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Eating disorder and the media essay
Eating disorder and the media essay
Eating disorders and its effects
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It is nearly impossible to open a newspaper or magazine, listen to the radio, shop at a mall or turn on the TV without being confronted with the message that to be fat is to be undesirable (Media Influence 1). A study showed that women experience an average of 13 negative thoughts about their body each day, while ninety-seven percent of women admit to having at least one “I hate my body” moment each day (Media Influence 1). The media portrays “perfect-people” as skinny, desirable people you see in magazines and on television. “Although thin models are not the cause of eating disorders, they can be a trigger or factor in maintain an eating disorder (Pearson, Catherine 1). In other words, if a woman has a predisposition for an eating disorder and spends a lot of time looking at fashion magazines, this can be one of the factors that trigger feeling bad about her body, which she then turns into eating disorder behavior, like excessive dieting (Is the media to blame 1).” The media should not be the blame for a person’s own self esteem problem.
Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of long-standing behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors (Factors That May Contribute to Eating Disorders 1). Scientists and researchers are still learning about the underlying causes of theses emotionally and physically damaging conditions (Factors That May Contribute to Eating Disorders 1). While eating disorders may first appear to be solely about food and weight preoccupations, those suffering them often try to use food and the control of food to cope with feeling and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming, on the other hand for some, dieting, bingeing and purging may begi...
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"Is the media to blame for eating disorders?." The Premier Online Debate Website. Debate.org, 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. .
Reed, S. (n.d.). EATING DISORDERS AND THE MEDIA. csun.edu. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://www.csun.edu/~sm60012/GRCS- Files/Final%20Projects/EATING%20DISORDERS%20AND%20THE%20MEDIA.htm
Teen Health and the Media. (n.d.). Teen Health and the Media. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=bodyimage&page=fastfacts
"What Causes an Eating Disorder?." Underlying Causes. Sheppard Pratt Health System, 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. .
The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions. Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002.
Each year millions of people in the United States develop serious and often fatal eating disorders. More than ninety percent of those are adolescent and young women. The consequences of eating disorders are often severe--one in ten end in death from either starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Due to the recent awareness of this topic, much time and money has been attributed to eating disorders. Many measures have been taken to discover leading causes and eventual treatment for those suffering from anorexia. (http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource ...er.html#Causes of Eating Disorders) )
Derenne, Jennifer L., and Eugene V. Beresin. "Body Image, Media, and Eating Disorders." Academic Psychiatry 30. June (2006): 257-61. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3
The media can impact people’s lives in many ways, whether it’s fashion, movies, literature, or hobbies. One of the impacts is how women view their bodies. Movie stars and models feel pressured to catch attention and to look good in order to have a good career in their respective field. People tend to judge how someone looks based on their body composition. The result of this “judgment” is that Hollywood is getting skinny. Since models and actresses serve as role models for people, people tend to want to look like them. The result of this seemingly harmless model of behavior is in an increase in eating disorders.
The purging may serve two purposes: preventing weight gain and also temporarily relieving depression and other negative feelings ("Bulimia," 1)." These eating disorders are a major issue in society today due to society’s stereotypical view of women and young teenage girls, in, but many cases’ men are affected too.First, an eating disorder is an illness that affects several of the United States population because society has driven many people to be self-conscience about their appearance. For example, eight million people in the United States suffer from eating disorders ("The Secret Language of Eating Disorders," 1). Furthermore, 3% of all young women suffer from anorexia and 3-4% suffer from bulimia ("The Secret Language of Eating Disorders," 1). This proves that many women and teenage girls are affected because many are afraid of becoming fat and "unacceptable" to society’s view on women in general.
National Eating Disorder Association (2006). The media, body image, and eating disorders. Retrieved October 11, 2008, from http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
"The Media." Something Fishy; Website on Eating Disorders. N.p., 2007. Web. 27 Oct 2011. .
An eating disorder is characterized when eating, exercise and body image become an obsession that preoccupies someone’s life. There are a variety of eating disorders that can affect a person and are associated with different characteristics and causes. Most cases can be linked to low self esteem and an attempt to, “deal with underlying psychological issues through an unhealthy relationship with food” (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood, with females being most vulner...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In our society today, people would rather see what celebrities are up to than what is going on with our health plan. Watching the news makes us aware of the latest trend, new gadget, who’s in rehab, or who has an eating disorder. In the eyes of society, women like Eva Longoria, Kim Kardashian, and Megan Fox are the epitome of perfection. What girl wouldn’t want to look like them? Unfortunately, this includes most of the girls in the US. Through TV shows, commercials, magazines or any form of advertising, the media enforces a certain body type which women emulate. The media has created a puissant social system where everyone must obtain a thin waist and large breasts. As a society, we are so image obsessed with the approval of being thin and disapproval of being overweight, that it is affecting the health of most women. Women much rather try to fit the social acceptance of being thin by focusing on unrealistic body images which causes them to have lower self esteem and are more likely to fall prey to eating disorders, The media has a dangerous influence on the women’s health in the United States.
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...
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.
O’Hara, Sarah K., and Katherine Clegg Smith. "Presentation of Eating Disorders in the News Media: What Are the Implications for Patient Diagnosis and Treatment?" Patient Education and Counseling 68.1 (2007): 43-51. Print.
Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are described as psychological eating disorders (Keel and Levitt, 1). They are both characterized by an over evaluation of weight. Despite being primarily eating disorders, the manifestations of bulimia and anorexia are different. They both present a very conspicuous example of dangerous psychological disorders, as according to the South Carolina Department of Health, “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (Eating Order Statistics, 1). While Bulimia and anorexia both psychological disorders primarily prevalent in women, anorexia tend to have different diagnostic complexities, symptoms and physiological effects as compared to bulimia.
Rader, Jonathon. "Does the media cause eating disorders?." healthcarecommunication.com. N.p., 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.