Over our lifetimes, we hear messages sometimes a few, sometimes a lot, about what we should

and shouldn't eat, what we should and shouldn't look like.

In fact, about half of Americans 16 and older say they feel pressured to have a certain body

type.

Other numbers say the media promotes an unattainable, embodied image for men.

While three-quarters of Americans say that's the case for women.

And all that's according to a 2021 study by the market research firm YouGov.

Ask around and you'll probably hear a similar message.

When I was modeling in New York City in the 80s, I remember vividly a designer putting

her hands on my hips and saying, you need to bike and run and swim and dance and lose

weight.

I was maybe 122 pounds, 5 foot 8.

We bought every abscene on TV for ridiculous exercise machine.

I remember we had this thing called the bun and cyroller that I would have in my room

and use every night.

I learned about how my body should look from 17 magazine.

This was in the early 70s.

The age of 15, I decided I would just eat less and exercise more and I almost died.

I was hospitalized and continued to struggle with that somewhat now that I'm 66 years

old.

This is on point.

I'm Megna Chocro Barty and those folks were listeners Jennifer Conway and Lincoln

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