Changes in Television and Magazine Exposure and Eating Disorder Symptomatology

The relationship between girls' media exposure and their development of eating disorder symptomatology was assessed. At Time 1 and Time 2 (16 months later), participants (N = 374; M age = 12.0) completed a questionnaire that assessed eating disorder sympto-matology and television and fashion magazine exposure. Girls were divided into 3 groups: increased, decreased, or no change in eating disorder symptomatology between Times 1 and 2. Girls with increased symptomatology had significantly increased their exposure to fashion magazines but decreased their number of hours of television viewing. Girls with decreased symptomatology had significantly decreased their exposure to both television and fashion magazines.