Mapping the Issue: Eating Disorders

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Ever since the development of the media such as television, the internet, various fashion magazines and commercial advertisements, society focused more and more on personal appearances. Not only were runway models becoming slimmer but the viewers that watched and read about them were becoming more concerned with their weight. In the past fifty years the number of adolescent girls developing eating disorders increased just as television, advertisements, and magazines were becoming a social norm that was easily and often available. Today, more than ever, adolescents are worrying about weight, shape, size and body image and. It does not help that these children are growing up in a world filled with media material emphasizing dangerously skinny bodies as beautiful and perfect. Anne Morris and Debra Katzman, authors of “The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents” argue that the media is corrupting individuals to develop eating disorders and body dissatisfaction. “Exploring the Role Society and the Media Play in the Development of an Eating Disorder and the Media Influence on Eating Disorders” claims that there are other factors leading to eating disorders other than media, such as genetics, or public and cultural pressure. "Body Image Within the Vandy Bubble" defends the argument by saying that although media is causing harm in society by portraying extremely thin women and that beauty and thinness go hand in hand, but there are media corporations that are positively informing individuals about healthy body image. In 2003, Morris and Katzman wrote “The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents,” they presented a great number of evidence that reveals media as the primary culprit f... ... middle of paper ... ...o matter how big or small. Morris and Katzman believe that by monitoring what the individual watches that the problem can be solved, while “Exploring . . .” argues that even without the media, this issue will still be a cause for concern and "Body Image . . ." claims that certain media corporations are attempting to solve the problem with positive advertisement. Works Cited Morris, Anne M., Katzman, Debra K. “The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents” 8.5 (2003): 287-89. Pulsus Group, May-June 2003. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. "Body Image Within the Vandy Bubble." Web log post. : Body Image and the Media. N.p., 03 Feb. 2011. Web. 08 Mar. 2014. "Exploring the role society and the media play in the development of an Eating Disorder and the Media Influence on Eating Disorders.” Something Fishy: Website on Eating Disorders, n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2014.

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