ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Effects of advertising on teen body image

Advertising means the pictures, videos and messages that we see and hear when we are watching TV, browsing the internet, reading magazines or billboards. The main job of advertising is to persuade us to buy or use a product or a service. For example, you may see ads for toys or clothes or food that try to make you want these things.

When we see ads that show people with perfect bodies and faces, it may make us feel bad about our own bodies. This is especially true for teenagers who are still growing and changing. They may see models who are very thin and muscular and believe that they should look like that too. They may start to think that something is wrong with their own bodies when they don't match the picture they see in ads.

Some ads also try to sell us weight loss products or programs that promise to make us look like the models we see. But these products may not be safe or effective. They may actually harm our health by making us lose weight too quickly or depriving us of the nutrients we need.

The effects of advertising can be very harmful to teen body image. It can affect the way we feel about ourselves and our bodies, leading to low self-esteem, negative body image, and even eating disorders. It's important for teenagers to learn how to understand and critique the information they get from ads, so they can make informed and healthy choices about their bodies and their lives.