Effects of Thinness Promoting Message from TV Media on College Women's Appearance Distortion

The purpose of this study was to identify effects of thinness promoting message from TV media on college women's appearance distortion. The subjects were 408 college women and survey was done from Aug 10 to 30. 2009. Most college women wanted their height to be taller and weight to be lighter than their actual height and weight, and preferred slimmer figures. Over half of college women enjoyed fashion related TV programs more than diet or plastic surgery related TV programs. College women were classified into 3 groups of TV heavy watcher, TV medium watcher, and TV light watcher according to TV watching time. TV heavy watchers wanted their figures to be slimmer and weight to be lighter than other groups, and were affected by thinness promoting message from TV media more. TV heavy watchers of thinness promoting message related programs showed a tendency of distorting their body more and tried to agree with those TV programs more. Especially, college women agreed with plastic surgery related TV programs more than fashion or diet related TV programs. TV media producers should keep in mind those side-effects and try to show more universal and diverse figures to TV watchers.