Effects of exposure to thin-ideal media images on body dissatisfaction: Testing the inclusion of a disclaimer versus warning label

• Edited magazine advertisements to include a disclaimer or warning label.
• Examined effects of exposure on body dissatisfaction and intent to diet in women.
• Results suggested a non-significant effect of labeling on outcome measures.
• Trait body dissatisfaction and internalization were significant moderators.
• Results do not provide support for the use of disclaimers or warnings in magazines.

The current study was designed to determine whether the inclusion of a disclaimer (i.e., “Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person's physical appearance.”) or warning (i.e., “Warning: Trying to look as thin as this model may be dangerous to your health.”) added to images of thin/attractive models would affect body dissatisfaction and intent to diet in female undergraduate students (n = 342). Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (a) disclaimer, (b) warning, (c) model control, or (d) car control. Results revealed a significant interaction between group and time, whereby only the car control group reported a significant change (i.e., decrease) in body dissatisfaction over time. Groups did not differ on intent to diet measured at post-exposure. The results largely replicate other findings in this area and call into question advocacy efforts to label media images as a strategy to decrease women's identification with the stimuli.