National Advisory Group on Body Image Release Proposed National Strategy

Media Release, The Hon. Kate Ellis , MP, 27 October 2009

The Proposed National Strategy on Body Image report, prepared by the National Advisory Group on Body Image, was this week presented to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Ms Kate Ellis.

The Advisory Group, which was appointed by Ms Ellis, hopes that the report will assist the Australian Government in addressing the ‘growing problem of negative body image amongst young people’.

Body image has been rated as one of the top three concerns by secondary-school students and young adults in the National Survey of Young Australians, conducted by Mission Australia, for the last two years.

Ms Ellis stated that ‘negative body image is a serious problem that affects the lives of many young people – both men and women…this report will guide us on how we can work in partnership with industry, parents, the community and young people to stem this unhealthy epidemic.’

The report includes a Voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image which recommends that advertisers, the media and the fashion industry:

• use positive content and messaging to support the development of a positive body image
• use a diverse range of people, body shapes, sizes and ethnicities that are appropriate to their target audience
• use advertising that supports positive and healthy body image behaviour
• not use digital technology in a way that alters images of people so that their body shape and features are unrealistic or unattainable through healthy practices
• use models that are clearly of a healthy weight
• only use people aged 16 years or older to model adult clothes
• stock a wide variety of sizes that reflects demand from customers.

For a copy of the Proposed National Strategy on Body Image, visit the Australian Government Youth website.

 

 

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