Survey shows Americans’ low self-esteem spurs beauty sales

CHICAGO Society’s obsession with physical beauty shows little signs of fading, judging by the findings of a recent survey that found nearly half of Americans would change something about their looks if they could and one-quarter would have plastic or cosmetic surgery to look more beautiful.

Global market research firm Synovate, which is a division of Aegis Group, surveyed more than 7,000 people in nine countries, including 500 people from the United States.

The survey found that Americans had the poorest self-image when it comes to beauty compared with the other countries surveyed. While nearly one-third of Americans think they are good looking “but there’s always room for improvement,” another 25 percent think they look ordinary or unattractive and would like to change their looks. Only 6 percent think they are beautiful and do not need to change anything about their looks.

The survey also found that nearly half of all people globally think beauty advertisements help make women feel inadequate, including 64 percent of Americans. However, when it comes to beauty tips in magazines, 41 percent of everyone surveyed and one-third of Americans said they pay attention to them.

When asked about plastic surgery, the number of Americans who would consider it (if money was no object) was 26 percent, while 19 percent of respondents across the globe would consider it. In nearly every market, the number of women who would go under the knife or needle was more than double the number of men.