Sexualisation Harms Women's Mental & Physical Health, Reports Say

US experts recently warned that the media's portrayal of young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health.

Magazines, television, video games and music videos all have a detrimental effect, a task force from the American Psychological Association reported.

Researchers say sexualisation can lead to a lack of confidence with women's bodies as well as depression and eating disorders.

Following "public concern" about the sexualisation of young girls, research on the content and effects of television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, films, video games and the internet was analysed, the BBC reports.

In addition, recent advertising campaigns and merchandising of products aimed at girls was also scrutinised.

"The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real," said Dr Eileen Zurbriggen, chair of the group and associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualisation has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development."

The task force called on parents, school officials, and health professionals to be alert for the potential impact on girls and young women, advising that schools should teach pupils media literacy skills and include information on the negative effects of images portraying girls as sex objects in sex education programmes.

In addition, they called on governments to reduce the use of sexualised images in the media and advertising.