"You Are Beautiful, No Matter What They Say": Applying An Evidence-Based Approach To Body Image Law
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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Marilyn Bromberg1, Madeleine Hay2, Tomas Fitzgerald3
1Dr Marilyn Bromberg is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Western Australia Law School. She researches in the areas of Body Image Law, Health Law and Social Media and the Law and teaches Procedure, Social Media and the Law and Professional Practice. She has a PhD (Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia), LLB (Dist) (The University of Western Australia), BBA (Hon) (The Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada) and a Graduate Certificate in University Teaching (The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia). The article title is derived from the song "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera, published by Sony and RCA.
Abstract:
Israeli and French Governments passed Body Image Laws that require models to have a minimum BMI or be of a healthy weight and if an image was modified to make the model appear thinner, it must have a warning. Are these laws merely symbolic, to focus a spotlight on this issue, or can they too have an impact? This article analyses some of the criticisms of the Body Image Laws by applying existing evidence from health research. Ultimately, it argues that there are many flaws with the Body Image Laws and that such a law should not be passed in Australia.
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