0:00:02 > 0:00:06For many, having a perfect body is the most important thing in life.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10From crash diets to plastic surgery,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14we reveal what happens in our bodies and brains as people strive for their ideal figure.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18And with more people than ever before going under the knife,
0:00:18 > 0:00:21the most popular procedure today is...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23the boob job.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Lucy is a 24-year-old beautician from Essex.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41MUSIC: "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna
0:00:41 > 0:00:44# Like I'm the only girl in the world
0:00:44 > 0:00:48# Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
0:00:48 > 0:00:52# Like I'm the only one who know your heart
0:00:52 > 0:00:54# Only girl in the world
0:00:54 > 0:00:58# Like I'm the only one that's in command... #
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Oh, well done!
0:01:00 > 0:01:03That was the weirdest thing in the world!
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- Did you see me? - Was it good?- It was amazing!
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Lucy is confident with extreme sports.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13I think if you've done a skydive, you can do anything. Hopefully.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16But she's never been confident about her body.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20I started dieting when I was younger because I was quite big.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22And it did massively get me down.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I joined a gym and my mum came with me and I completely changed
0:01:27 > 0:01:31what I was eating, and in total, I lost about 4 stone.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34In a week, Lucy's going to change her body again
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and is having cosmetic surgery to enlarge her breasts.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41So after dieting, my boobs are really saggy
0:01:41 > 0:01:46and I just need them fuller, so I actually really hate my boobs now.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50But her mum has mixed feelings about Lucy's boob job.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52At first I thought it was a bit dramatic
0:01:52 > 0:01:57but she has got quite an issue with her body
0:01:57 > 0:01:59so if it makes her happy...
0:01:59 > 0:02:05But I think you're worried because at the end of the day it's an operation, isn't it?
0:02:05 > 0:02:09I just look at myself and think no, I'm not happy with
0:02:09 > 0:02:12the way I look, and I know I can change it so why not?
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Before going ahead with the surgery,
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Lucy will be made aware of the potential side-effects.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22I've pretty much listened to what my consultant has told me,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25and there's no point worrying about it, cos I'm doing it, I'm sure it will be fine.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I've got plenty of faith in my surgeon.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30A week after her skydive,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33and Lucy is on her way to have her breast surgery.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38I feel quite excited. Obviously the nerves have hit in a bit
0:02:38 > 0:02:43cos it's a big thing, but I am more excited than anything.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- Good morning, Lucy. How are you? - Hello. Good, thank you.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51Before the operation, Lucy has to agree with her surgeon,
0:02:51 > 0:02:57Chris Inglefield, what size implants they're going to use.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59I prefer this one.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02My concern, especially with the left side is that you don't
0:03:02 > 0:03:08have enough tissue to cover the width of the implant.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12There's a bit of a balance between getting that extra
0:03:12 > 0:03:18bit of fullness and what's going to be in your best interests long term.
