Honesty in Magazine Ads

European countries are trying to crack down on warped images of women's bodies in the media. Supermarket checkout aisles are filled with fashion magazines promoting revolutionary diet plans. Smiling celebrities grace the covers, frequently photo-shopped to look thinner, poreless and perfect.

French government officials have proposed a law requiring advertisers to label manipulated photos. Breaking the law would be punished with a fine of more than $50,000, or up to half the cost of the advertisement. And it’s not just women that are being retouched: two years ago Paris Match altered a photo of President Nicolas Sarkozy to remove his love handles.

Meanwhile, across the Channel, the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists is looking to crack down on websites that promote anorexia and bulimia. France tried to ban such sites last year but failed.