53% of American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen. (source)

Scary thought, right? How about these:

• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).
• By the time they’re 17, girls have seen 250,000 TV commercialstelling them they should be aspire to be a sex object or have a body size they can never achieve.

Canadians are exposed to the same ads as their neighbours in the USA. Canada needs to address the impact photoshopped images have on mental health. Advertisers must either be regulated in the amount of editing and changes that can be in Canadian advertisements, or release a disclaimer with ads that have been altered. Advertisements from international companies should be required to include a disclaimer informing the audience that the images of models have been altered.

Photoshop was not invented to completely change the way people look. The problem is not photoshop. Editing a stray hair or altering the colour of the sky is not going to negatively impact viewers. The problem is not people who happen to fit societies ideas of beauty. The problem is trying to fit a world full of diverse, unique and beautiful people into one industry standard. Women, men, boys and girls are all impacted by the images that rule our advertising in print and and on screen.

We now live in a society where only those who are thin are healthy, and 'plus size' people are viewed as unattractive and unhealthy. Cellulite, wrinkles, freckles, and various body types are all being adjusted for ads, which often leads to models being unrecognizable.

But we're starting to fight back. Companies like Aerie are pledging to no longer alter their models, and encourages body positivity. Dove is widening the lens on beauty, and more and more celebrities are releasing before and after images of their photoshoots in support of real, natural beauty.

Companies that are promoting body positivity and real beauty (the way a person is naturally, no edits or touch ups) are seeing positive responses. Aerie reported a spike in sales of 9% in 2014. People are tired of being bombarded by the impossible and the negative way it makes them feel when they realize that image of perfection can not be achieved.

But so what? I mean, if we're aware that this is happening, we're not going to be effected, right? That's assuming that people are aware for one. A study in the UK revealed that 15% of 18-24 year olds believe that models displayed in advertising are accurate depict the human body (souce). In 2011 the American Medical Association announced it would adopted new policies discouraging the use of photoshop due impacts on mental health, eating disorders and body image (source).

Billions of dollars are spent every year in beauty ads that go on to negatively impact our society and the way people view their own bodies. What a great ploy to sell beauty products.

Protect our youth, promote body confidence, promote healthy choices, demand truth in advertisements. The truth is beautiful. Real, untouched images are beautiful, because people are beautiful as they are.