Final answer:
Societies with cultural ideals of fat and thin women have the commonality of promoting a certain body image as the ideal, which can lead to various societal issues such as the prevalence of eating disorders and body shaming. It is important to promote body positivity and acceptance, as well as challenge societal beauty standards that can be harmful to individuals' well-being and self-esteem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The societies with cultural ideals of fat and thin women have the commonality of promoting a certain body image as the ideal. In Western cultures, thinness is often considered attractive for women, while in some other cultures, such as some African cultures, being overweight is seen as a sign of wealth and status. These ideals can lead to various societal issues such as the prevalence of eating disorders and body shaming.
A study by Fox and Bailenson (2009) found that online female avatars conforming to gender stereotypes enhance negative attitudes toward women, indicating the influence of media in perpetuating these ideals. Moreover, societal costs such as lower life expectancies and higher healthcare costs are associated with obesity and weight issues.
To address these issues, it is important to promote body positivity and acceptance, as well as challenge societal beauty standards that can be harmful to individuals' well-being and self-esteem.