Eating Disorders: How
Social Media Helps Spread Anorexia And Bulimia In Young People
(By: Christopher York)
Research has shown that media can
potentially have a very large impact on health in terms of self-image and
self-esteem. The media provides unrealistic body images that studies have shown
have an effect on young adults. Research has shown that body dissatisfaction is becoming increasingly common among young people. Another study suggests that females understand the
media and its potential body-image influences; however, these girls still have desires to be thinner. Another study explicitly showed the effects of media
influence by asking adolescent girls about their body weight. Almost half of
the group believed they were overweight and more than half were trying to lose
weight even though most of these girls were within their normal weight ranges.
Some researchers believe that this is
due to young people’s desire to model people in the media. One study found that a group of both boys and girls from age 9 to 14 were more likely to develop
diet concerns if they made an effort to look like figures in the media.
In the article by Christopher York, he
explains that research has showed how social networks and various other media
have also promoted the spread of eating disorders. Today, TV, magazines and
music videos promote the idea that thin is beautiful. It has even gotten to the
point where individuals who have negative body images can find a support group
on a pro-anorexia or pro-bulimia site that might trigger an eating disorder. It
is this risk that society must focus on reducing.
The adolescent years are a vulnerable
time for both boys and girls. In order to help children through it, education
about eating disorders and the media can help children of all ages develop a
healthy body image. Teaching children from an early age to view the media
critically can help them realize the unrealistic aspects of the media.
Adults in the life of the child should
also be attentive to symptoms of an eating disorder and should know that intervention and
strong social support can help increase the chances of recovery. Parents should
also be on the lookout for eating disorder support sites where participants
offer encouragement to one another in order to lose weight.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/12/social-media-anorexia-bulimia-young-people_n_1962730.html
The Impact of the
Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents
(By: Anne M. Morris and Debra K Katzman)
Epidemiological studies have suggested that the incidence of
eating disorders among adolescent girls has increased over the last 50 years.
The reported prevalence rate for anorexia nervosa is 0.48% among girls 15 to 19
years old. Approximately 1% to 5% of adolescent girls meet the criteria for
bulimia nervosa. Today, more than ever, adolescents are prone to concerns about
their weight, shape, size and body image, and as a result, diet to lose weight.
Little is known about how these body image- and weight-related concerns arise.
These behaviors have been suggested as possible risk factors for the
development of eating disorders. Many researchers have hypothesized that the
media may play a central role in creating and intensifying the phenomenon of
body dissatisfaction and consequently, may be partly responsible for the
increase in the prevalence of eating disorders.
This paper reviews some
of the evidence regarding the influence of the media on the development of an
adolescent’s self-perception, body image, weight concerns and weight control
practices. In addition, we examine how media content might be attended to and
positively incorporated into the lives of children and adolescents.
Related
Video Links:
·
The Dove Beauty Campaign explains that our ideal body perceptions are virtually
impossible to achieve when we compare ourselves to the media because nearly all
ad campaigns are heavily photo shopped and altered:
·
The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty (Male Version) focuses on the unattainable “perfect”
male body due to manipulated model ad campaigns:
·
This Anorexia Ad delves into the mind of a
teenage girl suffering from anorexia and also illustrates how her body image
disorder skews her true slim body (CAUTION: Includes Disturbing Visuals and Is Not Appropriate For Young Audiences):
Other
Related Articles:
·
Body Image, Media, and Eating
Disorders
(By: Jennifer L. Derenne and Eugene V.
Beresin)
The authors of this article review
changes in ideal female body types throughout history, comment on current
attitudes toward shape and weight in both men and women, and outline
interventions aimed at increasing healthy habits and fostering self-esteem in
youth.
·
Depression, Teens, and Facebook
(By: Mary Jo Rapini)
The author explains this new
phenomenon of Facebook Depression experienced among adolescents and teens who
are engaged in social networking sites. The number of friends one has on
Facebook, their status as well as the status of their friends, and the
constantly updated photos may add to a teen feeling self critical and not
‘popular’ enough.
·
Impact of Mass Media on Adolescent
Health: “The Dark Side”
This article gives parents
very useful steps in interacting with their children and to warning them against potential dangers in mass media content:
Ø Parents must be media literate to help children to be media literate
Ø Familiarize yourself with youth media and culture
Ø Parents can help children in understanding the TV content
Ø Participation
Ø Talk with children
Ø Express views
Ø Resist commercials
Ø Give youth the power to make healthy decisions
·
Media Effects on Child Health
This article reflects how
“the sparkling lights of multi media have dimmed the sparkle in our children in
numerous ways":
Ø Psychological development is affected
Ø Language development is marred
Ø Media effects on innate temperament make children unduly aggressive or timid
Ø Role models are developed from the media world which leads to distorted/unrealistic attitude and lifestyle values
Ø Cognitive development is restricted due to lack of opportunity for active interaction
Ø Poor parent-child bonding (TV displaces healthy interaction among family members)
Ø Vision defects can occur
Ø Obesity
Ø Isolation, teen depression, aggressive behavior and/or feeling of rejection
Ø Poor body image which may lead to eating disorders
Ø Cyber bullying
Ø Sexting
Ø Poor social adjustment, especially with peers
·
Health Effects of Media on Children
and Adolescents
(By: Victor C. Strasburger,
Amy B. Jordan, and Ed Donnerstein)
The authors of this article
review the most recent research on the effects of media on the health and
well-being of children and adolescents. Recent evidence raises concerns about
media’s effects on aggression, sexual behavior, substance use, disordered
eating, and academic difficulties. They also provide recommendations for
parents, practitioners, the media and policy makers for ways to increase the
benefits and reduce the harm that media can have for the developing child and
for adolescents:
http://www.pediatricsdigest.mobi/content/125/4/756.full
·
5 Tips for Talking about Eating
Disorders
This article advises parents
on how to recognize signs of eating disorders and how to talk to their children
regarding this dangerous disease:
- Ask Questions
- Be Careful with Compliments
- Be Empathetic and Firm
- Set the Pace
- Talk to Siblings
·
7 Warning Signs of an Eating
Disorder
(By: Casa Palmera Staff)
This article is useful for
parents and guardians when it comes to spotting early signs of an eating
disorder in children and adolescents:
- Drastic Change in Eating Habits
- Bad Body Image (the way they view themselves)
- Exercise Behaviors
- Thoughts and Beliefs
- Emotional and Psychological
- Self-injury and/or Self-harm
- Social Behaviors
It is so terrifying to see that these kids are putting themselves and their bodies through such unhealthy measures to mock what they see in the media; the more unfortunate part is that what they see in the media is far from real.
