The For The Perfect Or Ideal Body Image And The Fight Essay

Eating disorders in the United States are becoming more and more prominent as the years go by. Up to 24 million people in the United States suffer from eating disorders (ANAD, 2015), according to a secondary source research by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), the oldest and the most prominent organization aimed at fighting various eating disorders in the United States. Prominently, eating disorders in adolescents continue to be a serious problem and may result in premature death or life-long medical and psychosocial morbidity (Vale, B., Brito, S., Paulos, L., & Moleiro, P., 2014). According to a peer-reviewed, primary source by eating disorder specialists, eating disorders are classified according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition , as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (Vale, B., Brito, S., Paulos, L., & Moleiro, P., 2014). The two major eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, are very common amongst adolescents, specifically young girls. While the symptoms of anorexia nervosa is more evident through the dramatic change in body weight, bulimia nervosa can be overlooked as many with the disease have a normal body weight (Mulheim, 2012).

Girls especially are told that they are supposed to look how famous people look, but are not told how vastly edited and corrected the models in the pictures are. Today, women as young as 11 and 12 have began developing eating disorders due to the constant media bombardment telling them to look a certain way—incredibly skinny—which forces them into starvation. Psychologists have coined the new disorder ‘”body image disturbance syndrome” or BIDS. BIDS is characterized by the incessant feeling of being ‘fat’ when someone is perfectly healthy usually turning to one of two options: anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia is the act of not eating to achieve a body image, but this often results in gross malnourishment. On the other hand, bulimia is characterized by binge eating large meals followed by self-induced vomiting. The motivation behind bulimia is that if they keep the food in their body just long enough to absorb the nutrients, they can vomit the actual bulk of the food that makes them look overweight. The sad reality of the fact is that not only are the nutrients not completely absorbed until they reach the intestines, but the stomach acid brought forth with their vomit virtually rots away their

Even though eating disorders are less prevalent in society today than they have been in the past, they are still one of the most diagnosed mental illnesses today. These three illnesses have short term as well as long term effects that can leave a damaging toll on the patients’ lives and are very hard to overcome. This is shown through not only the characteristics of Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-eating Disease, but also through the psychological and physical harm these diseases leave on the body.

There are a number of warning signs that can be associated with any eating disorder such as: “body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, dieting, low self-esteem, maladaptive coping, reading teen fashion magazines, social pressure for thinness, social withdrawal, negative comments about eating, history of psychiatric disorders”(NEDA). With all these predetermined risk factors, it is easy to see why so many suffer from these disorders today. Anorexia can be described as the fixation of an individual's Body Mass Index (BMI); it is defined in the dictionary as “an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat”(Johnson). The National Eating Disorder Association cites a list of possible risk factors that were identified in a number of studies; among the list is perfectionism. Bulimia Nervosa also defined as an “emotional disorder involving distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight” is differentiated by its “bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting, purging, or fasting.”(Johnson). These disorders are rooted in mental and emotional health and are not confined to females or teenagers. Modern media has done a very good job of perpetuating a desirable body type for people of all sexes and ages. People who suffer from a number of the aforementioned risk factors may be more heavily influenced to abuse or neglect their bodies in efforts to achieve this sought after

Much to our perceived attention is the idealised image that most aspire to have. In attempting to achieve such a look involves drastic measures for some and possibly fatal. There is ample of evidence to suggest that such measures revolve around an individual’s eating habits thus leading to unhealthy disordered eating patterns. Eating disorders refer to abnormal eating habits characterised by excessive or insufficient intake of food and develop from a number of interrelated issues. Much of the research into eating disorders has focused particularly on anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and its developmental causes. Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder characterised by delusions of being overweight resulting in conspicuous

In the US, half of a million teens suffer from eating disorders (EDs). Eating disorders are a type of mental illness; they are related to a patient’s discontent with themselves (most notably a discontent with their own body), and can prevent them from living a normal and healthy life. Many are concerned that the images portrayed in the media and in society may be responsible for these eating disorders. While the media are in no way the sole cause of these disorders, they undoubtedly play a role in the development of EDs, as they certainly focus on the ideal of being thin. Additionally, the portrayal of mental illness in the media and society challenges treatment for those already afflicted. As such, the media does contribute to eating disorders,

In US today, over 30 million men, women, and children suffer from an eating disorder. The most common eating disorders are; Anorexia, Binge eating, and Bulimia. Why do people resort to something so life threatening? Many people are turning towards eating disorders because they don’t accept who they are. Eating disorders are a mental illness that can have dangerous effects on the human body, and several people are involved in this bad habit.

