Today's young women are angry about the media's treatment of women but hungrily consume the very outlets that belittle them. Engeln reveals the shocking consequences of our obsession with girls' appearance on their emotional and physical health and their wallets and ambitions, including depression, eating disorders, disruptions in cognitive processing, and lost money and time. To truly fulfill their potential, we must break free from cultural forces that feed destructive desires, attitudes, and words. She provides inspiration and workable solutions to help girls and women overcome negative attitudes and embrace their whole selves.

Introduction -- This is beauty sickness. Will I be pretty? ; Just like a woman ; I, object -- This is what beauty sickness does to women. Your mind on your body and your body on your mind ; It's a shame ; Your money and your time -- This is how the media feeds beauty sickness. Malignant mainstream media ; (Anti)social media and online obsessions -- The ways we're fighting beauty sickness aren't working. Media literacy is not enough ; The problem with "real beauty" -- How we can fight beauty sickness. Turning down the volume ; Stop the body talk ; Function over form ; Learning to love your body and teaching others to do the same ; Turning away from the mirror to face the world.