Brazilian women are international icons of beauty. But at what cost?

Many young girls in Brazil are obsessed with the way they look, plastic surgery is a way of life.

Brazil has more than six hundred thousand plastic surgeries carried out every year. The fashion of the moment is big breasts, and silicon has never been more in demand.

The country is also the biggest consumer of diet pills in the world.

Ilana Rehavia, a very image conscious Brazilian reporter, had it all when it came to body image issues. From being chubby to getting too skinny, she battled her weight and her looks for years.

Now, she goes back home to try and understand why she, and other Brazilian women felt like that.

Listen to the programme
	Listen to the programme

First broadcast in June 2006. Produced by Ilana Rehavia of the BBC's Brazilian Service.