Schoolgirls taught how airbrushing will lead to false expectations

Girls in 12 schools across the Capital will be given the lessons designed to expose the photo manipulation methods which are widespread in sections of the media. They have been blamed for creating unhealthily thin role models for impressionable youngsters.

The teenagers will be shown the original pictures of models and celebrities before they are airbrushed and compare them to the images after they have been retouched on computers, in a bid to tackle body image issues.

Nationwide eating disorder charity Beat welcomed the project, which could be extended to secondary schools across the Lothians if it proves a  success. Leanne Thorndyke, head of communications at the charity, said: “Teaching young people about digital manipulation and airbrushing is useful but it is more important that images are not altered in the first place.

“Airbrushing and digital manipulation of images create a hyper-real perfection which is toxic to those already with a low sense of self worth.”

Schoolgirls aged between 13 and 15 were asked for their thoughts on how lessons should be designed and delivered before they were finalised.

Around 800 third year girls across the Edinburgh schools will take part in the workshops and will also be taught about healthy eating, the dangers of fad diets and taking part in physical activity. Tips on how to cope with stressful situations will be offered to the girls, with emphasis placed on their emotional health and wellbeing and recognising their own personal strengths.

The project, called Health 4 U, has been set up in partnership between NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Leisure and Active Schools. It was created after research showed that by the age of 14, nearly two thirds of Scottish girls do not reach the daily recommended physical activity levels of one hour a day, while nearly three in 10 have a BMI above the healthy weight range.

Cath Morrison, senior health policy officer at NHS Lothian, said: “Girls of this age come under a great deal of pressure and this programme is designed to help them deal with some of the issues we know will affect their health and wellbeing.

“We need to reach them early enough to provide them with the ability to adopt a healthy lifestyle and make sensible and informed choices.”

The programme will be delivered in schools over eight weeks and is made up of eight workshops and eight physical activity sessions.

A FEW CLICKS AND A NEW GIRL EMERGES

THE before and after pictures, above, of Evening News photographer Jayne Wright show how airbrushing can distort a real-life image.

Our image-enhancer Grant Paterson removed blemishes and lines in Jayne’s skin and made her eyes brighter.

Grant applied digital make-up, altered Jayne’s bone structure, made her slimmer and gave her a ‘digital suntan’.

He replaced her hair with another model’s style, added lighting effects and even tidied creases in her top. It took Grant just a few hours.

Fight with anorexia

CALLY Smith, 21, has struggled with anorexia since she was 13.

She spent three years as an inpatient in hospital as a teenager as she was treated.

Cally, now in recovery, said: “This is a great idea. Girls aged eight are now beginning to think about their bodies and are becoming unhappy.

“Their perception of what a body should look like can be distorted by images in magazines, most of which are completely unrealistic.

“What frightens me is what it’s going to take before they stop this silly airbrushing.”