Committees

Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image

Inquiry

Awareness of the impact of advertising and media consumption on people’s body image has increased in recent years. Negative body image is widely perceived as solely a young women’s problem. But more recently, research has shown that this is a wider issue:  

  • Recent studies report that over a third of adults feel anxious or depressed about their body image, and nearly half (44%) want to see greater diversity in the mainstream media.
  • NHS studies have shown that 57% of young men felt pressured by social media to look good, and 23% believed there to be a ‘perfect male body.’ 
  • The Mental Health Foundation reported in a recent study that 40% of LGBT+ adults felt shame because of their body image. 
  • 80% of disabled people surveyed by Trailblazers said that their body image has a direct impact on their mental well-being.

The Women and Equalities Committee want to hear from a range of people and organisations on what causes poor body image and how people’s body image is impacted by companies, adverts, social media and Government policy.

The written evidence published as part of this inquiry will be used to inform the work of the Committee. Publication of written evidence does not equate to an endorsement of the views it contains by the Committee.

More information on the inquiry

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 27 January 2021
2:30pm Public
Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image - Oral evidence 27 January 2021
2:30pm
  • Caroline Dinenage MP (Minister for Digital and Culture at Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Mark Griffin (Deputy Director, Creative Economy at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
  • Nadine Dorries MP (Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health at Department of Health and Social Care)
  • Zoe Seager (Deputy Director for Mental Health Policy and Delivery at Department for Health and Social Care)
Virtual meeting
Wednesday 16 December 2020
2:30pm Public
Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image - Oral evidence 16 December 2020
2:30pm
  • Alexandra Evans (Head of Child Safety Public Policy Europe at TikTok)
  • Henry Turnball (Head of public policy UK & the Nordics at Snap Inc)
  • Richard Earley (UK Public Policy Manager at Facebook Inc )
Virtual
Wednesday 2 December 2020
2:30pm Public
Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image - Oral evidence 2 December 2020
2:30pm
  • Sophie Van Ettinger (Global Vice President at Dove)
  • Caroline O'Neill (General Manager at L’Oréal Paris (UK))
  • Kelly Byrne (Commercial Director at Nasty Gal, Boohoo)
  • Kate Dale (Strategic Lead, Campaigns at Sport England)
3:30pm
  • Malcolm Phillips (Regulatory Policy Manager at Advertising Standards Authority)
  • Chris Macleod (Customer and Revenue Director at Transport for London)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 21 October 2020
2:30pm Public
Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image - Oral evidence 21 October 2020
2:30pm
  • Danny Bowman (Body Image Panelist at Lived Experience)
  • Tatyana Anonymous (Body Image Panelist at Lived Experience)
  • Kate Roberts (Body Image Panelist at Lived Experience)
  • Cassianne Anonymous (Body Image Panelist at Lived Experience)
3:30pm
  • Dr Marc Bush (Associate Director at YoungMinds)
  • Catherine Deakin (Director Communications and Fundraising at Changing Faces)
  • Dr Antonis Kousoulis (Director for England and Wales at Mental Health Foundation)
  • Zoe Palmer (External Affairs Manager at Girlguiding UK)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster

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We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.