UK MPs want ban on digitally enhanced images in teen magazines

London, Aug 3 (ANI): Keira Knightley has been in news for her enhanced cleavage on the posters for King Arthur, while Kate Winslet's famous curves have been trimmed for a front cover-all thanks to the practice of 'airbrushing'.ut now Members of Parliament in Britain have urged to curb the technique of flattening tummies, shaping thighs, removing laughter lines and adding extra gloss to hair.

The technique is now commonplace among photographers attempting to produce perfect images of the body beautiful.

However, the Liberal Democrats are asking advertising chiefs to put an end to this practice, particularly in promotional material aimed at young girls.

The Liberal Democrats have warned that the use of altered images is adding to the pressure on vulnerable teenagers, who already feel unhappy with the way they look.

The party is calling for a ban on the use of altered or enhanced pictures on publicity material aimed at the under-16s as part of a wider drive to boost the self-esteem of young girls.

The MPs also want the introduction of new rules, insisting that advertisements aimed at adults disclose how much images have been airbrushed or digitally enhanced.

"Today's unrealistic idea of what is beautiful means that young girls are under more pressure now than they were even five years ago. Airbrushing means that adverts contain completely unattainable perfect images no one can live up to in real life," the Independent quoted Lib Dem frontbencher Jo Swinson as saying.

"We need to help protect children from these pressures and we need to make a start by banning airbrushing in adverts aimed at them.

"The focus on women's appearance has really got out of hand. No one really has perfect skin, perfect hair and a perfect figure but women and young girls increasingly feel that nothing less than thin and perfect will do," he added. (ANI)