0:03:18 > 0:03:19OK.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Although Lucy is confident with her decision,
0:03:23 > 0:03:28research shows that surgery doesn't necessarily improve people's self-esteem and quality of life.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Sian is a 23-year-old from Manchester who, five years ago,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38had the operation Lucy is considering, and now regrets it.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Growing up through secondary school, wasn't very confident.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Everybody around me, my friends, all the girls were getting boobs
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and I was still very flat chested.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Then I decided when I was 18 that I would go for it
0:03:51 > 0:03:54and have the surgery.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58I thought if I can build my confidence, boost my confidence,
0:03:58 > 0:04:02I'm quite shy, I thought I'd be a bit more open, talkative.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- That's nice.- I really like this one, but it's too small.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12- If I had no groups, it would fit. - SHE LAUGHS
0:04:12 > 0:04:17I went from probably a AA, if not a bit smaller, to, I think, a DD.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20I did feel more confident at first. My friends were complimenting me
0:04:20 > 0:04:23because obviously they knew about it.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I love it. I do.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30But instead of being the answer to her body image issues,
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Sian's bigger cup size began to make her feel self-conscious.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38I hate it. I don't wear anything low cut.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40I'm really uncomfortable with showing it.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43I think it's because I know it's, in a way, not real.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I wished I'd have waited.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49You know, I could have had something else with all that money.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52I thought having a surgery would boost my confidence,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55but it hasn't really.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59I've still got body image issues now. I think I always will do.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03One study even suggests that ten years after breast surgery,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06women are more likely to suffer from depression.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11- That's £37.80, please. - Thank you. There you go.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15I think 18 is a very young age to go under the knife and have surgery
0:05:15 > 0:05:19for cosmetic reasons, because, I mean, I'm only, you know,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23five years down the line and I'm already wishing I'd not done it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- Thank you very much.- Thank you. - Thank you. See you.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34Having decided on her new implant size, Lucy is now in theatre.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38For all women having their breasts enlarged,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41one in five will need their implants replaced within ten years.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47In 2012, it was discovered that the controversial PIP implants
0:05:47 > 0:05:50were up to six times more likely to rupture.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56These were found to be made from industrial, not medical, silicone.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00CHANTING Toxic PIPs have got to go! Toxic PIPs have got to go!
0:06:00 > 0:06:04And around 47,000 British women had been given them.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09PIP implants have now been banned.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Lucy is under general anaesthetic for her operation.
0:06:13 > 0:06:20She's 24, but some girls want to have surgery before their breasts have even finished developing.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24We need to make sure that their breasts have stopped growing,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27so we don't think about breast augmentation at a too young age,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29where they may still be developing.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33So we say 18 to 20 is a reasonable time.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37Most women will have stopped developing their breasts at that stage.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41- Dr Irvin, are we OK to start? - Yeah.- Thank you.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44OK. Just going to get started.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47The surgeon starts by making space for the implants.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51While doing this, he is Extremely careful to avoid Lucy's
0:06:51 > 0:06:55main sensory nerves, since one in seven women find that their nipples
0:06:55 > 0:07:00are less sensitive or completely numb following this kind of surgery.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06That's the implant in, then we simply close these incisions with a dissolving suture.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08The operation lasts 45 minutes.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Lucy has now got to go through several weeks of painful recovery.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20It's been four days since her operation.
0:07:20 > 0:07:26I actually felt horrendous the next day. I was feeling really dizzy
0:07:26 > 0:07:29and really sicky and I was actually sick quite a few times
0:07:29 > 0:07:32which for me is really rare.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I'm never normally sick. I couldn't eat all day.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40The thought of food made me feel horrendous.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42And that was a pretty awful day.
0:07:42 > 0:07:43So, it's Friday today
0:07:43 > 0:07:47and I just thought I'd show everybody how my scars are doing.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Well, you can't see my scars, it would be more the bruising.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Let me show you from the side.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56They feel really swollen here.
0:07:57 > 0:08:02Really swollen here. They're still quite numb underneath.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Can't really feel anything at the moment.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06But otherwise I'm really happy.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12It's been six weeks since Lucy's breast surgery,
0:08:12 > 0:08:15and she has almost fully recovered.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Today she is out with her mate, Georgie.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- How was your work? - I didn't work today.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26I went and had my first bra fitting since the surgery.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27What do you reckon I am?
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I think 32D.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32Try 32F!
0:08:32 > 0:08:36For now, Lucy is more confident in her appearance.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Now I've had the boob job, I feel more in proportion.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I guess I feel a bit more womanly, so I definitely much prefer my body now.
0:08:54 > 0:08:59For many, striving for a better figure is the main aim in life.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Quite a big stress, to, sort of, have that perfect body.
0:09:04 > 0:09:10But, as obesity rockets, many of us are fighting against one thing - fat.
