The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a new report on children’s exposure to products online that are designed to change their appearance. A survey was carried out with 2,000 13- to 17-year-olds, as well as focus groups with young people, to find out how children are impacted. A substantial proportion of children reported seeing prescription-only weight loss drugs, supplements for muscle building, and beauty products and procedures.
Findings show 41% of children have seen advertising for prescription-only weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro, despite advertising of these kinds of products being illegal in the UK.
78% of children agreed that being exposed to appearance changing products online had a negative impact on self-esteem and explained that viewing unrealistic body standards put them under pressure. A substantial proportion of children were seeing the following products online:
- 41% of children have seen prescription-only weight loss drugs online (despite an advertising ban on these drugs)
- Black (46%) and Asian (35%) children are more likely than white children (24%) to see products that claim to lighten skin online, and are more likely to use these products, despite ingredients in some of these products being toxic and the some of the products being illegal to sell
- Boys (43%) were more likely than girls (32%) to see supplements for muscle building.