Eating Disorders, Autism, and HIV/AIDS

3316 Words7 Pages

Eating disorders are an epidemic that is spreading from country to country and culture to culture. As widespread and serious this disorder is becoming it definitely started because of culture’s perspectives. The main problem that is directly related to eating disorders is cultures perspectives on appearance and how much significance cultures put into appearance and beauty. Cultures and all different types of media show us only one type of “beautiful.” And that beautiful is the tall, long-legged, skinny girl with a perfect straight white smile. That is the only type of “beauty” that media tends to show it’s audience, especially in westernized cultures, and what they fail to show is all the other different types of beauty that is out there in this world full of people of different shapes and sizes and a personality all their own. It is impossible for every human being to have the same body, especially, in this case of the tall, long-legged, skinny individual, because a lot of it has to do with biology and what is in an individual’s genes. However, individuals, male and female, believe that they can turn their bodies to look like the girls they see in the media and they try their best to make this happen by not eating, over exercising, or throwing up their food so their bodies can not properly digest. This is not healthy whatsoever, and comes with serious consequences including potential fatality if it is not treated.

Becker (2003) discusses about the significance of the media, and how much it truly can impact on an individual, especially teenagers. In his article he focuses on the fact that in cultures like the United States who supposedly promote individuality, people are starting to confuse the meaning of that with appearan...

... middle of paper ...

...

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-5: Highlights of changes from DSM-IV- TR to DSM-5: Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet. Retrieved June 3, 2013, from .

Bagatell, N. (2010). From cure to community: Transforming notions of autism. Ethos, 38(1), 33-35.

Becker, A.E. (2003). Eating disorders and social transition. Primary Psychiatry, 10(6), 75-79.

Kim, J.Y., & Farmer, P. (2006). AIDS in 2006-Moving toward one world, one hope? The New England Journal of Medicine, 355(7), 645-647.

Kulick, D. (1997). The gender of Brazilian transgendered prostitutes. American Anthropologist, 99(3), 574-585.

Lemelson, R.B. (2004). Traditional healing and its discontents: Efficacy and traditional therapies of neuropsychiatric disorders in Bali. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 18(1), 48-76.

