In recent years, the prevalence of eating disorders has risen dramatically, particularly in female teenagers. Eating disorders, defined as “severe disturbances in eating behavior characterized by preoccupation with weight concerns and unhealthy efforts to control weight” (Weiten 598), have a large impact on not only the individuals in question, but those around them.  According to researchers, many factors create and contribute to the development of eating disorder symptoms, specifically anorexia and bulimia, which are two of the most common eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa “involves intense fear of gaining weight, disturbed body image, refusal to maintain normal weight, and dangerous measures to lose weight” (Weiten 598), while bulimia involves out-of-control overeating, and severe compensatory efforts. These efforts include over-exercising, self-induced vomiting and abuse of laxatives (Weiten 598).  Many parts of modern western culture has the potential to trigger an eating disorder and influence a teenage female to harm their bodies, intentionally or not, through eating. “The media has a profound and inescapable influence”(Something Fishy). Super models in magazines and on posters and billboards with their digitally re-mastered images become icons and goals for girls and women.  Unsupportive families may often unconsciously push females to lose weight. “Abusive relationships leave young females to believe their only comfort is an eating disorder”(Felker, Kenneth R.). Also if one feels as if they don’t “belong” at school and among peers, it can trigger a need for change and the development of an eating disorder.  Eating disorders among young females such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa develop as a result of the impact of the media, to gain otherwise non-existent attention from family members, and to help boost their social life, and lead up to a life-changing and sometimes fatal illness. 

Media Influence

            The media, such as television and advertisements, contradict important values that children have been taught by their parents. “It’s what is on the inside that counts” does not exist in the media world. “On television the characters that are portrayed as lazy, obese and have no friends are now the bad guys while the characters who are thin if female and pumped-up if male are the idols”(Something Fishy). After choosing a popular person whom they respect or admire, many children attempt to ‘become’ this person. “In magazines and on ads super models seem to be getting thinner and thinner”(Something Fishy). Generally, super models achieve their extremely unhealthy figure through anorexia. “The average female model weighs around 25 percent less than the average female and maintains a weight at about 15 to 20 percent below what is considered healthy for their age and height”(Something Fishy). “Along with being extremely unhealthy models go through plastic surgery to create a more photogenic body type”(Something Fishy). These body types are certainly not normal, and are extremely un-attainable to the average person. The corporate world attempts to persuade people that these images are how any one person should look.  Even advertisements that have the appearance of helping people overcome their image problem are false.  Diet advertisements lead many people to believe that once the weight is lost, happiness will result. Diets are incredibly frustrating and agonizing, can cause mood swings, none of which characterize happiness. The media forgets to recognize that true beauty comes from within.

Family and Relationships

            Parents are one of the greatest influences in a person’s life. “Children seek acceptance from their parents and strive to achieve this”(Felker). Self-esteem drops when a child receives inadequate attention and praise from their parents, often leading to psychological problems such as eating disorders.  “Parents who are strict and easily lose patience, cause their children to believe that nothing they do is ever good enough.  This can cause children to strive for perfection, and brings unhappiness with everything they do”(Felker). Communication is a key part of a parent/child relationship. A lack of communication can leave children to believe that nothing they do matters and leaves them feeling un-loved. Parents who push their obese children to lose weight can easily trigger an eating disorder. All children want to be accepted by their parents.

            “Teenagers are commonly looking for acceptance from each other in love relationships”(Felker, Kenneth R). Females want to be thin and beautiful to impress males, and males want to look athletic to impress females. Thus, building relationships in teenage years are stressful, and often can lead to the development of an eating disorder to impress the other person.  “A partner who cheats leave the other feeling un-wanted and ugly, this can easily lead to depression and an obsession with weight and body image”(Felker). Emotional and physical abuse in relationships, as well as an attempt to gain the affections of another using appearance only, can often leave a young person caught up in an eating disorder.

Peers and School

From early years in school to high school and post-secondary years, appearance plays a strong part in a student’s self-image, and social status.  “Children who are above average intellectually are often left to feel abnormal and develop a strong desire for acceptance among peers”(Pryor). Obese children are often picked on, while their thinner counterparts are complimented for skills and talents, which the obese child may also possess, but are overlooked. This may lead to an obsession with weight, often leading to clinical depression, and an eating disorder. “Children who are shy and have problems making friends feel lonely and to fill this gap they seek acceptance through weight loss”(Pryor). “When entering puberty, teenagers start to develop their bodies at different rates”(Pryor). Slow developers feel embarrassed about their bodies while early and fast developers can be overwhelmed with the significant changes in their body.  The development of wider hips causes females to believe they are becoming obese, while in reality they are merely reaching womanhood. Often athletes, in teenage years as well as adult, are under the false influence that thinness will enhance their athletic performance. “Athletes are at a potential risk for wanting to achieve certain body types”(Pryor). In high school teenagers may be envious of athletes, and those with more appealing body types. Eating disorders may develop as a result of this desperate need to fit in, and look the part of the happy young person they think they see among their peers.

            In modern societies, the need for aesthetic beauty and perfection is of high importance.  A high standard of bodily perfection appears to be of greater importance than that of the mind, and causes the majority of people who do not fit the stereotype desperately cling to methods to improve their bodies.  Particularly in young females, this often comes in the form of eating disorders. “The demand for beauty is inescapable, thanks to the media and the images it portrays as beautiful”(Felker). An unrealistic body type leads teenagers to the belief that acceptance relies on perfection, and that eating disorders are the answer to their problems. “Parents need to be more aware of their children’s perceptions of themselves and their feelings”(Felker, Kenneth R.). The home should be a place of comfort, and not of depression. “Partners in relationships need to be aware of each other’s boundaries”(Pryor) to avoid hurt feelings and depression, which can lead to traumatizing eating disorders. “At school teenagers should strive to be individuals in a non-harmful way”(something fishy). Individuals are what change the perception of perfection. Society is easily convinced by many influences that happiness equates with a perfect body image and social acceptance, which often leads to eating disorders among young girls and women. True happiness comes from the beauty within, and no external influence will change that.

Felker, Kenneth R. The Relationship of gender and family environment to                                                                                                                                                                         

            eating disorder risk in adolescents.

http://web11.epnet.com/DeliveryPrintSave…501111009_AN&print=p rint&df=d&ft=on&est=. April 2/04

Pryor, Tamara. Personality features and expressed concerns of adolescents with

            eating disorders.

http://web11.epnet.com/DeliveryPrintSave…fh_946823_AN&print=print&df=d&ft=on&est=. April 2/04

Something Fishy. Eating disorders.

http://www.something-fishy.org/prevention/society.php. April 2/04

Weiten, Wayne, ed.  Psychology: themes and variations.  Belmont, CA:           

Thompson Wadsworth, 2004.