No, Plus Size Models Are Not Driving Obesity Trends

Clickbait from a marketing study — should we be surprised? A study of the initial consumer responses to advertising that features plus size models has morphed this week into an assertion that plus size models “may be partly to blame for rising obesity rates.” A press release that suggested a non-existent link to obesity rates helped health reporters make the leap to some sensational headlines.

People magazine uncritically bought this story line. We have to give Shape magazine partial credit for saying, “forgive us if we’re not buying this latest research.” Unfortunately their headline suggested that “blame for the obesity trend” might lie with plus size models.

It’s worth noting a few big problems with this leap of faith:

1. Obesity rates rose before plus size models were common. If you stop to think about it, it’s a lot more likely that the rising popularity of plus size models results from the rising prevalence of obesity.
    
2. Obesity was not studied. The only measures in these studies were attitudes and very short-term behaviors. This study proves nothing about obesity outcomes.
    
3. Short-term effects are very different from long-term effects. Prior research has shown that social pressure and shaming can prompt short-term attempts to lose weight but reduce the odds of maintaining a healthy weight for the longer term.

 
If we set aside the false conclusions being promoted, what’s left are a few interesting, but unproven, ideas.

Click here to read the study, here to read the coverage in Shape, and here to read the coverage in People.

Ana Paula @ Plus Size Model, nov2011. Photograph © Leandro Godoi – Fotografia / flickr

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December 16, 2015