Sid Kirchheimer

About the author: Sid Kirchheimer is a health and medical writer and editor. He has written or edited thirteen books, including The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II, and has served as an editorial director for InteliHealth.com and as editor in chief for two websites serving ophthalmic professionals.

Reality TV series that emphasize physical beauty, such as ABC's Are You Hot", present unrealistic expectations that may put young viewers, especially teenage girls, in jeopardy. Their message is that only thin women are beautiful, which can encourage emotionally vulnerable teens to develop eating disorders. Parents must be aware of what their teenagers are watching on television so that they can help them develop a healthy self-image independent of media hype.

First there were The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and...