Of the thousands of diseases that affect the human body, eating disorders are most common, and are more prevalent in women and adolescents. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (2012), “Any of several psychological disorders characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior.” These disorders are very common in our society, especially in the United States. ANAD (2012) also stated, “Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S. and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.” Three examples of eating disorders are Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge eating. Easting disorders do not just cause obesity, but as much more serious problem of malnutrition and even death. Both malnutrition and obesity are extremely dangerous and unhealthy to one’s body, leading to heart problems, low blood pressure, bones loss, diabetes, growth problems, etc. All types of eating disorders can have negative effects on all types of people: physically, mentally, and emotionally. These diseases are not just mental illnesses but have a causing factor much like every problem.
Eating disorders are considered psychological disorders. While depression and obsessive thoughts are common with eating disorders, they can also cause them. People with low self-esteem are more at risk for eating disorders rather than people with confidence. Media can also causes women and men to have low self-esteem, which is what leads to a disturbance in eating habits and sometimes exercise habits. Looking through a magazine one might not realize the impression each advertisement has left in their mind. In reality thoughts are running through our minds filling our heads with ideas that we are not pretty enough, skinny enough, tall enough, or good enough. Looking at such perfection in every part of our life can mentally break someone down. Many researchers and contributors believe that people have a greater fear of losing control, not only of their body but also their life. Through the same method, researchers proposed that eating disorders are caused through genes passed down to the offspring. There is also the physiological issue of how the brain producing chemicals that affects how much a person eats.
Interpersonal factors can also contribute to the development of eating disorders. If a person is bullied or teased because of their size or weight, they have a high chance of deluded thinking when it comes to food. Sufferers of sexual abuse or trauma are also more likely to develop eating disorders. When a person has an issue expressing their emotions and feelings, they often need a way to release their anger. When this person has no other way of expressing their emotions, they turn to purging, binging or restricting their food intake to feel some sort of control in their life. This negative behavior spirals out of control, ultimately results in suffering from an eating disorder.
We live in a society where people tend to judge you automatically because of your outward appearance. People who feel inadequate to society’s view of “beauty” may develop eating disorders. Cultural and professional expectations in appearance also paly key factors in the causes of eating disorders. In the fashion world, if a person not a size zero they will be viewed as disgusting. The media also tends to express the need to be skinny and thin, young women will view themselves as not up to par with the norm. This causes their minds to delude their thinking and will eventually cause eating disorder behavior to start.
There may not be much scientific evidence to back up the idea that media can cause eating disorders but there is plenty of logical evidence and personal experiences surrounding us. Most people think eating disorders are only in females when in reality males are infected with media in a different way. Media grabs ahold of ones mind in numerous ways. The portrayal of skinny models on television and in magazines hurt women by creating an idealization of beauty. Also media’s influence on men comes from masculinity portrayed in the media. Therefore media should be accused for distorting reality and being the contributing factor to eating disorders.
In conclusion, though the media probably should be held responsible for creating unrealistic expectations for both men and women of what their bodies should look like. Because of this, people tend to blame the media for causing people to develop a eating disorder not knowing that eating disorders are also considered a psychological disorder. It is believed that people tend to develop an eating disorder both biologically and psycho-socially.
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