Six in 10 women still don’t think there is enough body diversity in the media.
A study of 2,000 female adults found despite 42 percent believing body diversity has improved in the past five years, they feel there is still a long way to go.
While 65 percent admitted a lack of body confidence has stopped them from doing things they’d like to, such as having their photo taken (70 percent), going swimming (58 percent) and wearing active wear (39 percent).
With 24 percent blaming a general lack of confidence in themselves and 18 percent putting it down to feeling insecure about their body.
Many have missed or canceled events, including birthday celebrations (26 percent) and dates (18 percent), due to feeling insecure about their body (18 percent) and struggling to find anything to wear to suit their shape or size (17 percent).
When it comes to social media, 37 percent said it has a negative impact on how they feel – compared to just four percent who claim it’s positive – and feel unconfined (32 percent), annoyed (18 percent) and ashamed (14 percent) when they see unrealistic and filtered images of others.
Contrastingly, those polled via OnePoll, feel encouraged (26 percent), assured (20 percent) and happy (18 percent) when they do see their body type represented in the media.
This year’s Loose Women Body Stories campaign, “Celebrating Every Body,” sees a host of Loose Women panelists, including Carol McGiffin, Dame Kelly Holmes, Gloria Hunniford OBE, Judi Love, Katie Piper OBE and Sophie Morgan, take part in an inspiring Body Stories photo shoot for the first time, as well as candidly share their own body stories – in a bid to help viewers feel seen and represented.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
