Photos of models in advertisements that have been digitally altered must come with a notice that the image has been modified, according to a proposal by British lawmakers from the legislature’s Health and Welfare Committee.
Parliamentarians also want the government to soon approve a proposal for stricter regulation in the advertising of aesthetic procedures, such as facial fillers. In addition, people who decide to undergo an aesthetic procedure must wait a 48-hour interval to reflect on the intervention and have their physical and mental health history analyzed by professionals.
“We’ve heard of some harrowing experiences — an assembly-line approach, with no-questions-asked procedures,” said former health minister Jeremy Hunt, who chairs the committee.
At a committee hearing, Charlie King, who became known in the UK for participating in a reality showsaid he did not undergo an assessment of his well-being when he had a nose job.
Influencer Kim Booker, who, like Charlie, has body dysmorphic disorder – a weariness in the search for alleged flaws in appearance that, for others, may be imperceptible -, told lawmakers that she has become dependent on apps that alter the image.
“I got to the point where I was always using these filters,” Booker reported. “When the video switched to my natural face, I was a little shocked.”
“I hated what I saw, because you get used to the filtered version of yourself.”
Growing up in the 1990s, Kim says she was bombarded with images of “Disney princesses” as references to what a woman should look like.
“I felt like I needed to fit the role model with the big eyes, small nose, loose hair and small waist,” she said. “It grew with me through my teenage years, into adulthood.”
unreal images
The parliamentary commission wants advertisers to present a wider variety of aesthetic and body types, at the expense of filtered and unreal images posted by influencers.
“We believe the government should introduce legislation to ensure that commercial images are labeled with some indication if any part of the body, including its proportions and skin tone, is digitally altered,” the report says.
Meanwhile, the document calls for substances used in facial fillers to be accessible only with a prescription, and for minimum standards of training for professionals who make the applications.
The report also urges the government to urgently look into the growing use of anabolic steroids in the UK – the UK Anti-Doping Agency estimates over a million users – particularly by men looking to build muscle.
According to Professor James McVeigh, who contributed to the report, one of the main problems with anabolic steroids is that people who take long-term use “will not return to normal testosterone production”.
“We know that the longer the period of time people use it, the more damage there is in adulthood, with cardiovascular disease and brain changes,” explains McVeigh. “There may come a time when these people choose to stop using anabolic steroids, but they will face a strong impact.”
“It’s that drop that happens when you reach the point of zero testosterone, which can lead to depression and a lot of mental health problems.”
Vamps guitarist James Brittain-McVey, who underwent surgery to remove natural breast tissue from his chest, told the commission: “Social media has spurred me on even deeper down that rabbit hole.”
According to the parliamentary report, eating disorders have increased in recent years, which is why the government should carry out annual checks on the weight and well-being of all children and young people.
The document also calls for more action to tackle childhood obesity, such as restricting joint purchase promotions for foods and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar. A British government spokesman said: “We will introduce a national licensing scheme to help to prevent exploitation, improve safety and ensure that individuals make informed and safe choices about non-surgical cosmetic procedures”.
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