0:09:15 > 0:09:1818-year-old Ebonie is a student from Maidstone.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21She's decided to go on a crash diet.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Like 60% of women on diets, she wants to shape up for her holiday.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31I'm going to Malia, and everyone there is young.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Everywhere you look, people are going to have bikinis on.
0:09:36 > 0:09:41For her crash diet to work, shall have to drastically cut down the calories,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43which means a massive change in her eating habits.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I snack a lot on packets of crisps and chocolate bars,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50or I'll go to McDonald's with my friends.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56# Nobody knows what I'm feeling inside... #
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Well, I'm having a red carpet theme, so if you just come looking smart-ish.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05It's my birthday party tonight. My 18th birthday party.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Loads of people coming.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Ebonie and her mates put in a lot of effort to look good for a night out.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I think my friends worry about their appearance.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I think everyone does, especially in our society now.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22Cos everyone cares what everyone, like, thinks about what you look like.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27For her diet to work, Ebonie knows it's not just the junk food she'll have to cut out.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31I think alcohol has made me put on so much weight, to be fair.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34I don't think you realise what you are drinking is fattening.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38But what the girls may not know is that alcohol stops the body burning fat.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44MUSIC: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen
0:10:48 > 0:10:50As alcohol passes through Ebonie's body,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54it's soon absorbed into her bloodstream.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Once in her liver, it's converted to acetate,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00a substance her body uses for fuel.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02While her body works harder process acetate,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05the breakdown of other nutrients decreases.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12So while Ebonie is burning her vodkas off on the dance floor,
0:11:12 > 0:11:17her body's ability to burn other fats slows down by 70%.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Having celebrated her 18th birthday in style,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23it's time for the diet to begin.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34- It's day one of Ebonie's diet. - I'm doing my first shake.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I haven't actually done one before.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Her diet will restrict her to one evening meal,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42three healthy snacks, and two meal shakes a day.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47This will give her just 1,200 calories,
0:11:47 > 0:11:50just over half of the recommended daily amount.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Although this will trigger the weight loss,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55it may leave hungry and tired.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57I'm hoping it might taste of ice cream.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Finished.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Ebonie has been on her crash diet for a few days,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14and has agreed to have her progress checked from start to finish
0:12:14 > 0:12:16by weight and metabolism expert, James Collins.
0:12:16 > 0:12:22- Hi.- Hello.- Nice to meet you. How are you?- I'm good, thank you.
0:12:22 > 0:12:28He first sends her for a scan to calculate how much body fat she is carrying.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31We've now got the results from your DEXA scan,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33and this is just basically how it's made up.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36As you can see, it's colour-coded.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40The red as her fat, the yellow, her muscle.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Ebonie is carrying seven kilos more fat than is healthy.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48This is about 28 packs of butter.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51The next time we come back, I think that picture is going to look quite different.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Yeah, hopefully, anyway.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00It's day five of Ebonie's crash diet, and she can already see the results.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07Yeah, it's going good. It's hard, but I am sticking at it.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09She's lost almost two kilos.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12At least I know this is actually working.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15So, to see signs of it already working. That's good.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Ebonie might think the two kilos she has lost is fat,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22but it isn't.
0:13:26 > 0:13:31the crash diet is forcing her body to use up its carbohydrate stores found in her muscles.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36This is mainly made up of water, so as Ebonie slims down,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39it is mostly water she is losing, not fat.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47This is why the weight drops off so quickly at the start.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57It's week three of Ebonie's crash diet.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01But things aren't going too well. She can't seem to lose more weight.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05I'm not impressed. It just irritates me,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08cos I just think, "what have I done wrong now?"
