Eating Disorders > FAQ > Body Image

Body image

What is wrong with wanting to look like a model?

Looking like a model is an unrealistic goal for 99 percent of the population. For most of us, genetics will not allow us to look like a model, no matter how hard we try.

Men and women who are models have clothes that are made for them. During a photo shoot, they have their hair and makeup touched up every three minutes. Photos also are touched up before the public ever sees them.

Some magazines do not even have live models for their photo shoots. One magazine created its cover model by pasting together features from different women. She is not even a real person. Keep all this in mind when watching movies or looking through magazines and ads. These models may have been touched up and airbrushed, and no longer look like themselves.