Anorexia and Bulimia AREA This documentary primarily focuses on the existence of Eating Disorders amongst teenagers worldwide. Although this is not a new development, in recent years the increase in popularity and availability of the Internet has brought about a new 'culture' to which these troubled teenagers are subscribing - this 'culture' is that of the 'pro-anorexia' or 'pro-ana' movement. These clubs and groups are often given pet names, such as Ana or Anna (anorexia) and Billy or Mia (Bulimia), and supporters use e-groups and clubs to post messages of support to like minded friends who support and understand their eating habits. FOCUS In response to recent negative media attention about this growing 'society', I aim to produce a non-biased and factual account giving opinions from both sides of the argument. I aim to understand and perhaps validate the reasons why young teenagers feel compelled to visit and belong to these groups. This documentary will include statistics about the typical age and background of the members, and also interviews through which I hope to gain a better understanding of the motivations of these people. I will also investigate claims about these sites' 'recruitment' of new anorexics and potential positive aspects of their existence. I also aim to investigate recent claims by the media that these sites are detrimental to the health of young teenagers and that they are a danger to society and should be regulated or shut down. RESEARCH PLAN I aim to investigate: Existing media articles, which are: a) Promoting the pro anorexia movement b) Against the pro anorexia movement Internet sites which are: a) Promoting the pro anorexia movement b) Against the pro-anorexia movement or are recovery based. I will observe existing pro anorexia groups and gain an understanding of the concerns and motivations of members. I also aim to contact a wide range of members from different backgrounds and with their permission compare statistics of members to try and find common ground and establish a link between members which might explain their desire to belong to this group. I will also contact the service providers which host these clubs and gain their opinion on the existence of these groups and find out whether they have any intention of perhaps removing or moderating sites and gr... ... middle of paper ... ...y. And perhaps in a way she is right. No one can make these sites disappear and no one can stop an anorexic starving him or herself unless they actually want help. At the end of the day, the sites are only a symptom of a larger problem, and the Media can demonise them all they want but they will not make them disappear. As long as the media portrayal of thin being beautiful is maintained, so, experts fear will these Internet sites. [1] Bloomfield, Steve, Eating Disorders Association [2] Martin, Claire, The Denver Post [3] Cosmopolitan UK magazine, February 2001 edition [4] Found on Anorexic Nation [5] Image kindly reproduced with the permission of ‘Diet Pepsi Uh huh’ [6] Information courtesy of S.C.a.R.E.D. [7] From Anorexic Nation, Secret Society [8] www.house-of-sins.com [9] Statistics from Claire Martin, Denver Post [10] Statistics from http://clubs.yahoo.com/proanorexia [11] Pinhas, Jean, Eating Disorder Professionals of Colorado, [12] Brown, James, 2000 [13] CAPEDS, 2001 [14] Email interview which I conducted with Silent Chaos (See appendix) [15] Courtesy of http://www.time.com/ [16] www.yahoo.com
backing of their desire to create a community. It seems some of the communal groups,
Yes, there is the Classical Society which meets weekly and is made up of likeminded people.
The documentary Thin focuses on women who suffer from eating disorders in a treatment facility. Currently not many women are educated on the problems they may face when they have an eating disorder. Not only do women themselves understand what is happening to them, the people around them fail to understand why they may have these problems. Throughout the film we are able to focus closely on some of the patients more closely. The patients the film allows us to see closely are Polly, Alisa, Shelly and Brittany. These ladies are all of different ages and are all at different points in treatment.
Bordo creates a harrowing argument in her essay. “The Globalization of Eating Disorders” shows its greatest strengths when supported by the essayist’s emotional appeals, personal observations, and statistical evidence. In her keenness to employ real facts and statistics, paired with her rhetoric, Bordo grants relevancy to her claim. Providing clarity on the recent development of eating disorders, Bordo shows her ability to argue as she voices her deep concern. Indeed, Bordo’s use of many of the components of a strong argument in her essay accomplishes its goal. Ultimately, Bordo’s selection provides its audience with enough reason to consider or reconsider their stances. Suddenly, the globalization of eating disorders has become global in a new way—in the awareness of men and women all around the
Pro-Anorexia Websites Cyberspace, something that was once considered a fad, has developed into a tool that allows people struggling with anorexia to potentially find sanctuary from the regulatory systems in popular culture that are applied to women’s bodies. Cyberspace provides an alternative space for women with eating disorders or body issues. The space created by cyberspace is potentially safer for women to meet because it allows anonymity while simultaneously being part of a community that the built environment is unable to provide. The components that make up pro-anorexia websites are usually considered abnormal, repugnant, or deviant within popular culture, because popular culture does not accept the way anorexics interpret images of the body. This popular view of people with anorexia does not allow anorexics to function as an accepted part of public space or popular culture.
