Liberal Democrats propose bans for airbrushed adverts aimed at children

7.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 19th Sep 2009

Liberal Democrat conference delegates voted in favour this afternoon of proposals to ban airbrushing in adverts aimed at under 16s. Their proposals also include requiring advertisers to state when body images of women have been digitally manipulated.

In 2004, there were 562 cases of bulimia and anorexia in girls under 18 admitted for treatment. Just four years later, that figure leapt to 825.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, voted in support of the proposals. Mr Wright said:

"We are all being bombarded with images of women who are young, tall, extremely thin, and that have been made to look flawless through computer 'enhancement'. The increase in exposure to these unrealistic images of women has gone hand-in-hand with a massive increase in reported eating disorders, particularly amongst young people, over recent years.

"Many young women compare themselves to these unrealistic images and it can seriously damage their self esteem, sometimes leading on to very serious health problems.

"These measures will tackle this widespread practice by advertisers and help young people avoid getting caught up in a downward spiral towards eating disorders."

These measures are part of a wide range of proposals to protect women and girls against body image pressure, encourage healthier lifestyles and tackle pay discrimination. Other proposals include:

· Protecting children from body image pressure by banning airbrushing in advertising aimed at under 16s

· Provide twenty hours of free, good quality childcare per week, for all children from 18 months to when they start school

· Requiring companies to publish data on the pay scales within their organisations and conduct pay audits

· Introducing a 'name blanking' policy so that job applicants apply with National Insurance numbers

· Modules on body image, health and well-being, and media literacy to be taught in schools