The psychological toll of aspirational beauty imagery extends far beyond individual self-esteem concerns, creating population-level health consequences that researchers are now mapping with unprecedented precision. Media-driven body standards operate as powerful evolutionary forces, shaping not just preferences but actual health outcomes across entire societies. This systematic analysis reveals how cultural transmission of beauty ideals creates measurable increases in body dissatisfaction and eating disorder prevalence, particularly among young adults navigating identity formation. The research demonstrates that beauty standards function as cultural genes, spreading through populations and creating selective pressures that influence both mental health and physical behaviors. These findings quantify what clinicians have long observed: that societal beauty norms create genuine health risks comparable to other environmental factors. The work maps how different cultural contexts generate varying levels of body-related pathology, with some societies showing remarkable resilience against harmful beauty messaging. From a longevity perspective, this research highlights an underappreciated determinant of healthspan - the psychological stress and disordered behaviors that emerge from cultural beauty pressures. The analysis suggests that populations with more diverse and realistic beauty representations show lower rates of eating disorders and body dysmorphia. While calls for media diversity have grown louder in recent years, this research provides the scientific foundation for viewing representation as a legitimate public health intervention, not merely a social justice initiative.