0:14:08 > 0:14:10The diet is making her irritable and tired,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14causing her brain to crave fatty and sweet foods.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I've done a bit more cheating.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21Yesterday I had a Country Bar instead, cos I didn't have one of my shakes,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24so that sort of stood in for it.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Ebonie may lack willpower, but it's not really her fault.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33We evolved when food was scarce,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37so our bodies are programmed to hold onto fat at all times.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Her crash diet has forced her body into starvation mode,
0:14:40 > 0:14:44and will do everything to top up her fat stores.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51# Sweet like chocolate... #
0:14:51 > 0:14:54So a picnic with mates isn't going to be easy.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The sight and smell of food triggers nerve impulses to race to
0:15:02 > 0:15:06the hypothalamus, the control centre for hunger in our brain.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11On her diet, Ebonie's brain now has heightened sensitivities
0:15:11 > 0:15:14to these cues, which is tempting her even more to eat.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- What is the hardest part of being on a diet?- Smelling food.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23That is the most hardest part.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26I'm just happy that I'm only on it for a short period of time.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32After four weeks on her crash diet, Ebonie is back in Harley Street,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34curious to find out how successful it's been.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Good, so the day is here. Finally.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45This is our scan here. Now, I think the most important thing we want to look at
0:15:45 > 0:15:48is that we've gone from 69 kilograms to 66.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Is that what you expected?
0:15:51 > 0:15:56- No.- So you've lost three kilos. That's getting up to seven pounds. - Oh.
0:15:56 > 0:16:02Although Ebonie has lost weight, the overall results aren't so good.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08We've actually lost 1.5 kilos in muscle. Is that what you expected?
0:16:08 > 0:16:10No, not really.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13I'd have thought when you lose weight, it's just straight away fat.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I wouldn't even have thought muscle.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23On her crash diet, Ebonie has used up her carbohydrate stores in her muscles,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27but a lot of this is water, which are body will suck back like a sponge
0:16:27 > 0:16:30once she starts eating normally.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37- Would you recommend this diet? - Honestly? No.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42And the reason I say that is, it's an extreme diet and a short-term approach,
0:16:42 > 0:16:46and unfortunately with that, they are doomed to failure.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Has been a good experience, but I wouldn't do this shakes again.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53Like James has said, as well, it's only a short-term diet,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57so, you know, it's not best in the long run.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01After long periods on a crash diet, your body can start to eat away
0:17:01 > 0:17:05at protein in your vital organs, which can cause irreversible damage.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10# Un, deux, trois
0:17:10 > 0:17:12# Turn it up a little bit more... #
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Having lost three kilos on her crash diet,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Ebonie is finally in Greece with her new beach bod.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23But how long will the weight stay off?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27I'd rather enjoy myself than think, "I can't eat this."
0:17:27 > 0:17:31But I'm still happy I dieted. At least I lost a bit of weight.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34While the crash diet wasn't as successful as Ebonie
0:17:34 > 0:17:37had hoped for, it taught her a valuable lesson.
0:17:37 > 0:17:43Exercise and a balanced diet including fruit and veg will be key to staying in shape.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46But any concerns about her weight are now on hold.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52After her holiday, she has decided to do things a little differently.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56My goal when I get back is to keep healthy and not snack.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00That's not just losing weight. I want to keep normal.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Which is probably not a bad idea, as research shows
0:18:05 > 0:18:09that in the long-term, 95% of crash diets don't work.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Our growing obsession to be slim can often damage our relationship with food.
0:18:23 > 0:18:28Research shows that over 60% of 15 to 24-year-olds eat chocolate
0:18:28 > 0:18:31or fast food when feeling anxious or stressed.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35# A fix... #
0:18:35 > 0:18:39In Bristol, 22-year-old Hayley has taken this to the extreme.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46I think I started bingeing and overeating when I was about eight.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Someone called me fat, basically, in class.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55I remember looking down at my school jumper and thinking,
0:18:55 > 0:18:57"Oh, I'm different, I'm fat."
0:18:58 > 0:19:04From that age, Hayley has been caught in an extreme cycle of dieting and binge eating.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10Girls who diet are 12 times more likely to binge eat,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13which can lead to eating disorders.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18I was working at a supermarket, and the house was completely empty. My parents were away.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24I ended up getting a big bag of Doritos that are meant to be shared,
0:19:24 > 0:19:31and dip, and two big slabs of dairy milk chocolate,
0:19:31 > 0:19:35and I ate it all within about three hours.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40And then I'd wait and then I'd start again.
