It is estimated that the average American sees between 400-600 ads per day, with 1 in 11 ads including a direct message about beauty.The implied message in advertising is to never be satisfied. If consumers can be convinced that the way they look or the way they are is inadequate, then they will be more likely to buy products that help them become the way they want to be.

For one day this week, pay close attention to the advertisements that you see (Hint: look beyond just media! There are name brands all around you at any given time.) What messages can you pick up from these ads? What do they tell you about yourself? Reflect on what you observed. How do advertising and its messages influence the prevalence of eating disorders in our culture?