Rachel Holle

Eating Disorders in the Media

 

Going media free is nearly impossible in today’s culture. With an undeniably strong influence, the media is able to sway society to jump on just about any bandwagon. Due to this strong influence, it is hard not to wonder whether or not it is responsible for many of the negative fragments of today’s culture. One of these aspects includes a negative outlook on self body image. With constant advertisement and a multitude of ways to spread information, there is reason to believe the connection between eating disorders and media influence is more than just a coincidence. Now, the pressure seems higher than ever to achieve the desired stature. Through different types of media, society is putting pressure to achieve the perfect body.

This pressure to achieve a skeletal figure is growing at an alarming rate. The idea is to do whatever it takes in order to achieve this glamorized physique. In doing so, many have developed unhealthy eating patterns. There are three overlying types these patterns fall under; Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified), which incorporates compulsive eating, and less severe forms of anorexia or bulimia. All types of eating disorders deal with the unhealthy relationship with food. Although the initial cause of these disorders are still unknown, according to the National Centre for Eating Disorders, they “arise from a combination of personal, family, physical, or genetic factors as well as life experiences that may cause someone to be both emotionally vulnerable and sensitive about their weight and shape. Dieting has a role to play… in most sufferers, the eating disorder grew out of dieting behavior.”  Since in today’s culture dieting tips are present on the cover of just about every magazine, it is nearly impossible to avoid.

However, magazines are only one of the many ways that information is spread to the masses. By taking the glamorization of eating disorders to the next level, “pro-ana” websites have been appearing more rapidly across the Internet. These sites focus on pursuing eating disorders and give tips to viewers on how to live with it. Almost every pro- ana site provides “thinspiration” –images of skin-and-bone individuals, to spark motivation. According to SIRC, “Pro-ana sites are emphatically not for those who are in recovery or even regard themselves as ill. They are targeted at those who ‘believe that the Ana way is the only way to live’, who feel that anorexia is the right lifestyle choice for them, and will allow them to achieve happiness and perfection.” Along with images, motivational quotes and sayings are shared to keep everyone on track. The whole concept of pro-ana is based around the choice to not go into recovery and instead live committedly as an anorexic. By viewing these sights on a daily basis, the information contain begins to sink in.

      Seeing the same messages over and over is one way to subconsciously intake ideals pertaining weight loss. With messages of unreasonable expectations, many have fallen into the mind trap of conforming to society’s requests. There have been standards and expectations set for the way we are supposed to look dating back multiple decades. Jennifer Derenne and Eugene Beresin compare the history of women’s ideals to today’s standards: “Throughout history, the dominant political climate and cultural ideals always have shaped the public’s perception of the ideal female body type. However, today’s culture is unique in that the media is a far more powerful presence than ever before.” Media has the influence to change and persuade the public; when concerning dieting, it is portrayed that only good outcomes will occur. What they don’t consider is the negative aspects that can spin off from it. The ncfed has an idea that it does not necessarily “Make women feel a need to be thinner, but may assist them in feeling bigger than they already feel themselves to be.” Creating this distorted image of them selves is a main beginning factor seen in eating disorders because it impairs judgment. This may lead to other connecting characteristics of the disease.

The impact of images has been shown to influence one’s way of thinking and judgment.  Now being surrounded by media, different studies are being evaluated regarding the correlation. Presented in Helen Champion and Adrian Furnham’s journal:

“ If the body dissatisfaction is indeed exacerbated by stereotypes of thinness and fatness portrayed in the media, and media images directly influence peoples’ self-evaluations, it would be expected that girls having viewed media images of thin individuals (stereotypical attractiveness) would evaluate themselves more negatively on rating scales concerning weight and body image than girls exposed to images of overweight individuals.”

When it comes to images within the media, most, if not all pictures printed are retouched or photo-shopped in one way or another. Seen in both males and females, body modification is used to make the celebrity or model portray a more attractive figure. With enlarging the muscles on men and shedding unnecessary pounds on women, nearly every magazine is guilty of using some form when printing. Having these images depicted in virtually every publication, it becomes natural to see underweight models tromping around in high fashion clothing. Images such as these are one of the many ways media is negatively affecting body image. Reports have found many differentiating findings on how eating disorders are affecting individuals.

Studies centered around these diseases have displayed a multitude of outcomes due to the fact that each individual intakes information differently. Studying the influence of today’s models in the media, psychology expert Eric Stice measures the link between media exposure and eating disorder symptoms:

 “If repeated exposure to the thin ideal portrayed in the media leads women to accept and internalize the thin ideal stereotype, a necessary precondition for any adverse effects on body image. This reasoning was confirmed empirically by Stice et al. (1994) who found ideal body stereotype internalization to mediate the relationship between media exposure (a composite measure) and body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms.”

Most high fashion models display extremely low body mass. Because images of such thin models are spread across the media, the reality of an average sized individual is skewed. Having an unnatural outlook on oneself can lead to many self-image problems. Treating self-image problems goes along with eating disorders in which they are both an ongoing, multiple step process.

            Due to the fact that eating disorders are also psychological, treatment for them can be remotely different for each individual. Recovering an eating disorder through therapy is the most effective treatment method used. While keeping the needs of the individual as first priority, every patient responds uniquely to the care options available. Depending on the severness of the disorder, the locations for treatment may vary. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, when treating a patient with the most extreme cases, “Hospitalization may be required for complications of the disorder, such as electrolyte imbalances, irregular heart rhythm, dehydration, severe underweight, or acute life-threatening mental breakdown.” When a case is less severe, other levels of action are taken to ensure the best possible recovery for the patient. Treatment options such as group or one on one therapy and partial hospitalization are excellent ways to stay on track to recovery. 

Through the many pressures to achieve the ever so glamorized physique the media portrays, problems occur when striving for this look becomes dangerous to one’s health. This increasing pressure to be thin is causing speculation to due the escalation in eating disorders and the ever-evolving media. Many forms of media have been questioned whether or not they are related to the increase of eating disorders. Since media is now surrounding us, it is hard to look past the expanding pressure to loose weight. Having common knowledge about eating disorders is important information that could potentially help save a life.