...have gone by. This is a noticeable change for faithful viewers of the show and sends an extremely unhealthy message (that one can never be thin enough). The men on the other hand seem to depict the opposite, they (especially Joey and Chandler) have gained weight as the years have passed. This is an important contrast to bring to light since it reveals a double standard, that is, the women are forced to a more unattainable and strict criteria when it comes to beauty than the men. People watching Friends are definitely dissecting the body types on the show and as we have seen (especially in the case of young girls and women) eating disorders are still a vice in our society. This is not to blame Friends for the problem, but it is definitely a contributor to it.

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By: Lisa Alfano