Ninety percent of the eating disorder cases occur in women ages twelve to twenty-five and many researchers believe the media is to blame. Though there is no single cause of an eating disorder, multiple studies cause an eating disorders to the media. With being vulnerable to the “thin ideal” in mass media, there is an increased risk of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. (“Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders”) Eating disorders are much more dangerous than they may appear. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness and is the third most common chronic illness among teenagers. Anorexics have a form of body dysmorphic disorder; they look at themselves and see themselves as being overweight. The affected often grossly restrict the amount of food they eat and usually over-exercise. “The warning signs of anorexia nervosa are being underweight, refusing to eat, over-exercising, unhealthy skin, hair and nails.” Also there have been studies that have shown ones with anorexia nervosa are likely to later develop bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is usually much more difficult to detect that anorexia. Bulimia nervosa is bingeing, consuming large amounts of food, and purging, vomiting back up. Bulimics often feel out of control and will use bingeing and purging to control something in their lives. “The warning signs for bulimia are weight fluctuations, over-exercising, sneaking food and unhealthy skin, hair, and nails” (“Self Image and Media Influence”). The media shows women that represent beauty, even if these women are not real. This means the women in magazines that teenagers wish to look like is not authentic. Many teenagers don’t understand the difference of what is real and fake. So, they believe that the ave... ... middle of paper ... ...atching music videos. In women, the ideal body comes from magazines. (Jade) The media is such an influence on how women and girls view themselves and this is proven in a recent study in Fiji. Up until recently Fiji has been in the dark about media. In this study the eating behaviors or adolescent girls were measured before being exposed to television and after. The results of the study showed that television exposure caused the adolescent girls to have disordered eating habits and behaviors (Spettigue and Henderson). We are constantly exposed to that media and it can cause some very negative effects on young people. Adolescents are very vulnerable to the media and are greatly influenced by its messages. Many studies have shown the media’s link to eating disorders. Even though there is no one cause of an eating disorder it seems the media can be somewhat to blame.
Our society today is heavily influenced by the media and the imagery it shows. Though it may be indirect, the media provides unhealthy messages about ideal body sizes, gender attractiveness, and weight control that make women view themselves in a negative way. Magazines, television, and movies influence teenage girls on what they believe their body image should be. The images they show set the standard of what is considered physically attractive in our society. With the use of photoshop, media depicts falsified images of models and actresses to create a perfected look that is unattainable by the average woman. This creates a desire among teenage girls to look like these stars that are often shown. When teenage girls look at these images, they compare themselves to those images, and then judge themselves based on these comparisons. These judgements can potentially lead to eating disorders. In order to prevent the risk of eating disorders among teenage girls, the media should depict a typical image of people, rather than idolizing a specific standard of beauty.
Andrist, Linda C. "Media Images, Body Dissatisfaction, and Disordered Eating in Adolescent Women." Adolescent Health Mar. 2003, 28th ed., sec. 2: 119-23. Print.
Harrison, K., & Hefner, V. (2006). Media exposure, current and future body ideals, and disordered eating among predolescent girls: A longitudinal panel study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(2), 146-156. McCabe, M.A., & Ridge, A.R. a.
Moreover, population studies demonstrate that transnational migration, modernization, and urbanization are associated with elevated risk of disordered eating among girls and young women (Becker, 2004). Television, Disordered Eating, and Young Women in Fiji: Negotiating Body Image and Identity During Rapid Social Change (2004) is an editorial that elaborates on Adolescent girls and young women in Fiji incapable of adequately adapting to the economic and political environment. In the Fiji societies, status is traditionally endorsed rather than achieved; instigating the females to gravitate towards imported media to self-set themselves. Females in both cultures have no reality on self-image; indoctrination the females to believe that television images of young girls and women are a reality, causing the ladies to Impressionist the same images at any mean necessary. The aftermath of imported media amongst young girls and females captivates ideas of eating disorders and other youth risk behaviors with rapid modernization and social transition (Becker, 2004).