0:19:40 > 0:19:46After that, unsurprisingly, I was sick for quite a few hours.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53Hayley is one of the 2% of people in the UK who suffer from binge eating disorder,
0:19:53 > 0:19:59a condition now recognised to be as serious as bulimia and anorexia.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Scientists believe binge eating is a way of blocking emotions.
0:20:07 > 0:20:13I think I was using food as a coping mechanism for
0:20:13 > 0:20:19my hatred of my body and dissatisfaction with myself.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23For Hayley, food became a distraction from her problems.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28As you start to eat, it's a feeling of relief that you've finally got the food,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31you can finally do what you want to do.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34And there is a good biological reason for this.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Eating fatty and sweet food can trigger a huge
0:20:40 > 0:20:44surge of endorphins and dopamine, our body's feel-good chemicals.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47When endorphins are released,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50they travel quickly through the neighbouring nerve cells
0:20:50 > 0:20:54to the pleasure centres in our brain, inducing a natural high.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00But soon after the high, comes the low.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05As the rush of endorphins drop off,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08the feelings of pleasure subside, causing our moods to slump.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14After a binge, it's very guilt-ridden.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17You feel awful, physically and mentally.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21You've just sabotaged yourself again, you've just binged.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26You feel greedy, disgusting, horrible.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28There's nothing really pleasant about a binge.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32You couldn't have a worse relationship with your body.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38Which was made worse by society's reaction to her weight.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43Hayley is among the one in five people who are victimised because of their size.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Bigger people do tend to be chastised
0:21:46 > 0:21:50for their weight and made fun of, and there is this stereotype
0:21:50 > 0:21:56of being greedy and lazy, and it's your fault that you are fat.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58It's really not the case.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00After years of having no self-worth,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Hayley has made the brave step to get help.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Absolutely, and I'm very, very pleased.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10And with the help of therapy she has boosted her self-esteem
0:22:10 > 0:22:13and is slowly coming to terms with her condition.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16She now feels confident enough to go out with her mates.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17LAUGHTER
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Do you find yourself bingeing less at the moment?
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Yeah, I think so.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Supermarkets are still quite challenging,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28but around areas like this it's a bit different,
0:22:28 > 0:22:36and binge food isn't really, for me, it's not the same food as I would eat on a day-to-day basis.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38- I guess it'll only just get better. - Yeah.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Being open about her condition has been part of the cure,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48so Hayley now writes her own blog so others can better understand.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52I'm definitely moving forward, trying to combat it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56I haven't really binged in a couple of months now, so that's good.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06A recent survey found over 60% of people
0:23:06 > 0:23:09are not happy with their body image.
0:23:09 > 0:23:14I'd say my least favourite part of my body is probably my legs.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17But why are we so insecure?
0:23:17 > 0:23:20People have told me I have a strange-looking nose.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23This part of my chin!
0:23:23 > 0:23:26- There's no hair over there. - There's no hair over there.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27# Just bust a move
0:23:27 > 0:23:29# Huh, huh, yeah... #
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Psychologist Dr Martin Tovee is a body image expert.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35He's with a group of volunteers to see the sort of pressures
0:23:35 > 0:23:39that are making people today feel bad about their body.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43He believes the way in which celebs and models are photographed,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47and even airbrushed can have a massive impact.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49They are impossibly attractive,
0:23:49 > 0:23:51because they don't exist in real life -
0:23:51 > 0:23:54it gives you an artificial bar you have to try and reach.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59So you're always going to be striving for this unrealistic ideal.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01And do the volunteers agree?
