ADVERTISING, THE MEDIA AND EATING DISORDERS

Early day motion 878, tabled 22 February 2010 by Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 45 members.

That this House notes that 1.6 million people in the UK are affected by eating disorders; further notes that an increasing body of research indicates that the media has a role in both providing a social context for the development and maintenance of eating disorders; further notes that the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests that the irresponsible use of digital enhancement or airbrushing is one aspect of this problem; urges the Government to establish a forum for the development of an editorial ethical code regarding the media's portrayal of body critical issues and the Committee on Advertising Practice to introduce a kitemark scheme to declare the extent to which digital retouching technology has been used to create overly-perfected and unrealistic images of women and men, as suggested by the Royal College; and encourages the promotion of media literacy within schools as outlined by the eating disorders charity Beat in its new manifesto.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 14, DUP 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 2.