...Contributing Factors to Various Eating Disorders Introduction The proposed topic discussed throughout this research will be eating disorders, specifically on the contributions to various eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, athletica nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Through much research, it is shown there are larger causes to these eating disorders. It is no longer a psychological factor (brain chemical misbalance). There are greater forces that influence eating disorders such as the mass media, family, stress (sense of identity), community (peers/school), and negative body image (which links to mass media). It is important to know these contributions to eating disorders because, the more one knows about the various factors for an eating disorder, the easier it will become to treat these disorders (help one suffering with an eating disorder cope and become healthier.) Throughout the 21st century, eating disorders have become more common among North American teens. With a higher percentage rate of eating disorders in the 21st century, (Sneddon, 1999, p.35) it shows it is an area that should have greater focus. Not only does it have a negative impact on the individual who is battling it, it has a negative impact on society; an impact that could destroy our society – mentally if we (as a community/society) do not help or treat this in the way it should be. An eating disorder can tear apart someone’s morals, eat at their brain – which means with it becoming more...
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...The Perfect Body Body image issues are a real problem that a lot people face every day. Many seek to achieve an ideal and unrealistic type of body. Some even go to extreme measures, such as drugs, eating disorders, or even over exercising to reach this ideal body. Of course exercise is undoubtedly important to living a healthy life, but it is more important to know that the perfect body cannot and does not exist. Every person is unique and “healthy” does not necessarily mean stick skinny or big muscles. The idea of a perfect body is the result of over exaggerated media and the all important sports world. Through the influence of sports and media, the desire of an ideal body type has become one of the main concerns in a majority of our population and is severely damaging this majority’s physical and mental health. As a multibillion dollar business, it is hard to ignore the fact that sports are really important in today’s society (Sissoko). Sports bring people together and for years have been an excellent source of entertainment. Events are full of “moment-by-moment excitement”, filled with the adrenaline that most people just can’t get enough of. With the business of this all important sport’s world, although, comes the controversy of using illegal drugs. To some athletes, not only professional, the need for a better body to perform at greater capacities has become more important than their ethics and morals. Athletes are role models for people of all ages and seeing them throw...
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...Society’s Influence on Eating Disorders Society today applies undo pressure on women to conform to a universal definition of beauty. This unnecessary pressure causes women to develop serious insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, which eventually lead to eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. Without society and the media creating a false image of beauty, the percentage of women suffering from eating disorders would decrease tremendously, and women would stop trying to reach a body weight that is unhealthy and also nearly impossible to achieve. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia can be stopped, but only if society does something to help prevent it. Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder that causes distorted perceptions of the body and a fear of gaining weight. This disorder causes self-starvation and also extreme weight loss. Those who suffer from anorexia are generally seen as being “painfully thin,” which is quite accurate because many dealing with this disorder have a bit of physical discomfort due to their low body weight (Keel 3). People with anorexia tend to develop daily rituals. Some people will count calories while others will weigh themselves after every meal (Keel 20). Because of the obsession with thinness, the rates of those suffering with this disorders has risen greatly (Keel 59). At least one out of every twenty people with anorexia dies, and when compared to other disorders, it seems to be the most deadly (Keel 16). Though not as harmful as...
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...live in a society that seems to contradict this very idea. If looks do not matter, why does the media use airbrushing to hide any flaws a model has? If looks do not matter, why do so many teenage women suffer from low self-esteem? If looks really do not matter, why do so many young women struggle with eating disorders? It is because our society promotes a certain body image as being beautiful, and it’s a far cry from the average woman’s size 12. A common issue young women face in today’s society is the airbrushing of models in the media, creating an impossible ideal for these young women to strive for. The unrealistic standard of beauty that women are bombarded with everyday gives them a goal that is impossible to reach, and the effects are devastating....
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...Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa are the most fatal mental disorders. In a society where models, clothes, and an outward appearance are deemed exceptionally important, this is an issue that has a haunting connection to the gilded milieu of fashion. From the ghost of stick thin models to the spider web of media influence, a connection can be drawn to eating disorders. With the Council of Fashion Designers of America meeting to re-release their health guidelines, people can witness how the fashion industry is starting to accept their responsibility of influence. The industry may start to go even further in its efforts to safely promote and sell their products (Pearson). It is a nice-and necessary-change the Council is making. For a long time, it seems, the fashion industry has ignored the abundant amount of health concerns that is prevalent in their models and customers. Health guidelines must evolve from here. In the sense of exposure to the fashion media, there isn't much concrete data about how it influences mental problems such as eating disorders. We cannot say a casual link has been established, but it is reasonable to say that there is a connection (Pearson). It is very reasonable to say that models...