ReplyDeleteIt is so terrifying to see that these kids are putting themselves and their bodies through such unhealthy measures to mock what they see in the media; the more unfortunate part is that what they see in the media is far from real.
ReplyDelete**re-post with name
This whole blog post is very eye opening. It's sad to see how many young kids are being influenced by the media to want to change themselves and how they would take such drastic measures to achieve what they think is "beautiful". It's easy to just think that women are affected by the media's image of "beauty" but I'm really glad you added a video with the men as well, it's easy as a girl to forget that men are also affected by the media. Eating disorder frequency has risen in the past years and I'm glad that you also added ways to take about them and how to spot them because it's all of our responsibility to help each other realize that the media has a very skewed view on what we all should look like and it's horrible to see how it's affecting such young kids.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post is very detailed and informing. Today, more than ever, children are feeling worse about their bodies and the media has a huge role in why that is happening. For quite some time Hollywood has been having an influence on women's bodies, creating what an "ideal" body is suppose to look like but now, almost every advertisement is telling children what the "ideal" body and appearance is suppose to look like. I am glad you included the male video as well because what a majority of people do not know is that boys and men are feeling more and more insecure about their bodies as well in this generation. I read an article a few months ago that explained how people are overlooking how boys and even men are feeling unhappy about their bodies as well. As parents, it is very important to help children realize what the media is trying to do whether it be selling products, etc., and help them understand that their body does not have to look like that in order for them to be happy.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very difficult balance to strike nowadays with so many people existing at unhealthy weights. I'm not sure I have the answer.
ReplyDeleteI can understand why it is so popular for children to look like what they see in the media since it is so profound in our day to day lives. It is so easy to have unrealistic aspirations to look like someone on TV. Many children look up to celebrities and TV characters and believe that by looking like them they will be closer to being them. I think more parents should be focused on eating right as a family and those eating habits will then be transformed as they get older. Parents also need to take a subtle route to telling their children that what they see in the media is not always real. Children need to be associated with healthy aspects in food, exercise and life, instead of relying on eating disorders they should be directed towards the healthier path and learn that being healthy is attractive. Boys and girls today should be learning that they can be who they are but in a healthy way instead of taking detrimental effects to their bodies.
ReplyDeleteHealth issues from the media are generally thought to affect middle school or high school students, who are going through puberty. However, this article is about a girl who was in kindergarten and diagnosed with anorexia.
ReplyDeletehttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/anorexia-nervosa-strike-kill-early-kindergarten/story?id=18581747
Although this does not say explicitly that the media played a role in her condition, I think it is unfair to completely discredit it (despite the doctor quoted in the article believe media plays no role in such a condition).
I think just like aggression and fear, there are so many factors that contribute to the spectrum of these emotions...it is just currently impossible to measure them all.
This post makes me feel very bad that children are already getting caught up with body image. Children are already feeling awful about their bodies because of the media. Magazines, commercials, and television are constantly showing "perfect" women in order to market their products. These women's bodies are being airbrushed and modified to create an unnatural and unhealthy image. It is truly disgusting that children are already getting caught up in how the media portrays women. Parents need to explain to their children how these images are produced in the media. I think it could be effective to show little girls the Dove campaign videos because it really shows the modification process that goes on. Overall, children should be learning how to lead healthy life styles. This includes exercise and eating healthy. However, it should be emphasized for health, not for image.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is a very sad to hear about. With the media using rail-thin models, it is to no surprise to me that it can cause serious problems such as eating disorders including bulimia and anorexia. I think that the media portrays "perfection" as having flawless skin, & being young, and thin. However, this is not how everyone is in real life and everyone is different in their own ways and that is what makes everyone unique. If everyone were born the same it would be different. So, I think that people should accept who they are and love themselves the way they were born because if they aren't who they are meant to be, they will live a very unhappy life, which is unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I saw the Dove-Evolution commercial, and it was extremely eye opening. Hearing about the manipulation of models through computer based programs is one thing but seeing how they completely change a person's body and face is incredibly dangerous when it comes to young and especially older child viewers. The fact that their are also pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia websites is absolutely ridiculous. The fact that children strive to become something that doesn't exist which causes them to have early signs and symptoms of bulimia is very sad.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see the dove commercial I have to stop and think about all the Photoshop that we are exposed to everyday. This was my first time seeing the male version. It was really weird to see them add extra muscles and move his bones. It is sad that this much effort has to be put into an add campaign.
ReplyDelete