Within the selection A Secret Society of the Starving, Udovitch describes the lives of girls with eating disorders and how websites and society affect them. She interviews girls that have dealt with a personal eating disorder and addresses them by their website nicknames. Claire, Chaos, and Futurebird were only a few girls that she interviewed. She describes Chaos as, “a very attractive 23-year-old who has been either bulimic or anorexic since she was 10.” (Udovitch 561) Chaos practices weird habits such as not eating in front of people and taking an excessive number of laxatives. Chaos also makes a number of trips t...
However, the obsessive binge purge cycle causes them deep distress, shame, guilt, self-loathing and social isolation, and many will go to any lengths to hide their “shameful” secret from the family and friends. Typical Sufferers The anorexic or bulimic may be either sex, but the smaller percentage is in males. However the male percentage is on the increase. Most sufferers come from middle and upper income families, and are usually highly intelligent.
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...
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an disorder that has been most commonly diagnosed in adolescence with the highest at-risk group being women between ages 15 and 22 years old (Hodes, et al., 2000). In the United States, the occurrence of anorexia nervosa is estimated between 0.5% and 2% of the general population, and 0.8 million of the juvenile population (Fisherman, 2006). AN is an illness that has been around for quite some time but has recently become progressively more relevant in society today. This increase could be due to social factors such as the pressure to fit into society’s ideal body image, environmental, psychological, or other social factors may be contributing to the more rapidly development of AN. The exact causes of this disorder are unknown but anorexia has become the third most common chronic illness among adolescents and currently the incidents of AN are increasing in western countries (ANAD, 2014).
Eating disorders are an increasing health issue among not only females but males as well. Over the years the percentage of females with eating disorders has risen from 65 percent to 85-95 percent of the population (Anorexia Nervosa fact sheet, 2009). The percentage of males with eating disorders has increased from about 0.2 percent to 5-15 percent of the population (Boodman 2007). As the days go on, about half of the men and women with eating disorders do misdiagnosed. This is a major problem in the United States and not being diagnosed means no treatment, therefore no treatment means more health deterioration and more health deterioration leads many fatal complications. Eating disorders are serious and there have been many kinds reported and well known around the world. The most important types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, pica, and body dysmorphic disorder because these specific disorders are the most common and widely known and are the most widely diagnosed.
There are many more reasons to developing an eating disorder other than the media. After looking at the affects of media and how researchers explore the concept of development: we will now focus on the other key opponents to the development. Ultimately, if a person’s life situation, environment, and/or genetics leave them open to an Eating ...
. Just recently, you can locate sites stimulating eating disorders. Pro-ana and pro-mia websites are not for individuals with an eating disorder searching for help, but rather intended for individuals with an eating disorder who do not define themselves as ill. Young girls use these to encourage and inspire each other by continuing their harmful actions because being thin is most important. The difference between self-demolition and self-control is what separates girls with eating disorders and pro-anorexics and pro-bulimics. “Rexies” is the common name they have declared for their club. Sections of these websites are disturbing. You can find commandments for this lifestyle such as “I will not eat junk food without punishment after” and “what
Since 1960 the amount of cases of eating disorders has risen drastically. Since 1960 technology has increased as well. With this new technology social media has become increasingly popular leading to overstimulation of pictures portraying emaciated young women as “perfection” (Salter). Eating disorders are especially prominent in young females; and young minds are often easily influenced by what is normalized to them (Park). When a young brain is opened up to ideas and words that idolize “skinny”, it will undoubtedly become similarly obsessed with “skinny”. Harvard Medical school recently did a study on media’s effects on eating disorders: “Scientists…studying the social influences contributing to eating disorders focuse...
Wannarexia is self-diagnosed where one “wants anorexia” out of a pure desire to be thin. Anorexia is glamorized and heavily influenced by Hollywood and the media and individuals might refer to their “new friend or diet” as “ana”. These sites often personify the illness by referring to anorexia as a girl named "Ana" likewise, a girl named "Mia" in reference to Bulimia Nervosa(BN). It seems treating the disorder as though it were a person only distorts reality and trivializes the seriousness of the disease. "Thinspiration" sites encompass unlimited images of celebrities, lifeless and gaunt looking individuals to keep the users motivated. Mercy on anyone with a food craving, these pictures can guilt trip anyone into having their mouth permanently wired shut!
Karen F. Balkin, Ph.D. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 61-63. Print. The. Kirchheimer, Sid. “Reality TV Encourages Young People to Develop Eating Disorders.”