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...of mass media. Anorexia is an eating disorder defined by excessive food restriction, illogical fear of gaining weight, and a misleading negative body self-perception (Nogal & Lewinski, 2008). The disorder naturally consists of extreme weight loss. It is frequently developed during adolescence and early adulthood. People with this disorder constrain the amount of food they consume because of the fear of gaining weight to live up to the delusion of a “perfect person” which does not exist. This causes metabolic and hormonal disorders that may cause long-term effect to the body (Carlson & Heth, 2007). Anorexia is a medical term for the lack of appetite. On the other hand, people with anorexia do not lose their appetites. It has many complex allegations and may be thought of as a constant illness that may never be truly cured, but only managed over time. Anorexia is characterized by low body weight, inappropriate eating habits, and obsession with having a thin figure. Those who suffer from it may also practice repeated weighing, measuring, and mirror gazing, in conjunction with other compulsive actions to make sure they are still thin. This is a common practice known as “body checking” (Brooks, 2010). A disorder such as this one is often attached with a partial self-concept which may be maintained by various intellectual prejudices amongst oneself that alter how people evaluate and thinks about their body. Those suffering from this disorder often view...
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...apparent that media shapes society and gives woman unrealistic goals for what they feel they should look like. This in turn, ruins their self-worth and self-esteem. Some experts say that media mirrors culture, while others say the media shapes culture (Luttrell). I strongly believe that advertising dehumanizes woman, destroys self-esteem and distorts the view of woman in society. First of all, the way ads portray women is very dangerous. It’s not only dangerous to women, but it’s also dangerous to all of society. Women in ads are seen as flawless and perfectly beautiful. The only problem is, this beauty cannot be achieved....
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...technology, the internet has allowed us to expand our minds, become more educated and assist us in connecting with others. On the other hand, the internet has also put us in a position of having information compromised, as well as being exposed to too much information, and opening the door to various unhealthy perceptions of beauty and additions associated with those perceptions. Unrealistic media images that are presented on the internet, in movies, magazines and models make it difficult for the average American woman to follow. Analysis of females, fictional or real, show a bias towards body weight well below the recommended size and weight for people in their age group. As a result, females who are unable to conform to the idea being put forth in the media are taking extreme measure to be more like their role models. Those that fall short of the idea of the “perfect” body shape can be vulnerable to depression, poor self-esteem, and general body dissatisfaction. With the increase in technology, we have more exposure to unrealistic standard for beauty. One example of this downside to technology is that of pro-eating disorder websites which are simply known as pro-ana/pro-mia websites. “Ana” is short for anorexia nervosa. It is a common eating disorder where individuals obsess about weight, what they eat and how much exercise they participate in. “Mia” is the shortened form of bulimia nervosa, which is a very common eating disorder where the person binge eats. They will eat large...
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...Nicole Gallucio English 102 Prof. Rhodes October 25th, 2010 Are Eating Disorders Caused By the Media? Have you ever looked in a magazine or watched a fashion show on television? If you have then you have been subjected to the media portraying models as the hottest thing on the planet. What you don’t know is that a good portion of these models are suffering from eating disorders. I believe the media is to blame for our nation’s epidemic of eating disorders because, not only do magazines and television portray skinny to be in, but also songs in our culture convey the attitude “…that only the beautiful and thin are valued and loved” (Hesse-Biber 88). Some women and men in the world are happy about how they look. Some think that they are ugly and reach toward plastic surgery, but even more think that the only way they can be happy is by starving themselves, or throwing up everything they have eaten that day. In this paper I will discuss facts and information on how the media is to blame for our nation’s epidemic, the pro’s and con’s to eating disorders and the media, and a few possibilities on how to fix this epidemic before it starts to spiral out of control. When you think about the billions and billions of people in this world, it is hard to believe that “2 million Americans-most of them women and girls-do suffer from eating disorders” (Gorman 110). That number is shocking isn’t it? How about the fact that “approximately 1 in 150 teenage girls in the U.S. falls prey...
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...being thin and disapproval for being fat, birthing a generation of women and girls that are often extremely self conscious about their appearance and body image. Media images of the unattainable thin body can be found almost anywhere. There has been continual interest in women’s body image throughout the years. Is there truth in the fact that women’s self-esteem and eating patterns are affected by what a woman sees in the media? Have this been researched enough to show the link between poor body image and the media’s portrayal of women and could this research allow for successful interventions to be evaluated and implemented. Could and intervention lead to fewer cases of anorexia and bulimia and could this lead to increased self-esteem and a more positive body image amongst women? The question many people want to know is if this is the case, where did these stereotypes come from exactly? Is it from the movie, television industry, fashion and beauty magazinesor is it from social and cultural influences , or maybe its just something we learn naturally. Does it really affect women and adolescent females selfworth, or does it go beyond that, leading to serious medical conditions? This paper explores the different factors that influences women body image and if the media is soley responsible for how adolescents and women view their body. Some arguments exist that body image is learned and influenced by self-esteem. Bailey, S.D., & Ricciardelli, L.A (2011) stated that body image is...