In order to understand healthy body image, a person must have some background on the subject. Many young people are prone to developing diseases concerning their weight that are unhealthy for our bodies. The media have enticed our minds with the idea of a ‘perfect’ body. Women want a slim body figure with no curves and men want a muscular body. The crave for a perfect body has gotten so severe that many people have turned to excessive weight control practices. “Research

Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. Anorexia is where you have a loss in desire for food over a long period of time. Females are much more likely to develop anorexia than males. It has been verified that 90% of anorexia cases occur to women. This is not the only disease that social media has a part in developing. Bulimia is an emotional disorder characterized by an inaccurate body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight. Both these diseases lead to a long lasting depression which can then provoke self-harm or suicide. Everyone’s body is unique, but your body is a “perfect

The public has created an unrealistic outlook on how a “perfect body” should look like. Both adult and teenage girls are pressured to have a thigh gap, small waist, flat stomach, and toned legs just like how it's shown

Almost every girl when they reach high school feels the expectation to conform to a certain body type and if they do not conform, then they feel awful towards themselves. We have celebrities in the world with unrealistic body types that people try to achieve, such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Alessandra Ambrosio and Gigi and Bella Hadid. As the growth of celebrities ‘perfect’ bodies rises, it is easy to see how the focus on how we look can slide into the dark side – negative body image.

Unfortunately, a not so uncommon problem in American society regarding body image is the development of eating disorders. Though the causes are not always known, a seriously negative perception of body image may result in unhealthy eating patterns. The two most widely known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Those with anorexia believe that thinness is the key to self-worth and most are never satisfied with their own body image. Contrary to popular belief, anorexia does not deal directly with food; it has been described that anorexia is an unhealthy way to “cope with emotional problems” (Mayo Clinic). Dieting occupies most of their day, and many purposely starve to lose weight. Many of those affected refuse to maintain a healthy weight and become extremely thin, due to being intensely afraid of gaining weight.

Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa is a serious issue in the world today. I feel that the issue of eating disorders does not gain enough attention from society especially because of its relevance to young females. These unhealthy eating habits are a social injustice issue because the various types of media that disperse an unrealistic image of female beauty. Society takes these images as a standard of how a woman should look. Women will go to the extreme to meet those qualifications to fit society’s female image.

Bulimia and Anorexia are often confused amongst humans. Bulimic people may have many reasoning’s that support their causes for binging, and anorexic people also have reasoning’s that illustrate their causations of being anorexic. Appearance and self-esteem may play a major role towards people who may binge often, and people who are anorexic may just have a fear to eat based on their body figures. However, many confuse the two due to the similar meanings of body weight. This paper will analyze observations from different research studies that show’s various treatment outcomes, symptoms, behavioral interventions and causations for adolescent patients who have experienced bulimia and anorexia throughout the course of their life.

Body image is extremely present in all platforms- television, magazines, and social media. It makes young adults, teens, girls self conscious of how they look. “Because the body changes dramatically in adolescence, teens are often self-conscious and embarrassed. Self-criticism has become a fluid part of online media, with your teen using their online friends for validation, acceptance, and judgement. Factor into this scenario celebrity advertisements, models, TV and movies, in which bodies are airbrushed and preteens are used in adult advertisements without the “burden” of body fat or wrinkles... and you can see how difficult it is for your teen to maintain a balanced and healthy body image. In fact, this impossible and improbable media-driven body image realistically fits only a small percentage of the population of boys and girls... and yet, it is the criteria by which your teen measures herself”(Gross). “Statistics show that approximately 92 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Unfortunately, only 5 percent of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed by Americans in the media. More alarming is that these numbers aren’t exactly shocking. In fact, it’s what we’ve come to expect”