The Media, Culture, and Society

The media plays a significant role in contributing to the number of women and even men who will develop an eating disorder. Western culture and society tells us we must look a certain way. Parents often communicate these messages to their young children without realizing the pressure this imposes.

When we watch television or read a magazine we are constantly bombarded with images of beautiful women/men. How many of us are aware that these photos are touched up? How can we even compare and know what is real? Are you aware that these images were created to sell products and make money? Are you going to buy in or are you going to create your own sense of style and beauty?

Certain professions, like gymnastics create terrible pressure to maintain a certain kind of body shape and weight and often lead individuals to engage in disordered eating.

The media and society are not the only causes of eating disorders. I think that a person who is predisposed to low self-esteem will be at a higher risk of being negatively influenced by the media and society. How do you feel about yourself? Are you trying to live up to some unrealistic standard that is simply leaving you feeling like you're not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough? Have you asked yourself if you are good enough on the inside?

Ilissa

Okay, so we all want to hear how Calvin Klein is the culprit and that the emaciated waif look has caused women to tale-spin into the world of Eating Disorders. While the images of child-like women has obviously contributed to an increased obsession to be thin, and we can't deny the media influence on eating disorders, there's a lot more to it than that. With approximately six billion people in the world, and a mere ten million of them suffering with some type of disordered eating (.18% of the overall population -- less than a ¼ of 1%), the media obviously doesn't cause everyone to develop Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating. (Current statistics indicated that approximately one in every one hundred teenage girls may develop an Eating Disorder).

It is a lot more complex than blaming the media.
The media most certainly contributes to dieting and size discrimination
but Eating Disorders are NOT Diets!

From early-on children are taught by society that their looks matter. Think of the three and four year old who is continuously praised for being "oh so cute". Read More>>>