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...Fashion Show. The sixth floor lounge of Day Hall, here at Syracuse University, was packed with girls ready to watch rail-thin models strut down the runway, as they eat away the pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Facebook and Twitter had millions of people updating their status about this worldwide-recognized show. Such as, “Not eating for the rest of the week,” “She is not real, how is she so perfect?” or sarcastic comments such as “I’m glad I look exactly like all those Victoria Secret models” (Profitable Objectification). This show is a perfect example of how the media negatively affects our society. Not only does the Victoria Secret Fashion show cause women to question their beauty, but it also instills unrealistic expectations of what women should look like to all the men. The media has a great influence on our view of beauty and has created a false perception of what females should look like. This has made it difficult for anyone that does not fit this ‘ideal’ body to accept themselves the way they are. Celebrities and models have become a representation of the ‘perfect’ body image that our society emulates. The negative affects of media today on our image of beauty are often underestimated; this false perception causes females to feel self conscious and more dissatisfied with their weight and appearance. The media has distorted the definition of beauty and the ‘perfect’ body image; which causes women serious health problems concerning their weight. The definition of...
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...television or read a magazine? If you have then you have been exposed to the media revealing models as beautiful. What you don’t know is that a decent percentage of these models are suffering from eating disorders. I trust the media is to blame for our country’s epidemic of eating disorders because, not only do magazines and television portray skinny to be in, but also songs in our nation deliver the attitude. The burdens to encounter the world’s demands to reaching self-satisfaction with one’s body image emotional have influenced the impression of eating disorders. As people are exposed to countless forms of media not only just on television or in a magazine but on the radio, internet & part of our everyday life media being a huge method of communication has been characterized as the leading reason of why people suffer from eating disorders. The role of media profoundly adds to the increase of abnormal eating behaviors within an individual. Without society and the media generating a fabricated image of attractiveness, the calculation of women suffering from eating disorders would decline extremely, women would discontinue trying to grasp a body weight that is unnatural also practically unmanageable to accomplish. Body image has been an ongoing issue in the world and eating disorders are frequently developed, especially in females, in an effort to keep their bodies “fit” and “in shape.” The physical appearance of a person says nothing about who they are as an individual. One...
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...depressing statistic means that only 18% of women do not need to apply makeup to increase their self-confidence. In today’s American society, we are constantly bombarded by images of flawless, perfect figured girls in the media. The media is allowed to set the beauty standard, and its presence can become harmful towards women, and society as a whole. The media reinforces its message through a number of outlets such as: advertisements, social media, and magazines, ultimately making its influence inescapable. Although it may be too late to change the media’s grip on our generation,...
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...University of Phoenix Material Nutrition and Health Worksheet Use Ch. 1 of Contemporary Nutrition, Ch. 2 of Visualizing Nutrition, supplemental course materials, the University Library, the Internet, or other resources to answer the following questions. Your response to each question should be 75 to 100 words. |What is nutrition? Why is nutrition essential to our daily lives? | |Nutrition is nourishment or aliment, is the supply of materials and food, required by organisms and cells to stay alive. In | |science and human medicine, nutrition is the science or practice of consuming and utilizing foods. Nutrition as it applies to our| |daily lives means that we take in what we need to maintain our body’s healthy state. Nutrition has become an important word. | | | |What is the connection between nutrition and health? | | | |You are what you eat comes to mind. Well that saying is still true. If you stick to a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals,| |your body reflects it. You feel healthy, energized, and just all-around great. However, people who limit their...
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...girls. This paper will inform you of the age that self-esteem becomes a factor in a young girl’s life. It will also address the multiple causes that affect self-esteem in young girls. It will explain the long-term effects that come with low self-esteem and low self-image. Finally it will highlight ways to help mitigate and prevent low self-esteem in young girls in our society. Intro 12 year old Lana wakes up one morning looks in the mirror and thinks “Ewe why are not pretty.” “I really hate the way my jeans look on me.” “I wish I was smart.” The thought process behind a young girls mind today is a scary one. “Today we define self-esteem as ‘positive or negative attitude toward one’s self’’ and can be viewed as a key indicator of a healthy psychological well-being.” (Daniel Clay, 2005). Self-esteem can be fragile and can be easy shattered. Body image is central to adolescent girls’ self- definition, because others have socialized them to believe that appearance is an important basis for self-evaluation and for evaluation. (Daniel Clay, 2005) Poor self-image is a growing issue among most young girls in today’s society. When you think of poor self-image, most people think immediately of looks, but the truth is poor self-image is also how someone views their mental capacity and physical ability. It is a disturbing trend that continues to deeply affect young teenage girls in the United States. So the questions are asked, “At what age do girls suffer the greatest decrease in self...
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