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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sadiq Khan shouldn't be able to tell us what is an unhealthy body

315 replies

feellikeahugefailure · 14/06/2016 08:03

So the London Mayer has banned adverts with “Unhealthy or Unrealistic” body images. Doesn't this just all feed into people these days unaware of what a healthy body image is? This woman is in great shape and looks very healthy to me.

Sorry if there has been a post on this, I find the advanced search here not that great.

OP posts:
GrumpyMcGrumpFace · 14/06/2016 10:12

I do think the big issue is taking pills. If it said "are you beach ready?" and advertised an exercise plan, i'm not sure I'd be very offended at all.

UpWithPup · 14/06/2016 10:14

milk you're right, it doesn't. But it does mean it's already crossed the line into unachievable.

LaserShark · 14/06/2016 10:16

It's still offensive to say you MUST exercise to be 'beach ready'. You don't have to adhere to any set of standards to go to the beach. You can just go, whatever your body looks like. It's shaming because the implication is that you should be too ashamed of your body to visit the beach unless you have prepared it.

AugustaFinkNottle · 14/06/2016 10:20

You really have to be spectacularly thick to think that Khan has a religious agenda. You only have to look at pictures of his family to see that that isn't the case.

imwithspud · 14/06/2016 10:20

It's a stupid advert, I'm glad it's banned.

The inference that you need to look a certain way to go to the beach is a dangerous and unrealistic one. It's made worse by the fact that the model in the photo was likely to be heavily airbrushed - which I think should be banned or limited. Would be interesting to see an unedited version of the photo to compare.

The beach body thread on mn is different because it's a group of women supporting each other to achieve their goals. They're not erecting massive adverts on billboards and telling people how they should look and people can avoid the thread if it doesn't interest them.

A person who follows a relegion that instructs a woman should dress modestly bans an advert showing a full front image of a woman wearing a bikini.

How ridiculous. This has got nothing to do with religion.

branofthemist · 14/06/2016 10:21

Look at her hair, there isn't 1 stray strand. Nothing is out of place. Her skin is perfectly even. Of course it's airbrushed.

That doesn't mean her body was airbrushed though

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 14/06/2016 10:22

Did it say "You must be ready"? I thought it just asked a question. Which most people would surely answer with "Not like that. And I don't care." and then put it out of their minds and carry on with their day.

FoxesOnSocks · 14/06/2016 10:24

Airbrushing can involves slimming down thighs, arms and waists. Increasing height etc.

Stupid thing is that the model will be a very attractive woman with an amazing body enviable shape. Even without airbrushing.

VioletVaccine · 14/06/2016 10:26

I'd like to see Tess Holliday banned too then, under the same rules of publicly promoting unhealthy ideals.

Sadiq Khan shouldn't be able to tell us what is an unhealthy body
FoxesOnSocks · 14/06/2016 10:30

Today @ 10:20 AugustaFinkNottle wrote:

You really have to be spectacularly thick to think that Khan has a religious agenda. You only have to look at pictures of his family to see that that isn't the case.

I think you're being quite kind here. I doubt comments such as these they have appeared on this thread are down to lack of intelligence. They are coming from bigoted unpleasant people who most likely feel superior and that their racism is understandable, acceptable and justified.

Susiebearlove · 14/06/2016 10:31

I don't think the image is bad (I'd love a body like that) but the message was. I can see your point - is it fair for him to have his opinion on what is correct or not. But then who are the business (selling this diet regime) to say who's body is bad and their image should be the ideal body shape? I have a daughter and if she felt ashamed of her body because someone else thinks ugly because her body didn't match "the ideal", I'd be livid.

TheJollyPostmansWife · 14/06/2016 10:31

I'm not sure that the model is the problem, had she not been airbrushed. She is entitled to have whatever body she chooses and probably works hard to maintain her shape, good for her, I would never look like that because I'm a different body shape, many of us are. The problem is the wording which suggests those of us who don't look like that should probably not go to the beach in a bikini, which makes women who don't look like that feel bad and feeds into their insecurities, which can limit their choices, and actually puts people off going to the beach/gym/swimming pool because they don't feel good enough and stops them living their life in a healthy, happy way

RebelRogue · 14/06/2016 10:32

The problem is the message. Is it that hard to comprehend? Are you body beach ready?
I have a holiday booked,swim suit,bags pack. I'm so fucking ready for the beach you wouldn't believe it.
But according to them,i'm not because i don't look like that. Tbh i never will.

