Beauty Sick

How the cultural obsession with appearance hurts girls and women.

Renee Engeln Ph.D.

How Common Is Anorexia Among Fashion Models?

Despite recent pushes for the fashion industry to embrace healthier body norms, many fashion models remain dangerously thin.

Did the Pandemic Reduce Injuries from High Heels?

High heels send thousands of women to the emergency room each year. Could pandemic-inspired changes in wardrobe and workplace habits reduce these injuries?

Who Is Most Likely to Hate Their Face?

A large survey of U.S. adults reveals who likes (and doesn't like) their face and why face satisfaction matters.

If a Boss Is Rude to Everyone, Can They Still Be Sexist?

New research suggests that sexism can be hard to identify when a man is insulting or unpleasant to both men and women.

Zoom Fatigue Is Worse When You Don't Like Your Face

New research shows that seeing your own face while video-conferencing makes Zoom fatigue worse, especially for women.

Why Does Women's Clothing Have to Be So Uncomfortable?

Research reveals that women spend more time than men in painful or distracting clothing. These clothes aren't just uncomfortable—they're bad for mental health.

Who Engages in More Social Media Deception, Men or Women?

A new study finds women engage in more online deception about their physical attractiveness than men do, but men are more likely to be deceptive about their achievements.

Perfectionism Makes Social Media Use More Toxic for Girls

A new study finds that teen girls prone to perfectionism are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of social media.

Teen Girls Are Sent Unwanted Images of Male Genitalia More Often Than Anyone Thought

Studies find that the majority of teen girls receive unsolicited sexual photos. Though girls tend to feel disgust at these images, they also feel powerless to stop them.

Nobody Knows What “Clean Eating” Means

Recent research suggests there is no good answer to the question of what “clean eating” means, much to the detriment of consumers.

Fat or Obese: Which Terms Are Least Stigmatizing?

Researchers examine which weight-related terms are most and least preferred by heavier patients.

The Science Supporting Victoria's Secret's Big Changes

Research suggests Victoria's Secret's massive rebranding effort is a step in the right direction when it comes to women's psychological health.

Fat Shaming and Weight-Based Biases Are Bad for Health

New research conducted across six countries confirms that being teased or treated unfairly because of weight is linked with unhealthy eating habits, less exercise, and more stress.

The Psychological Benefits of Intuitive Eating

A newly published analysis of nearly 100 studies shows that intuitive eating is linked with a variety of positive mental health outcomes.

Barbies May Do Damage That Realistic Dolls Can't Undo

Researchers find that a few minutes of play with Barbies changes girls’ ideas of what their body should look like.

Woman-Hating Tweets Linked to Real-Life Violence

A new study demonstrates that incidents of intimate-partner violence can be predicted by the number of misogynistic tweets in a given geographic area.

The Gender Gap in Negotiation May Start Very Young

When it comes to asking for what they think they deserve, by age 8 girls are already more hesitant to negotiate with a male experimenter than a female experimenter, a new study finds.

Schools Should Stop Giving Kids BMI Report Cards

A new study of over 28,000 children concludes that sending body size report cards to parents does no good and may cause harm.

3 Ways to Feel Better Right Now

Emotional distress can be paralyzing. The good news is that researchers have documented several techniques that can give you an immediate mood boost.

Do Ads for Sexy Halloween Costumes Target Young Girls?

Sexy Halloween costumes aren't just sold to women. New research shows how outfits for young girls are more likely to be sexualized than those for boys.

COVID-19 May Be Making Eating Disorders Worse

A new study suggests that pandemic-related stress and lockdowns can exacerbate the symptoms of eating disorders, especially among the already vulnerable.

Orthorexia: Healthy Eating or an Eating Disorder?

Because it is more socially acceptable to focus on healthy eating than it is to have an eating disorder, "orthorexia" may be a way for some to mask anorexia.

Women Think Men Want Models. They’re Wrong.

New research shows that women believe men think fashion models have the ideal body shape. In reality, both men and women tend to believe fashion models are too thin.

Exercise as a Tool for Managing Anxiety

The research is clear that exercise, whether alone or combined with other treatments, can be a great way to reduce anxiety—and it can make you feel better almost immediately.

Why Instagram Is Worse for Body Image Than Facebook

Just seven minutes of Instagram use can decrease body satisfaction in young women.

How Yoga Improves Body Image

A large body of research now suggests that yoga — when practiced under the right conditions — can facilitate a sense of positive embodiment.

Stop Body Shaming During the Outbreak

Be gentle with the people on your social media feed and with yourself. Instead of focusing on weight gain, take this opportunity to show compassion to your body.

Yes, Victoria's Secret Models Are Getting Even Thinner

It's not your imagination. Victoria's Secret models have been getting thinner over time just as the average woman's body has been getting bigger.

Could Watching Television Make You Prefer Thinner Bodies?

Researchers found that even a few hours per week of watching Western television made participants find thinner women’s bodies more attractive.

Do “Instagram vs. Reality” Posts Make a Difference?

A new study suggests that showing how "fake" Instagram photos can be might improve women's body image.

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