Photoshop Discouraged By American Medical Association

The excessive use of Photoshop has become such a hot topic that the phrase "photoshop fail" has become incorporated into the fashion industry lexicon (in fact, it's one of our favorites to use).

Now, Jezebel reports, the problem has finally gotten noticed by the American Medical Association, which has adopted a new policy against the altering of photographs "in a manner that could promote unrealistic expectations of appropriate body image."

In a press release, the AMA describes how the altering of models' bodies in advertisements (as well as in fashion editorials and certain, ahem, Ralph Lauren ads in which "a model's waist was slimmed so severely, her head appeared to be wider than her waist") leads to unrealistic ideas about body image, particularly for "impressionable" children and teenagers.

The encouragement of such unachievable body standards has been linked to the eating disorders and other health problems for kids and adolescents. The AMA's recommendation is for advertising associations to work with children's health organizations on guidelines that discourage the use of Photoshop and similar photo editing software.

While not the most forceful policy, the AMA's new stance is a step in the right direction. Whether it will actually discourage Talbots, Ann Taylor, Victoria's Secret, Dolce & Gabbana and just about every magazine ever from airbrushing the hell out of its models -- well, that remains to be seen.

Think the overzealous use of Photoshop isn't a problem? Or just get weird pleasure out of passing judgment on the worst Photochopping jobs? Take walk down memory lane with these memorably bad airbrushing moments.

(Via Jezebel)

Comments

[nic and gwen]

01:06 PM on 07/05/2011

this initiative, although lovely, will not be effective. i come from 11 years of gobbling cornucopias of food in one sitting, vomiting each calorie until blood and intestinal juices surged from my mouth, safe-proofing with laxative abuse, and starving myself until the next binge and purge episode commenced. and i just wanted to be pretty. so, why wouldn't i see value in this new policy? please check out my blog entry to read my full opinion. http://nicoleandgwendolyn.com/2011/07/05/condoms-on-bananas-and-eating-disorders/

[TeamSanity]

01:34 AM on 06/27/2011

And right below this article is an ad that claims "57 year old mom looks 27!"

[SoCalDoc]

10:45 PM on 06/26/2011

No wonder health care is currently in its horrible state and getting worse. The American Medical Association has bluntly let us know where their priorities lie.

[Kenz300]

05:21 PM on 06/26/2011

Isn't this photo a few years old? Seems like I've seen this before a long time ago.

[pcplz]

01:54 PM on 06/26/2011

Just like, I'm not fat...just not tall enough....

Now, It is not that my waist isn't small enough....my head isn't big enough!!

OH Dear!!!!

[Chinmay]

05:00 AM on 06/26/2011

that's fhake

[Mafdet]

07:34 PM on 06/25/2011

Wherever does that lady keep her organs?

[Dre1984]

05:42 PM on 06/25/2011

It's about damn time, but unfortunately far too late.

[Cinquopated]

02:48 PM on 06/25/2011

There was another study done (I don't remember where I read about it) that said that young people mistakenly find the images that they look at on television or magazines to be 'realer' that the people they see in life - so their view of 'what a body looks like' ends up getting skewed because of out-of-the-norm models and the over-prevalence of using computer technology to enhance the figure.

[Wistfulslinking]

04:17 PM on 06/26/2011

Another study that common sense defines without need of a study, LOL

[wandering girl]

11:43 PM on 06/26/2011

"common sense" is not always right. and that's what studies are for.

[detalumis]

11:33 AM on 06/25/2011

I think it's bad business to photoshop bodys for online sales. I generally study how the clothes look to decide whether i will buy it or not, I make allowances for the fact that the model is taller and thinner but I look to see how tight it is, how low cut, where the sleeves hit etc.. When bodies are photoshopped and the clothes don't fit because of that and I return then or get discouraged because nothing fits properly compared to the way it is on the model than I don't become a repeat customer. The whole point of displaying clothes is to sell them and keep selling them not to make a model look pretty-pretty.

[logic-a-go-go]

03:03 AM on 06/25/2011

Photoshop is bad for you if you're Amber Rose. Check out the entertainment page and see if that head is photoshopped onto that body. And it's not the first time they did it to her.

[KEATSnSKYESMOM]

11:54 PM on 06/24/2011

Where is the AMA when it comes to girls' dolls? Have you seen some of the dolls for sale - they are worse then barbie and look very similar to the girl above. Big heads and tiny bodies.

[wandering girl]

11:44 PM on 06/26/2011

but everyone knows they're *dolls*. photographs, however, are usually interpreted as depicting reality.

[Kim Erickson]

03:29 PM on 06/24/2011

I love the style section, too. They're taking already thin models and making them freaky looking. The before pictures are so much more appealing.

[by-the-sea-]

12:48 AM on 06/24/2011

Bravo, AMA!!!

[Mythos]

08:29 PM on 06/23/2011

This Ralph Lauren model is so naturally thin. Why widdle away even more of her?