Bristol, England — Thirty percent of British university women would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight and shape, Medical News Today reports.
A new survey, conducted in partnership by the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, and eating disorder charity The Succeed Foundation, found that to achieve ideal weight and shape:
• 16 percent of respondents would trade a year of their life;
• 10 percent would trade two to five years;
• 2 percent would trade six to 10 years;
• 1 percent would trade 21 years or more.
The survey, which polled 320 female students with an average age of 24 at 20 British universities, also found that 26 percent of respondents were willing to make at least one of the following sacrifices:
• About $8,000 (or 5,000 pounds) from their annual salary (13 percent);
• A job promotion (8 percent);
• Earning an honors degree (6 percent);
• Spending time with their partner (9 percent);
• Spending time with their family (7 percent);
• Spending time with their friends (9 percent);
• Their health (7 percent).
In addition, nearly half of the respondents said they had been ridiculed or bullied because of their appearance, and nearly 40 percent said if money weren’t an issue, they would undergo cosmetic surgery to alter their appearance. Of these respondents, 76 percent desired multiple surgical procedures.
