Anorexia inspired ads release storm of outrage

A storm of angry reactions is raining down upon clothing designer Ralph Lauren for his release of a poorly altered ad featuring model Filippa Hamilton. The distorted image disgusted the international community as it seemed to be more clearly an advertising promoting eating disorders than selling clothing. The original photo depicts Hamilton's head on a lower body that would more comfortably fit a 6 year old. Backlash includes an on-line petition by film maker Darryl Roberts declaring Lauren's ads as damaging to women's self esteem. A national boycott is also underway.
As if to punctuate the situation, Ralph Lauren fired the model, Filippa Hamilton, back in April, 2009. "They fired me because they said I was overweight and I couldn't fit in their clothes anymore," Hamilton reported. Filippa Hamilton is 5'10", weighs 120 pounds and wears a size 4. Subsequent Ralph Lauren ads with other models suffered from the same frightening photoshopped disasters. Clearly, the clothing czar didn't learn his lesson.
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is one of the many organization demanding a change in advertising policies that encourage eating disorders. NOW has prioritized encouraging women's self esteem with Body awareness education, "Love your Body Day" and a posting of ads offensive to women and ads that are supportive of women. NOW has asked Ralph Lauren to apologize encouraging unrealistic body images that lead to eating disorders.
Although it is understood that most photos for advertising have been digitally altered to achieve a desired effect, the results of the Ralph Lauren ad was shocking. The impossibly narrowed waist and hips indicated that the model was suffering from anorexia or bulimia. The original photo, before the radical changes, depicted the model with a narrow frame. The tight clothing revealed a model that was already uncommonly thin. The only way to achieve the image depicted in the altered photo would be with a combination of surgery, make up and a deadly eating disorder.
Most cases of anorexia and bulimia are symptoms of unhealthy self esteem. According to the Women's Center for Healthy Living (WCHL), "Anorexia and bulimia are characterized in part by a refusal to eat and repeated attempts at dieting. Even if individuals suffering from anorexia or bulimia are a normal weight, their body images are distorted, causing them to continually attempt weight loss. The thought process of those suffering from anorexia or bulimia is that if they only weighed a certain number, life would be "good" and they would feel good about themselves. The truth is that weight cannot and does not determine your self-esteem or self-worth."
Treatment for those suffering from an eating disorder is available throughout Oregon. The WCHL offers a list of symptoms of eating disorders, clinics that specialize in treatment programs and recommendations on what to look for in an effective eating disorder program. There is also a national 24 hour helpline designed to assist those struggling with anorexia and bulimia which is available by dialing 1-800-941-5313.