Health and Advertising

                        Advertisements are such a large part of everyday life through television, billboards, and magazines that we often neglect to acknowledge the powerful impact they can have on our overall wellbeing and health. As consumers, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements which use false images and scenarios designed to make us desire not only products, but also a certain perceived image, regardless of the negative effects of trying to obtain this unachievable lifestyle. Advertisements which portray beauty as being a certain size, as well as ones that promote the use of tobacco, alcohol, and prescription drugs can often cause detrimental health effects to a misguided audience.

            My personal experience with being effected by seeing advertisements which portrayed beauty as being a stick figure size allowed me to easily relate to the challenges faced by women everyday who see these advertisements. For most of my life, I have greatly struggled with self-image. This is due to the fact that the majority of what I have seen in magazines and on television are extremely skinny people advertising the latest and coolest clothing. When I was thirteen, I looked at my first Teen Vogue magazine, and was convinced that the only way I could be truly happy and beautiful was to be the same size as the models pictured. Even though I came from a loving and supportive family who told me I was perfect just the way I was, certain aesthetically pleasing advertisements which showcased thin girls wearing stunning clothing and being surrounded by attractive guys warped my thought process and convinced me that I wasn’t beautiful. It wasn’t until I was older that I finally realized that beauty actually does come in all shapes and sizes. Many young girls and women struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia because they are made to believe that looking like the models do in the advertisements will allow them to be seen as beautiful. This is dangerous because a person’s mindset can become negative as they try to obtain an unrealistic and unhealthy weight. On the opposite, but still equally unhealthy side, some advertisements promote very unhealthy foods which can cause health problems such as obesity. Richard Campbell states, “More troubling is that an obese nation is good for business (creating a multibillion-dollar market for diet products, exercise equipment, and self-help books), so media outlets see little reason to change current ad practices” (408).

From: http://momgrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/skinny-models.jpg
An advertisement featuring very skinny models. 

            Fortunately, the use of advertisements promoting tobacco are now very much restricted due to the poor effects tobacco has historically had on public health. Campbell states, “Each year an estimated 400,000 Americans die from diseases related to nicotine addiction and poisoning.” (408). In the past, the tobacco industry has attempted to appeal to teenagers. This was shown through the cartoon character Joe Camel who represented Camel cigarettes. The design of Joe Camel was effectively updated to appeal to teenagers. Campbell states, “One study revealed that before 1988 fewer than 1 percent of teens under age eighteen smoked Camels. After the ad blitz, however, 33 percent of this age group preferred Camels” (408). Camel has additionally attempted to appeal to women and African Americans through their advertisements. Due to the fact that tobacco companies had known all along that nicotine was addictive, their advertising became strictly limited as retribution by the government’s health division. One of the major provisions stated that tobacco companies could no longer target young people in their advertisements, thus Joe Camel was no longer used. Additionally, tobacco companies were no longer allowed to sponsor athletic events or concerts. It is important to note that these provisions are not global, but instead only apply in the United States.

From:http://www.artofsmoking.com/images/motorcycle.jpg
A picture of Joe Camel. This cartoon increased the number of teenagers who smoked Camel cigarettes. 

 

            Drinking alcohol can have negative effects on a person’s health. Alcohol can impair ones thought process as well as contribute to diseases such as liver failure. Campbell states, “Every year, about 100,000 people die from alcohol-related diseases, and another 16,000 to 17,000 die in car crashes involving drunk drivers” (409). Like tobacco companies, alcohol advertisements have come under great scrutiny for trying to appeal to young people. The pressure put on young people, especially college students, to drink alcohol is extreme. Alcohol is perceived in advertisements as something that will give you an edge and seem cooler, sexier, and more powerful. However, as Campbell states, “In reality, though, alcohol is a chemical depressant; it diminishes athletic ability and sexual performance, triggers addiction in roughly 10 percent of the U.S. population, and factors into mostly domestic abuse cases” (409-411).

From: http://sentalala13.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/josecuervo271210448_std-40202625_std.jpg
An advertisement which is trying to appeal to people by being "cool" and "sexy".

            Although prescription drugs can be very helpful to many people, they can also carry negative effects. Advertisements often only show the benefits of prescription pills which greatly pressures a person to try the prescription pill because they are under the false impression that all of their health problems will be fixed. However, many advertisements do not give the viewer a chance to consider the risks of the medicine. It later came out that the medicine known as Vioxx, had harsh side effects. Effective advertisements for prescription drugs can be tempting because they seem relatable and as if whatever physical or emotional problems you are struggling with will be cured by the medicine. However, viewers must remember that these advertisements only last about one to two minutes and that is not enough time to process all of the possible side effects that could greatly affect your body.

From: http://prescriptiondrugs.procon.org/files/1-prescription-drugs-images/vioxx.jpg
An advertisement for Vioxx which was a prescription drug that had harsh side effects. 

 

            It is challenging living in a society in which advertisements have such a powerful effect on us. Advertisements teach us that there is only one physical look which qualifies as beautiful, that tobacco and alcohol are cool, and that prescription pills will solve all of our problems. We are continuously subjected to advertisements that are so well done that we begin to desire the product and lifestyle being shown in them. We often neglect to consider the health risks involved with attempting to obtain the falsely portrayed lifestyle in the advertisement. It is important to be educated on what these health risks are so that we do not fall victim to the cunning ways of advertisements.