SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS AND WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS

Early day motion 2058, tabled 6 February 2019 by Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party). Signed by 22 members.

That this House acknowledges the petition by Mandy Jones, entitled 'LET'S STOP influencers and celebrities working with products promoting speedy weight loss', which calls on the Advertising Standards Authority to regulate social media influencers; appreciates that Mandy Jones, the founder of the Empowered Women Project, is promoting this petition to highlight the dangers of advertising products which encourage rapid weight loss; understands that the irresponsible advertising of diet products and promotion of unrealistic body expectations for women may adversely effect the mental health of young people; further understands that ‘before’ and ‘after’ weight loss photos are often staged to construct an inaccurate portrayal of the effectiveness of products; and calls on the Advertising Standards Authority to consider the wider impact of paid product placement on social media sites.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 12, Labour 4, Conservative 2, DUP 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.