Well said DavidJS. Difficult isn't it on just how to change a deeply ingrained mindset and culture. Some cultures respect and revere old age and others dismiss it. How do we go about promoting inner beauty and healthy bodies as opposed to the unobtainable?

Manipulation by the media and the companies that use the media for advertising are to blame. But not only them, yes the consumer can choose not to buy the trash but as parents how are we to encourage our children not to buy into the myths of the perfect body syndrome when it pervades every part of our society.

You even have ambiguity and mixed messages in the media. One minute you can watch a program about illnesses like anorexia and the dangers of the 'perfect body myth' on one hand, and in the next breath there is an unflattering photo of some poor celebrity who has put on a smidgeon of weight with some nasty caption written underneath. Mixed messages.

Hyprocrisy for the sake of a bit of gossip but one thing we can do as consumers is not buy this guff.