You're not alone. Almost half of all Americans think they need to lose weight, but only a third actually do. The media sells the image that all of our problems will be solved if only we could look like a model or celebrity.
Women are the primary targets of advertising campaigns.
It's not surprising that young women are especially vulnerable to the media influences. Women in western societies are socialized to be more interpersonally oriented than men. Thus, women are more likely to be raised to please others, be physically pleasing to others, be concerned with others' opinions, and place others' needs ahead of their own. Their self esteem and weight are closely linked. Somehow, dieting has become a rite of passage into adulthood.