Women's body confidence has become a "critical issue" around the world and pressure from the media is largely to blame for our low self-esteem, a new report warns.

 

一项最新报告指出，女性对自身外形缺乏信心已成为全球性重要问题，来自媒体的压力是主要原因。

 

The Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, given exclusively to The Huffington Post UK, has been created using interviews with 10,500 women and girls across 13 countries and is the largest the brand has ever commissioned.

 

It found that women in the UK have one of the lowest body confidence scores in the world, with only 20% of us saying we like the way that we look.

 

Globally, more than two-thirds of women (69%) and girls (65%) say increasing pressures from advertising¹ and media to reach an unrealistic standard of beauty is the key force in driving their appearance anxiety.

 

Meanwhile, 56% of all women recognise the impact of an "always on" social media culture in driving the pressure for perfection and negative body image.

 

The report reveals that low body-esteem is causing the majority of women (85%) and girls (79%) to opt² out of important life activities - such as trying out for a team or club, and engaging with family or loved ones - when they don't feel good about the way they look.

 

Additionally, seven in 10 girls with low body-esteem say they won't be assertive³ in their opinion or stick to their decision if they aren't happy with the way they look, while nine out of 10 (87%) women will stop themselves from eating or will otherwise put their health at risk.

 

What's more, nearly eight in 10 (78%) of both women and girls feel some pressure to never make mistakes or show weakness.

点击收听单词发音