Attack of the MAGAZINE racks!

Waiting in line at the grocery store has become a torturous ordeal for any person attempting to avoid the dieting craze and societal pressures of perfection.
For the purpose of research I picked up the “Star” magazine, the cover is graced with the title “Hollywood’s Secret New Diet Pills!” Of course, I must admit that my curiosity is sparked.
Not to my surprise the cover also shows Carmen Electra in a bikini, Katie homes (looking on the verge of anorexia), Ashley Simpson in a bare-all dress, and a healthy looking Janet Jackson.

The subhead promotes further curiosity reading, “They Melt Pounds FAST- Who’s taking them and who’s not?”

Along with several other magazines, waiting in the check out line has now become a reinforcement of our emphasis on being thin. I try to avert my eyes, but the temptation is too strong.

It can be depressing to compare yourself to air-brushed cover-models. Mostly because they are air-brushed and you aren’t . . . perfection isn’t fair, luckily it isn’t possible either.

Taking a closer look at Star magazine, it becomes disgustingly apparent that we live in a society who places far too much value on physical appearance, a key point to the driving force behind my bog’s mission to end the dieting obsession.

Taking a look at the table of contents for the magazines, a few cannot help but be noted: “Why Jess is a mess . . .from her looks to her love life, the blonde needs to bust out of the box she’s in,” or “Hollywood’s Secret Skinny Pill,” and finally “The most beautiful girl of the week: Sienna Miller.”

Ironic how these magazines claim to be an empowering force for women, when articles such as these fill their pages every month.

A few ads also call my attention. Those typical stomach bearing, before and after diet pill ads that promise ungodly amounts of quick weight loss. Funny how the doctors who recommend these various diet pills look either extremely young or extremely stereotypical in a white doctor suit with a stethoscope over their shoulder.

The focus of all these diet ads on “FAST,” “SPEED,” or “JUST DAY’s” is another play on our societies give it to me now attitude and therefore continues to be profitable for the promise of a quick fix. There are six ads claiming the same “lose ten pounds fast,” line within this 90 page magazine.

It is apparent to me that this repetition of images and promises is what’s really getting to the heart of our desperate dieting society.

Strangely . . . the article that drew me into the magazine turns out to be a special report on a diet pill that is causing long-term health consequences in its users. The magazine even uses a disclaimer to ensure the audience understands it is not endorsing the products. How responsible of them. Weird however, that the cover says nothing of a negative diet drug that may cause death, but of a FLASHY NEW DIET adorned with pictures of ideal celeb bods.

This and all other magazines are full of hype and just waiting to play on the self-esteem and body image of its next victim.
It is up to us to see through these consistently perpetuated images and ignore the false truths of “weight-loss secrets.” Just remember, if it were that easy, then wouldn’t everyone be thin?