Burr 1

Medias Impact on Eating Disorders

Imagination, coloring, and laughing once filled the minds of young, happy children. The
previously carefree lives of children may now become replaced with negative thoughts and
insecurities. Unbelievably, children begin to worry about their appearance at a young age. As a
matter of fact, 42% of first to third grade girls want to appear skinnier and 81% of ten year olds
fear weight gain (Get the Facts). These alarming statistics create concern for the mental health
and well-being of the children, also known as the future of America. Immense exposure to the
warped media could cause todays children to think poorly of themselves. The appearance driven
media negatively influences viewers by glamorizing thinness which potentially triggers men and
women of all ages to develop an eating disorder.
Anorexia prevails as one of the most alarming eating disorders. Defined as a
psychological and life threatening disorder due to extremely low body weight and Body Mass
Index (BMI), anorexia alters the lives of those consumed by the disorder. Anorexia stems from a
fear of weight gain as well as a distorted perception of oneself (About Anorexia). Furthermore,
dissatisfaction with appearance results in exigence. Unfortunately, the change people make to
alter their semblance consists of undernourishment in order to satisfy a thinner body type. The
vicious cycle consists of self-starvation which causes a lack of proper nutrition and forces the
body to slow down internal processes in order to conserve energy (Get the Facts). Intentional
self-destruction allows people suffering from anorexia to retain control over their outward
appearance and transform to their ideal body. As a result, several effects occur from anorexia,
such as depression, lanugo, and avoidance of social events. Negative thoughts, lack of selfworth, and self-pity result in depression. Also, lanugo, or soft hair which grows on the face and
body, provides warmth for sufferers because they lack fat to sustain a normal body temperature.

Burr 2
Negative social aspects of anorexia include avoiding social events due to feelings of insecurity or
depression. (About Anorexia). Anorexia results in an abundance of negative effects which all
stem from unhappiness of insecurities in appearance.
Contrary to anorexia which entails avoiding food, bulimia revolves around food. An
obsession with food and weight characterized by repeated overeating binges followed by
compensatory behavior, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise defines bulimia,
another form of an eating disorder (Hall). The cycle of bulimia consists of eating, guilt, bingeing,
purging and ultimately resulting in relief. Then the cycle commences again. In order for a
diagnostic of this disease, certain criteria must be fulfilled. This criteria includes recurrent
episodes of binge eating at least once a week for three months followed by compensatory
behavior to prevent weight gain. For instance, compensatory behavior consists of vomiting,
excessive exercise, or using laxatives. Such behavior acts as an equalizer to compensate for
bingeing episodes. In addition, bulimics bombard themselves with food, yet they fear gaining
weight. Bingeing on food serves as a coping method for distress or emotional pain (Hall). This
eating disorder revolves around an emotional fulfillment from food followed by guilt, which
results in harmful habits. Some effects include gastric rupture, tooth decay from staining of
stomach acid, (all due to constant purging) and secretive behavior (Get the Facts). Secretive
behavior occurs because compensatory behavior typically occurs in private, due to feelings of
shame and embarrassment. Bulimia affects not only the sufferer physically, but also mentally due
to negative emotions associated with having the disease.
Containing the same characteristic of bingeing on food as bulimia, binge eating disorder
differs slightly with the exclusion of compensatory behavior. This eating disorder consists of
consuming large amounts of food with the inability to stop (Binge Eating Disorder). The

Burr 3
episodes of bingeing entails a certain time period of eating larger portions of food than a standard
meal. The binge eating cycle consists of five steps (see Figure 1). Beginning with an emotional
deprivation or mild hunger, a binge eater begins to binge to comfort themselves. With the
inability to stop eating, a binge eater will continue to eat well after feeling full, which later
causes feelings of disappointment. Bingeing occurs with a lack of control of food being
consumed. Also, episodes consist of eating
alone, eating until uncomfortably full and a
feeling of guilt and disgust after the binge ends.
Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge eating
disorder affects a large amount of males. Many
assume eating disorders only affect women, but
in the United States, binge eating disorder
affects 3.5% of women and 2% of men. For
Fig. 1. The Binge Eating Cycle. Segal, Jeanne,
and Melinda Smith. Digital
image.HelpGuide.org. HelpGuide.org, Oct.

women, binge eating disorders occur most

commonly in early adulthood whereas men
experience binge eating disorder in their midlife

(Binge Eating Disorder). Since binge eating disorder results in weight gain due to eating
excess amounts of food, the effects compare to those of obesity. High blood pressure, high
cholesterol levels, and heart disease demonstrate the risks of this disorder (Get the Facts).
Binge eating disorder jeopardizes the life expectancy of those suffering from the disorder.
The media worships a specific depiction of women. The beauty standards presented in the
media revolve around skinniness. In the United States, we are bombarded with photos of
todays beautiful women on magazines, commercials, TV shows, movies and online photos,

