Overdosing on Anna Nicole: Media's effects on women's body health images and policy

A woman's body is a commodity clearly marketed to and by the media. In recent history, there has been no more famous or representative example than Anna Nicole Smith, the former playmate and Trimspa spokeswoman. In early February 2007, her story met with an ironic end as at age 39, she died just two days after the FDA approved the first OTC diet pill, Orlistat or “Alli.” Although hers was a more public struggle, Anna Nicole was not alone in her battles with body, media, and health. Four of five American women report dissatisfaction with their appearance and nearly half report being on a diet on a given day.

While popular media's trend toward representing a thinner body ideal for American women is well documented, and contrary to realistic body norms, growing evidence suggests that this media exposure distorts body self-perception. Further media exposure, specifically celebrity-focused, normalizes dieting and influences health policies that emphasize dieting above healthier, preventative alternatives. Utilizing thematic media research, market and policy analysis, this study attempts to better understand the intersections of celebrity body focus, including diet products spokeswomen; dieting and diet related sales trends; and, the policy changes that lead the FDA's drive toward legitimizing over the counter diet aids. Given the sizeable burden of body image and dieting behaviors among American women, findings from this study may offer significant contribution to understanding media's effects on self-image as well as its ramifications for broader policies targeting women's health.