Guides in plea to Cameron over unreality of airbrushed images

Girl Guides delivered a petition to Downing Street calling for honesty over airbrushed images in the media. The 25,000-signature petition calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to introduce compulsory labelling to distinguish between airbrushed and natural images "in order to shape a generation of self-confident girls and young women".

It follows a survey by Girlguiding UK last year which found that 50 per cent of 16 to 21-year-old girls would consider having surgery to change the way they looked.

It also revealed 42 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds admitted to watching what they ate or cutting down on certain foods to excess.

A similar survey this year found 47 per cent believed that the pressure to look attractive was the most negative part of being female, and 66 per cent claimed that girls undertook strict dieting due to the media portrayal of women.

Guide Gemma Hallatt, 18, said: "We are pleased that so many people have supported our petition calling for a kitemark to distinguish between airbrushed and natural images. Airbrushed images that you see in magazines and on advertising boards can really affect the self confidence of girls and young women.

"Most of us have no idea how significantly these pictures are altered and are shocked when they realise that the images they have of celebrities and models are not a reality."

Chief Guide Liz Burnley said: "From...our everyday experiences working with girls and young women, we know how profoundly they feel the pressure to conform to a particular body image and how badly they can be affected by these unobtainable ideals.