The Effects Of Body Dysmorphic Disorders

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Have you ever turned on the television and realized how everyone appeared to be so perfect and wanted to change your life so that you could be just like them? Just about every parent lets their children know that they are beautiful on the inside and out, but how many children actually do feel this way? Whether we realize it or not, every day somewhere someone is suffering with Body Dysmorphic Disorder and/or an eating disorder. One may contribute this to a personal issues but it is necessary to look into the bigger picture. Much of what is shown in the media greatly contributes to this. In fact, children as young and nine and ten years old have even attempted to lose weight after watching soap operas, movies and even music videos (Teen Health 1). The media displays polished and edited falsified images of the “perfect” looks and bodies, usually causing insecurities in people and furthermore causing body dysmorphic disorders, eating disorders and sometimes even suicide.
Some people do not know how much of what is shown is actually real. A lot of what is shown through the media is not actually the original photo an in fact undergoes a lot of alterations and editing to make them look perfect. (Beauty Redefined 2014) People are being deceived when they see these images and this is overlooked and pushed over as if it is not a serious issue. As stated in a blog by Beauty Redefined, “While the vast majority of images of women are being digitally altered, so are our perceptions of normal, healthy, beautiful and attainable” (Beauty Redefined 2014). When the media alters the true meaning of beauty and shows these photoshopped images, we tend to cling along to the idea and belief that this is really what it means to be beautiful. We no long...

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... disorders and sometimes even suicide. The examples of body image that are portrayed make people have to work ten times as hard to achieve bodies that would not even be healthy if they were to be obtained. Eating disorders and diets are completely different things and one cannot and should not be mistaken for the other. To most people, eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder seem to simply be about worrying about the food eaten and the fear of gaining weight but it actually goes further than just that. The people suffering with these disorders need emotional support. We must constantly remind people that everyone is beautiful in their own way. Although the images may be appealing, they are unrealistic. It is time that we limit the amount of editing done to photos. It is time that we show the women and men of society what is really real. We cannot be blinded.

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