Airbrushed photographs could be given government health warnings in France to protect women from 'false' images of female beauty.
A group of 50 politicians want a new law stating published images must have bold printed notice stating they have been digitally enhanced.
Campaigning MP Valerie Boyer, of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, said the wording should read:"Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person's physical appearance".
Mrs Boyer, who has also written a government report on anorexia and obesity, added: "We want to combat the stereotypical image that all women are young and slim.
"These photos can lead people to believe in a reality that does not actually exist, and have a detrimental effect on adolescents. "Many young people, particularly girls, do not know the difference between the virtual and reality, and can develop complexes from a very young age.
"In some cases this leads to anorexia or bulimia and very serious health problems.
"It's not just a question of public health, but also a way of protecting the consumer."
She said the law – which had its first reading in the French parliament last week – should also have a wider scope than simply photos used in newspaper and magazine advertising.
Mrs Boyer added: "Billboard photos and those on product packaging, as well as photos used in political campaigns or artistic photos, should also be included."
President Sarkozy was himself airbrushed two years ago, when Paris Match magazine 'rubbed out' his love-handles in a photo of him canoeing.
First Lady Carla Bruni is known to have been airbrushed using computer programmes like Photoshop hundreds of times during her former career as a supermodel.
Mrs Boyer said she wanted a fine of 30,000 pounds, or up to 50 per cent of the cost of the publicity campaign, for advertisers that break the law.
But she added: "It is not an attempt to damage creativity of photographers or publicity campaigns, but to advise the public on whether what they are seeing is real or not."
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