The Dangerous Combination of the Media and the Weight Loss IndustryAbstract: The excessive use of diet pills by American women stems from the idea that thinness is the ideal. This ideal is unlikely to change in the near future, so the use of diet pills and other unhealthy fatty diets is likely to increase. If women remain unaware of the health risks associated with the use and abuse of these unregulated drugs, rates of illness and even death are likely to increase as well. In 1997, the use of diet pills directly caused seventeen deaths (Cohen). Medical professionals speculate that many other deaths are indirectly related to weight-loss drugs. FDA regulation of "natural" substances like ephedrine and caffeine would alleviate the widespread use of diet pills. Without such regulation, advertising for these drugs will continue to entice young women to unintentionally abuse their bodies and put their health at risk. In recent decades, the portrayal of women in the media has cast thinness as perfect, and the ideal of thinness is becoming increasingly extreme. The "waif model" is common in magazines, on television and on the catwalks. Although these individuals are considered underweight by medical evaluation, their appearance has become desired by the average American woman. Strangely, even as Americans aspired to weigh less, our average weight has increased more than 10% since the early 1970s (Berg 29). This weight gain likely comes from the high fat content in popular, condensed foods. This unintentional weight gain, combined with the growing desire for thinness, has created a huge market for "fad diets." A variety of these diets is the use of slimming pills. Despite the dangers of weight loss drugs, they have been used approximately... middle of paper... associated with the use and abuse of these unregulated drugs, rates of illness and even death are also high. will probably increase. In 1997, the use of diet pills directly caused seventeen deaths (Cohen). Medical professionals speculate that many other deaths are indirectly related to weight-loss drugs. FDA regulation of "natural" substances like ephedrine and caffeine would alleviate the widespread use of diet pills. Without such regulation, advertising for these drugs will continue to entice young women to unintentionally abuse their bodies and put their health at risk. Works Cited Berg, Frances M. Health Risks of Weight Loss. Hettinger, ND: Journal of Healthy Weight, 1995.Cohen, Elizabeth. “FDA Wants Warning Labels for Some Herbal Supplements.” CNN June 3, 1997. CNN Interactive. Online. Internet. October 11, 2001. "Ephedra." NPT. Online. Internet. October 17. 2001.