The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a new report on children’s exposure to products online that are designed to change their appearance. A survey was carried out with 2,000 13- to 17-year-olds, as well as focus groups with young people, to find out how children are impacted. A substantial proportion of children reported seeing prescription-only weight loss drugs, supplements for muscle building, and beauty products and procedures. Findings show 78% of children agreed that being exposed to appearance changing products online had a negative impact on self-esteem and explained that viewing unrealistic body standards put them under pressure. Recommendations include: amendments to the Children’s Code of Practice to protect children from body stigma content; and amendments to the Online Safety Act to ensure that children are not exposed to advertisements on social media.
Read the report: A healthy influence? Children’s exposure to appearance-changing products online
Source: Children’s Commissioner for England
Date published: 10 February 2026