Burr 4
which exemplifies the inevitability unrealistic women influencing viewers (Jantz). The media
sets an impossible standard by glorifying skinny women with large breasts, small waist and
narrow hips. In earlier decades, women in magazines represented a more realistic body type,
such as Marilyn Monroe, though with modern editing programs, women in magazines can be
warped into a completely different person (Jade). Ideal women in magazines are not genuine. In
order to achieve the impossible standards, editors utilize photoshop or other editing programs to
replicate a perfect body. Unfortunately, the women in the magazines do not actually look like
their photos. As described by Deanne Jade, the founder of National Centre of Eating Disorders,
Media presents us with an idealised shape which is invested with attributes of being attractive,
desirable, successful and loveable which is unattainable without resorting to sinister or
dangerous eating habits (Jade). Young women or men viewing these unrealistic images, may
result to an eating disorder in attempt to replicate the beauty standards set by the media.
The constant portrayal of beautiful, skinny women, potentially leads viewers to try to
replicate their looks. Some attempt to achieve this by self-harming themselves through having an
eating disorder. Three main concepts summarize basic motivations for comparison; selfevaluation, self-improvement, and self-enhancement (Vitelli). Each of these concepts relate to
women or men comparing themselves to people in magazines. These three motivations diminish
ones self-worth, by desiring to appear identical to a person in a magazine with an unattainable
body type. The media causes women to feel disappointed with how they look because, The
standard is already so small that the majority of women cannot meet the requirement set forth for
them, and when they fail, they must absolve themselves with shame, (Chapman). Women yearn
to fit the mold of perfection determined by the media and they take extreme measures, such as an
eating disorder, to combat their feelings of self-disappointment or inadequateness. This impacts

Burr 5
women and men to have to an eating disorder because the media depicts anyone who has an
average weight or an above average weight as unattractive. Popular advertisers and magazines
portray obese people as ugly and unworthy. With skinny models dominating the industry,
Consequently, there is a fear equated with the fat body and anybody that simply is not thin,
encouraging shame and disgust toward these people for living in bodies the media deem as
unacceptable, (Chapman). Disturbingly, the media only accepts one body type; skinny.
Attempting to achieve the desired look present in the media results in failure due to the
impossible standards.
Celebrities attempt to combat the beauty standards enforced by the media. Demi Lovato,
a popular pop singer and actress, explained to her fans her experience with body negativity.
Beginning around the age twelve or thirteen, Lovato developed bulimia. She felt inferior to other
girls due to not being as skinny, and bulimia was a way for her to keep her emotional connection
with food while using compensatory behavior to lose weight to look like other, skinnier girls.
After checking into rehab and combating her disorder, she used her platform as a famous
celebrity to bring awareness to her mental disorder. She emphasized, Having an eating disorder
doesnt show strength. Strength is when you are able to overcome your demons after being sick
and tired for so long (Jantz). However, whilst discussing her trouble with her disorder, it is
possible that the sharing of her story actually popularizes the terrible disease. Many young fans
look up to celebrities and mimic what they do. Fans who want to be just like a world-wide
known celebrity could potentially mimic her eating disorder. Bringing awareness to eating
disorders could cause harm rather than inspiration to live a healthy life.
The media idolizes women with specific, skinny bodies, and women insecure with their
appearance may try to replicate the popular women by developing an eating disorder. The United

Burr 6
States evolved into a media-driven place, and changes must be made to ensure everybody, men
and women, feel comfortable and confident with their appearance. Promoting body positivity in
advertisements and stores could empower people to feel beautiful and confident. Having a
variety of body types, including positive, larger role models, in magazines and social media
could encourage people to recognize and embrace their differences. People should not define one
another based on his/her looks. People should defined one another on their positive
characteristics and kindness to others.

Burr 7

Works Cited
About Anorexia: Signs, Symptoms, Causes &Amp; Articles For Treatment Help.
Eating Disorder Hope RSS, EDH, 2016,
https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/anorexia.
Binge Eating Disorder. National Eating Disorders Association, NEDA Feeding Hope,
2011, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder.
Chapman, Taylor M. Women in American Media: A Culture of Misperception.
Inquiries Jounral, Inquiries Journal/Student Pulse LLC, 2011,
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/548/women-in-american-media-a-culture-ofmisperception.
Get The Facts On Eating Disorders. National Eating Disorders Association, NEDA
Feeding Hope, 2011, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-facts-eating-disorders.
Hall, Lindsey, and Leigh Cohn. Bulimia, a Guide to Recovery. Santa Barbara, Gurze
Books, 2011.
Jade, Deanne. National Centre for Eating Disorders - The Media &Amp; Eating
Disorders. National Centre for Eating Disorders, The National Centre for Eating
Disorders, 2012, http://eating-disorders.org.uk/information/the-media-eating-disorders/.
Jantz, Gregory. Eating Disorders and the Imperfect World of Celebrity Struggles.
Eating Disorder Hope RSS, EatingDisorderHope.org, 7 Jan. 2014,
https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/eating-disorder/eating-disorders-andthe-imperfect-world-of-celebrity-struggles.

Burr 8
Vitelli, Romeo. Media Exposure and the Perfect Body. Psychology Today, Sussex
Publishers, LLC, 18 Nov. 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mediaspotlight/201311/media-exposure-and-the-perfect-body.