P.s. My very skinny size 6 friends(most of her clothes come from the kids section,lucky git) went on a diet before her holiday...because her bikini didn't look quite right. Gee,i wonder who gave her that impression?

GrumpyMcGrumpFace · 14/06/2016 10:32

Milktwosugars yep. TBH, I don't see this advert as being any worse than all the millions of magazines in newsagents telling us to try this and that diet, or this and that make up, or these clothes, to make us look more like.... something. And while I don't agree with it (I don't buy those magazines), it's been going on for centuries. It seems odd to single out the advert: will all those magazines be next? Fine by me if so, I always think they make women seem pretty brainless.

RebelRogue · 14/06/2016 10:36

And not just that, it's the claim that their product can give you that body. That weight loss should be part of the going to the beach process.

RebelRogue · 14/06/2016 10:39

Let's swap it for men

6 pack hot guy promoting protein shakes,muscle building stuff,gym membership whatever. With the caption of " Are you barbeque body ready?" . They don't bloody exist!

10tinycrabs · 14/06/2016 10:41

"You must be ready"? I thought it just asked a question. Which most people would surely answer with "Not like that. And I don't care." and then put it out of their minds and carry on with their day."

if this is how advertising worked it wouldn't be a multi-billion business.

Why Good Advertising Works Even When You Think It Doesn't

+No one likes to think that they are easily influenced. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that we respond negatively to naked attempts at persuasion. Instead, the best advertisements are ingenious at leaving impressions.

So contrary to many people's beliefs, advertising does influence them. But advertising's influence is subtle. Strident calls to action are easily discounted and rejected because they are obvious. But engaging and memorable ads slip ideas past our defenses and seed memories that influence our behavior. You may not think advertising influences you. But marketers do. And in addition to millions of dollars, they have something else most people don't have: Access to data that proves their point.+

Arguably, all publicity is good publicity hence the protein pill add has had a lot of exposure because of the ban.

The advertising industry spends $600 Billion worldwide because it is effective in selling products by drawing on, and reinforcing stereotypes and myths.

SilverBirchWithout · 14/06/2016 10:42

Just because you can type letters on a keyboard to form words doesn't mean you should write a blog. Having something worth saying with a cohesive argument or some wit is what makes a good blog. You also need a better grasp of written English.

Posting links on a popular forum to get clicks is a bit pathetic.

Btw there is a bloggers board on MN, which is where this sort of thread should be posted. You may get better and more supportive advice on developing your skills.

SilverBirchWithout · 14/06/2016 10:50

I have reported this thread as spam.

OP here is the link to the bloggers' board

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/new_blog_posts

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 14/06/2016 10:53

10tinycrabs - it was a shit advert then because it was a naked attempt at persuasion. And it attracted the negative response so that makes perfect sense.

I still don't think an advert featuring an attractive woman in a bikini should be banned because some people don't like the message they are personally getting from it.

I have shit skin, yes I've been called pizza face. I don't feel "complexion shamed" by adverts showing women with flawless skin, even though that look is unattainable for me. I feel it's kind of a similar thing, although others may not.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 14/06/2016 10:55

SilverBirch - spam or not, I actually think this is quite a good discussion without being a bun fight (yet Grin). I think it would be a shame to call for it to be deleted.

FrikkaDilla · 14/06/2016 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BeyondTellsEveryoneRealFacts · 14/06/2016 10:58

The discussion can carry on without the OPs spammy, poorly written link :)

RebelRogue · 14/06/2016 11:00

Milktwosugars. What if the add said "is your face public/tube/restaurant/wedding/whatever ready" while advertising products for a good skin complexion?

BeyondTellsEveryoneRealFacts · 14/06/2016 11:06

I've seen a clearisil or similar treatment ad with "big date coming up?" before. I'd say thats definitley along the same lines, even though my skin is fine so it isnt personally bothering me