What is the perfect body type? Throughout our adolescence ages into the adult hood stage many of young women struggle to answer this question. Our idea of what the perfect body type is ever changing however it is always influenced by the Medias perception of what the perfect body image should look like. We all idolize these images we see on television and in magazines and some of us would do anything to look just like them. This image forces us to have self esteem issues.These advertisements are damaging both our mental and physical state of being Many young girls who take extreme measures to live up to the Medias perception of the perfect body type are more likely to develop one of the many body image disorders. The average age a girl starts to diet is eight ("Media and Eating Disorders" 1). When a girl becomes obsessed with dieting and looking better, they can easily become anorexic or bulimic. 79% of teenage girls who vomit are dedicated readers of woman's magazines ("Media and Eating Disorders" 2). The Medias standard of perfection puts stress and pressure on young girls to become skinner. Eating disorders, excessive exercise, and depression are a result of the Medias influence on their self image. The media have negatively influenced the self image of young girls by forcing their unrealistic perception of what women should look like onto them .
“The attention-grabbing pictures of various high-flying supermodels and actors on different magazine covers and advertisements go a long way in influencing our choices” (Bagley). The media is highly affective to everyone, although they promote an improper image of living. Research proved says those with low self-esteem are most influenced by media. Media is not the only culprit behind eating disorders. However, that does not mean that they have no part in eating disorders. Media is omnipresent and challenging it can halt the constant pressure on people to be perfect (Bagley). Socio-cultural influences, like the false images of thin women have been researched to distort eating and cause un-satisfaction of an individual’s body. However, it is clear that, although virtually all women are exposed to these socio-cultural influences, only a very small proportion develop clinical eating disorders (Mazzeo and Bulik). Every article believes that socio-culture have an impact on eating disorders. Although, researchers believe that is not the only reason, and the easiest statement to make. Eating disorders are far more complicated than it just being blamed on the media. Bagley, Mazzeo and Bulik all state that media play a role in the development but are not the main reason to developing an eating disorder. In all of the research done thus far media is a part of eating disorders, but not the only culprit.
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.
Becker, A. E. (2004). Television, disordered eating, and young women in Fiji: Negotiating body image and identity during rapid social change. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 28(4), 533-59. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11013-004-1067-5
Levine, Michael P., and Sarah K. Murnen. "Everybody Knows That Mass Media Are/Are Not [Pick One] A Cause Of Eating Disorders": A Critical Review Of Evidence For A Causal Link Between Media, Negative Body Image, And Disordered Eating In Females." Journal Of Social & Clinical Psychology 28.1 (2009): 9-42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
Bulimia nervosa is a slightly less serious version of anorexia, but can lead to some of the same horrible results. Bulimia involves an intense concern about weight (which is generally inaccurate) combined with frequent cycles of binge eating followed by purging, through self-induced vomiting, unwarranted use of laxatives, or excessive exercising. Most bulimics are of normal body weight, but they are preoccupied with their weight, feel extreme shame about their abnormal behavior, and often experience significant depression. The occurrence of bulimia has increased in many Western countries over the past few decades. Numbers are difficult to establish due to the shame of reporting incidences to health care providers (Bee and Boyd, 2001).
Researchers have used various abstract foundations for examining the relationship between media and body image ( Holmstrom, 2004). Here I review the theory that has been used by researcher in the area. Bandura’s Social cognitive theory (1994) assumed that “people learn and model the behaviors of attractive others”. The supporters of this theory suggest that young women find slim models in the media attractive and try to imitate them through dieting which leads them to eating disorders.
Tiggemann, M. (2006). The role of media exposure in adolescent girls' body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness: Prospective results. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25, 522-540
Around the world people have a ongoing debates over if social media and pop culture have the effect of causing eating disorders. First off, what age group is eating disorders most common in? In the article “Body Image” from opposing viewpoint in context they say “According to a 2015 report by common sense media, a non-profit advocacy group that monitors children’s media more then one-half of girls and one-third of boys as young as six think that they had to be thinner.” This quote is explaining how kids as young as six think that they need to be thinner. Now, how do eating disorders start? According to the Eating Disorder Association “Eating disorders develop as outward signs of inner emotional or psychological distress or problems.
Rader, Jonathon. "Does the media cause eating disorders?." healthcarecommunication.com. N.p., 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources says that eating disorders "are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem." Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia "refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height" and "weighs 85 percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height." A person diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese (Anred.com).