Suzu Yokoyama, of Tsuda University in Japan, identifies unrealistic beauty and weight standards as a major public health problem facing young people, and particularly young women, in Japan and Korea today, leading to health problems such as anorexia and malnutrition. The essay analyzes the factors contributing to the excessive focus on weight, including the media and social and professional norms. While the context of Japan and Korea may be unique, body image issues are a global problem that must be solved by creating healthier societal norms, the essay argues.