0:24:01 > 0:24:05I think the media has a big effect on how I feel.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09You have all these images shoved into you all the time.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13You still aspire to be as perfect as them
0:24:13 > 0:24:15even though you know it's not real.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Less than 5% of people can naturally attain the body ideals
0:24:18 > 0:24:21being portrayed in the media today.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26You can't achieve these bodies in real life
0:24:26 > 0:24:29other than by artificially changing your body
0:24:29 > 0:24:33in a very invasive and sometimes quite dangerous way.
0:24:33 > 0:24:39Nearly half of Brits between 16 and 24 would have cosmetic surgery to change their bodies.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43These procedures are meant to make us more appealing, yet research
0:24:43 > 0:24:47shows there are many different ways to appear more attractive to others.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Generally I look for personality more.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I want somebody who is going to make me laugh.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54Honestly, 100%, it's their personality.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57To investigate whether personality really counts,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Martin is going to run an experiment.
0:24:59 > 0:25:05He has planted two volunteer actors, Thomas and Rhys in the crowd.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09During the experiment, Thomas has been asked to be mean and selfish,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and Rhys, friendly and kind.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18A week earlier, everyone was asked to rate how attractive
0:25:18 > 0:25:23they found 40 random faces including Rhys and Thomas's.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27The scores showed how attractive
0:25:27 > 0:25:29they were from their appearance alone.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Now Rhys and Thomas
0:25:36 > 0:25:39spend the whole day interacting with the other volunteers.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Nice to meet you too!
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- There are so many students here. - Yeah.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Rhys made eye contact,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50was interested in other people and smiled a lot.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- I know.- Hello, Australia...
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Thomas didn't make eye contact,
0:25:55 > 0:25:58wasn't interested in what people said and interrupted them.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02I was asking a question.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06- I didn't hear what you said. - You've had a good time?
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Yeah, I have. A really good time.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Rhys was a nice guy.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17He was lovely. He was really nice.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I thought Rhys was a really nice guy, really chatty, lovely.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Thomas, I really didn't like him towards the end.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27Thomas was being a bit brash and it did affect my opinion of him.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30But did it actually change how attractive people found
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Rhys and Thomas?
0:26:32 > 0:26:38So, what we're going to do is hand out some questionnaires.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42The volunteers are asked to rate each other on attractiveness.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Scoring on a scale of one to ten
0:26:44 > 0:26:47where one is unattractive, ten is attractive.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Do it separately - no conferring.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Rhys and Thomas will be scored again
0:26:54 > 0:26:59but this time their behaviour will be taken into account.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Four hours later, and the results are now in.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Now, we haven't been entirely honest with you.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09Two of you are not actually volunteers. Two of you are actors.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Tom and Rhys, would you like to step forward?
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Tom and Rhys have been playing a part.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19One of them has been nice, friendly, outgoing.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Everything I said was true.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25One of them was being a bit surly.
0:27:25 > 0:27:26He said that Mikela had oil-drum thighs!
0:27:26 > 0:27:28LAUGHTER
0:27:28 > 0:27:32And how did this impact on the results?
0:27:32 > 0:27:35What we found was the nice guy
0:27:35 > 0:27:39scored significantly higher on the second presentation,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41when you knew something about him.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Personality counts.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46That's a rule of life, really.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Yeah, you just don't judge somebody on how they look. It's like...
0:27:49 > 0:27:52With his personality taken into account, Rhys's score
0:27:52 > 0:27:56for attractiveness went up by over 20%.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Martin conducted similar experiments on a much larger scale with
0:28:00 > 0:28:02over 2,000 people.
0:28:02 > 0:28:08The results proved the same. Personality is important when it comes to attractiveness.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12These kinds of results show that how you judge someone,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14even if you think you're just judging them
0:28:14 > 0:28:17on their physical characteristics, you can't exclude their
0:28:17 > 0:28:20personality and behaviour. People like smiles.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24You can spend thousands changing your body,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26but these results show that you can
0:28:26 > 0:28:30appear far more attractive to people just by being nice.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd