Support growing over body image campaign
IT is not every day as a backbench MP that you get to influence national debate. But this month I am pleased to deliver a tangible change.
Over 80 MPs have signed my letter, printed in the national press, asking businesses to commit not to digitally alter a person’s body proportions in any of their direct imagery.
Even more encouraging is the fact that national organisations such as Boots, Dove, Barry-M cosmetics and PureGym have signed the Pledge and I have received support from multiple charities and some big household names. This has been great so far and I’m pleased to see organisations taking a stand… but to enact industry-wide change and protect the mental health of children and adults, we need even more companies and brands to come on board.
I’ve also been pleasantly surprised at how much my work on body image cuts through to our community! When I meet children on visits to local schools or bump into people out and about in our area, they’re always really interested to hear how my work on this is progressing.
At the Annual General Meeting for Peckleton Parish Council the very first question was about body image. A lady wanted to know how my campaign was developing as she’s worried about the effects that social media may have on her granddaughter. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide everyone with a full update.
In March my office started to contact brands, charities and organisations about a Pledge that I have written which asks them to voluntarily commit to not digitally manipulate a person’s body proportions in their direct imagery. This includes photographs which appear on the pages of magazines, on storefronts and – importantly – on social media.
In my role as a GP before becoming an MP I saw first-hand the effects that social media and body image can have on a person, which is why I am calling for industry leaders to stop digitally ‘fixing’ a person’s body shape to conform with someone else’s beauty standards.
This is about honesty, transparency and ensuring we aren’t creating unrealistic and unachievable standards for not only ourselves but future generations too.
Which is why I turned to my colleagues in the House for help. I am really pleased to share the news with you that 84 MPs from seven different parties – covering every end of the political spectrum – have signed my letter to companies urging them to join the Pledge. It is fair to say there aren’t many issues you would expect see Steve Baker and John McDonnell agree on!
All this shows just how important an issue body image is and that the time for the industry to act is now. We have had a wonderful reception
from people across the nation and there are lots of exciting things in the pipeline, which I am hoping will cause even more organisations to stop this harmful practice.
For further updates please check my website drlukeevans.org.uk or social media platforms, where I promise no images of me have been digitally manipulated!