Abstract

The uptake of products, services, and informational resources devoted to helping men and women change and feel better about their bodies is staggering. For instance, the weight loss market in the United States alone is estimated to be over $60 billion per annum (Marketdata, 2011). Americans spend roughly $10 billion per year on cosmetic surgery (Fast facts, 2011). In addition, newsstands, grocery checkouts, and convenience stores are flooded with fitness and health magazines that are filled with stories and advertisements promoting strategies for physical self-improvement. Together, these examples attest to the importance—and fragility—of men's and women's body image within contemporary society.