There is an advertisement on the Mix FM radio station which has been receiving regular air play but which I find to be very offending.

The said offensive advert features a girl in a dilemma. She is being forced to choose between a few different boys who are vying for her attention. She then reveals that it all started from when she first started using this ‘slimming’ product and then she lost weight and got all these boys who wouldn't usually even look at her.

No more ‘apple’ or ‘pear’ body shapes she proudly exclaims! I find this ad to be distasteful, offending and a poor model to young girls.

The message it sends out is that a girl has to be slim in order to have boys come after her.

What sort of message does that send out to the young girls and women listening? That its not their personality, character or spirit that matters?

That it’s only their bodies that matter in order to have a meaningful relationship with a man? If a slim body is the only reason that boys go after a girl, those boys are most definitely not worth her time.

In fact, this advertisement sets the expectation that if I use this product, I'll have boys after me. Never mind that I'm a nasty, selfish person. So long as I'm slim!

If I were a male, I'd be offended too. This advert sends out the message that all a man is interested in is a girl’s body. I don't know if that is in fact the ugly truth, but I'd like to think that men are not that superficial. Right guys?

Seriously, for the sake of (wo)mankind, please take this radio ad off the air. For the sake of young awkward girls, still self-conscious of their baby fat, take this ad off the air. For their confidence and self-esteem.

For our daughters and younger sisters. Take it off the air. To nurture beautiful, confident women (for in that there is power), take it off the air. In fact, I'd like to see the company take this offending advert off the air and issue an apology.