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 10:36 AM

Damned right!

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 08:19 PM

"if a person's weight is not within their control"

Just ask someone with PCOS.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 08:23 PM

Yep....go ahead and ask them. Lovely thing, PCOS.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 12:25 AM

This is what constitutes a super model:

Really interesting historical subject.

Perfect fit everywhere.

No flash.

No moulding flaws.

Good instruction sheet.

Excellent packaging and great artwork.

Superbly accurate detail in all areas.

Excellent decal sheet.

Good painting references.

Acceptable price level.

What we need at this point is a 1/32 scale Kawasaki Hien that satisfies all of the above.

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Cluin
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 01:48 AM

What reconstitutes a Super Model? A plastic surgeon?

Subject: RE: BS: What Constitutes a 'Super Model'?
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Aug 05 - 10:51 AM

Let's see...skinny, no hips or tits, wealthy...that pretty much describes Rosie The Wonder Dog, 'cept she's pretty hairy and likes to lick her privates alot. Probably dreams of red meat more than other super models too.

Hmmm...my old Dodge pickup was a pretty good model, but the baby seat in the middle didn't exactly make it a chick magnet.

Peace, Mooh.