Binge Eating in Non-Western Cultures
1032 Words | 3 Pages
From this information it is clear that more research should be done on eating disorders in non-Western societies because women in those cultures do, in fact, suffer from poor body image and low self-esteem. Special focus could be placed on binge-eating in cultures where overeating is a natural part of life and overweight women are viewed as attractive. It is in these cultures that women feel torn between their traditions and the Westernized perception of beauty they are experience more.
Read More
Anorexia Essay
642 Words | 2 Pages
Paragraph 1- Girls can become victims of eating disorders because of society's promotion of an ideal thin female body. Models and stars shown in the fashion industry, magazines, movies, and other forms of media often appear very thin. These models are not a true reflection of the average female. Many are unnaturally thin, unhealthy or airbrushed. One former Victoria Secret model was shocked by the waiflike models that were shown on the runway during designer shows. A study referenced in the the article “Do Thin Models Warp Girls Body Image” describes how studies of girls as young as first grade think the culture is telling them to model themselves after celebrities who are svelte and beautiful. The same studies showed girls exposed to fashion magazines were most likely to suffer from poor body images. Psychologist and eating disorder experts agree the fashion industry has gone too far in showing dangerously thin images that women and young girls may try to emulate. The use of super slim models and stars, is sending the wrong message to young impressionable girls. These harsh influences lead us to think that thin is ideal body size. Seeing super thin models in the media plays a role in anorexia. Society’s promotion of a thin female body contributes to eating disorders for females striving to achieve this ideal bod...
Read More
Persuasive Essay On Eating Disorders
920 Words | 2 Pages
Researchers and doctors find eating disorders to be very complicated to figure out due to the many different factors leading to eating disorders. The majority of these issues derive from media images portraying the “perfect” bodies bringing people to believe that they need to change their eating habits to become that “perfect” image. On average, people waste around 31 hours a week on the internet and spend anywhere from two to four hours a day looking up cosmetic surgery procedures and investigating dietary and weight loss plans in an attempt to get that model worthy body (The Telegraph). Men and women should be proud of whom they are and not be envious of others so much as to want to change their entire appearance; God made us all perfect through his eyes; why would anyone want to change that uniqueness about them?
Read More
Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder
1323 Words | 3 Pages
Eating disorders are described as an illness involving eating habits that are irregular and an extreme concern with body image or weight. Eating disorders tend to appear during teenage years, but can develop at any age. Although more common in women, eating disorders can affect any age, gender or race. In the United States, over 20 million women and 10 million men are personally affected by eating disorders. There are many different causes of eating disorders such as low self esteem, societal pressures, sexual abuse and the victims perception of food. Eating disorders are unique to the sufferer and often, their perception of themselves is so skewed, they may not be aware they have an eating disorder. Media, for quite some time now, has played a significant part in eating disorders. Magazines with headlines ‘Summer Body’, or ‘Drop LB’s Fast!’ attract the attention of girls who may be insecure with themselves. Television productions such as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or American’s Next Top Model, show airbrushed and photoshopped women who have body types that may be unachievable. Those who are suffering from eating disorders can suffer dangerous consequences, and it is important to seek help.
Read More
Understanding Eating Disorders
1178 Words | 3 Pages
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness; 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from eating disorders and only 1 in 10 of those 24 million are treated (ANAD). Eating disorders do not discriminate; all ages, genders, ethnicities and races can be victim to this mental illness. It’s important to be aware of the impact eating disorders have on societies across the globe and how the media plays a role if we want to fight the source and promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. I’ve known many people in my life who have some sort of eating disorder, whether it’s anorexia(not eating enough), binge eating(eating large amounts of food rapidly), bulimia (throwing up their food) or just struggling with an unsatisfying self-image. Becoming aware of eating disorders and how they are developed is important to me because in a perfect world, I would like to see this illness become less common or diminished completely among those that I love and anyone else in today’s society. Eating disorders hit home for many people, including myself. Raising awareness may decrease the rate of eating disorders by informing the population of the harm this illness causes and hopefully promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. With the 3 theoretical approaches used by sociologists, Eating disorders can be understood which will better inform society on how to raise awareness, prevent this illness and help those who suffer from eating disorders.
Read More
Eating Disorders in America
1926 Words | 4 Pages
Today, America is plagued with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Eating Disorders. Each has its own characteristics that distinguish the illness yet there are some similarities that they also share. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. Shockingly, they also report that in the United States, there are as many as 10 million females and 1 million males that are battling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Additionally, another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorders (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org). Typically, psychological factors such as depression and low self-esteem contribute to eating disorders...
Read More
Eating Disorders
994 Words | 2 Pages
Despite the fact that many people think of an eating disorder as being an unhealthy quest for a perfect body, eating disorders are not about vanity and not really about weight. The causes of eating disorders are not known with precision but are thought to be a combination of genetic, neuro-chemical, psycho-developmental, and socio-cultural factors. Eating disorders are complex, psychological illnesses where people try to control conflict and stress in their lives by controlling food. The food, weight, and body image issues are identifiable symptoms of deep-rooted, often difficult-to-identify problems.
Read More
Eating Disorders Susan Bordo Analysis
1025 Words | 3 Pages
Eating disorders have become very popular around the world; back then, and even now still. It varies from culture, to gender, to race, etc. But the question is, how do we put a stop to it? Susan Bordo is the author of a story passage The Globalization of Eating Disorders. She states that some of the reasons why eating disorders are a common "thing", is because of cultures, magazines, celebrities, the media, etc. Based on my knowledge and past experiences, I think this is a rational theory.
Read More
Argumentative Essay On Eating Disorders
825 Words | 2 Pages
Many people think that they know all about eating disorders. They think that they already know all they need to know about them and that as long as your child or your friend or someone you care about doesn’t have it; you don’t have to worry about them. Well, how are you supposed to know when someone you love and care about has them if you don’t even know the basics about the eating disorders? Most of the times the person with the eating disorder was only trying to lose a couple pounds. However, the goal that was set turns into something more than just a couple of pounds and that person may go through extremes to try and get to that perfect body they have in mind. But the perfect body they have in mind is not perfect, not even close. It is a pure illusion in which teenagers are made to believe to be the definition of beauty.
Read More
Argumentative Essay On Eating Disorders
1847 Words | 4 Pages
An eating disorder is described as “any range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits”. Most people think eating disorders are only found in women when in fact 10-15% of eating disorders are found in men. “Up to 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder in the U.S.” As a survivor of an eating disorder I have seen the harmful effects it causes towards the body and the people around you. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) says that research has found that the public health significance and severity of all types of eating disorders are extremely high and need to be dealt with.
Read More
Eating Disorders And Western Culture Analysis
1667 Words | 4 Pages
Treating the cause may be a way in treating these disordered eating behaviors. Like reinforcing the adaptive traditional cultural beliefs and practices and that would enhance one’s self-esteem and self-concept. This can be achieved by strengthening ethnic identity and having the “ideal” body image in a broader context, such as ideals of feminine attractiveness. The media should be more realistic and consider the diversity of this
Read More
Media and Body Image
712 Words | 2 Pages
The thought of eating disorders reminded me of when we learned about violence and deviance in sport. People with eating disorders are seeking to feel accepted within the public. Spitting up food in order to have a nice looking body is against the social norms. Not only are eating disorders against the social norms, but also they are seen a self-destructive behavior. In the world we liv...
Read More
American Consumerism: Don Delilo’s White Noise
1908 Words | 4 Pages
David. "Mass Media and the Loss of Individuality." Web log post. Gatlog. N.p., 11 Sept. 2007. Web. 10 May 2014.
Read More
Informative Speech Outline On Eating Disorders
1796 Words | 4 Pages
(Thesis Statement)Eating disorders are something that are very common among all people. However, they are not often talked about or understood and this is something we need to fix as a society.
Read More
Anorexia Nervosa, Binga And Binge Eating Disorders
1086 Words | 3 Pages
Eating Disorders (EDs) are a series of often life-threatening mental health disorders which are commonly used as coping mechanisms or as ways to mask one’s problems. The causes of these illnesses are still being researched, and the effects they have on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing can often be as long as the sufferer’s life.
Read More

Open Document

Wait a second!

Eating Disorders, Autism, and HIV/AIDS

Binge Eating in Non-Western Cultures

Anorexia Essay

Persuasive Essay On Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder

Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders in America