Here’s part two of my interview with Jennifer Nelson, author of Airbrushed Nation: The Lure and Loathing of Women’s Magazines. In her book, Nelson gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the business of women’s magazines. She delves into how articles are made — and just how they affect us.

Below, Nelson explains why she still likes women’s magazines and why they continue to promote damaging ideals. She also offers valuable advice for readers on becoming smarter consumers.

Nelson also explores the world of women’s magazines in her blog.

I used to love reading women’s magazines. It was my break from homework and books for school. I’d catch up on the latest fashion trends, read an interesting article and get a few beauty tips.

But then I remember reading an odd tip from a writer on not eating an entire piece of cake: She’d take a bite — maybe two — and then pour salt on it.

And that’s when I started realizing that maybe these magazines weren’t for me (or really for anyone). Maybe these magazines had become a slippery slope into a world of shoulds and damaging thoughts.

And the more I started dissecting their messages, the more I realized that that’s the whole point: to sell us specific standards, so we buy, buy, buy.

That’s why I’m excited to share my interview with Jennifer Nelson, the author of Airbrushed Nation: The Lure and Loathing of Women’s Magazines, a new book about the history of the women’s magazine industry, how articles are made (and manipulated) and their effects on readers.

Below, Nelson shares what inspired her to write Airbrushed Nation, the research that surprised her most and the damaging effects of reading these publications.

In her book Airbrushed Nation: The Lure and Loathing of Women’s Magazines, author Jennifer Nelson gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the history of these publications, how they’re run — and the damaging ways they affect us.

Several facts in the book especially surprised me. Facts that I think you should absolutely know whether you love these publications or loathe them.

Specifically, below are tidbits from Nelson’s book on how women’s magazines manipulate their content. Some are little lies while others are downright deceptions.

Part of building a positive body image is surrounding yourself with positive things and letting go of anything that doesn’t nourish you.

That’s where women’s magazines and so-called health magazines come in. I’m talking about magazines such as Self, Shape, Women’s Health, and even Prevention. The kinds of magazines that glorify thinness, diets and weight loss.

Their advice doesn’t focus on nurturing yourself or building a healthier relationship with food.

It focuses on quick fixes, calorie counts, portion control and losing X inches before bikini season.

And never ever being good enough.

For many of us — me included — these magazines are a slippery slope into a world of comparisons, guilt, shame and misery.

Every Monday features a tip, activity, inspiring quote or some other tidbit that helps boost your body image, whether directly or indirectly — and hopefully kick-starts the week on a positive note!

Got a tip for improving body image? Email me at mtartakovsky at gmail dot com, and I’ll be happy to feature it. I’d love to hear from you!

{via etsy by Valerie Bean}

A while ago, I wrote this post about what to do instead of reading women’s magazines and worrying about your weight. Because, unfortunately, in our society, it’s all-too easy to focus on our bodies, what they could look like, what they should look like and what they don’t look like.

{via etsy}

I have a big problem with both women’s magazines and health publications  because of their shaming and dangerous messages. But I have an even bigger problem with weight-loss and diet commercials — mainly because there’s no escape.

Yes, you can turn off the channel. But lately, these commercials are everywhere. Clearly, these companies have bought more airtime in the hopes of making big bucks over shaming viewers for the New Year, a time our society likes to equate with deprivation and restriction.

That’s why it’s critical to discuss and dissect them. Because instead of questioning ourselves — whether we’re thin enough, whether we need to go on a diet, whether we need to kick up our workouts for weight loss — we need to question these companies and the manipulative, detrimental messages they send.

{A hilarious and oh-so true illustration from the amazingly talented Elizabeth Patch!}

On Monday I talked about fighting for a better body image and shared five ideas on how to hold on. One of my tips was to make things easier on yourself and get rid of the items that essentially make you feel like crap. One of those items: women’s magazines.

Here on Weightless, sometimes I like to call out these publications for their ridiculousness. These magazines are very much part of our culture. And so many women rely on them for their “healthy” food and fitness advice. Advice that in actuality is misleading, shame-inducing and downright depressing.

{via pinterest}

Now is the time when women’s magazines crank out a slew of articles about the horror of overeating during the holidays, the tragedy of high-cal “sinful” foods and the shameful weight gain that will inevitably result.

Reputable health websites also add their two cents, churning out slideshows that offer lists like “Frighteningly Fattening Fall Foods.”

Some of this is hit-you-over-the-head bad advice. But other suggestions may be more subtle. What about articles that share supposedly healthier substitutions that you can make during the holiday season?

{via Beautiful You by Kate Burns; I LOVE this!}

I’m sure that many of you have already read or heard about Jess Weiner’s article in Glamour magazine entitled “Jess Weiner’s Weight Struggle: ‘Loving My Body Almost Killed Me.’”

(By the way, before you think that horrific headline was concocted by some attention-hungry editor at the publication, let me be the bearer of bad news: It was inspired by an entry from Weiner’s diary, which she explains in this week’s Today Show segment. So she was the one who suggested it. )

{image credit}

Welcome to the worst opening lines for an eating disorder article ever:

Eating disorders often begin with the best of intentions — a desire to lose weight and control eating. But in some people, those good intentions go badly wrong, resulting in anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, or other disorders.

Sadly, very, very sadly, this article didn’t appear on some shoddy website viewed by several people.