| Media victims
Should we blame the glossies for the growing problem of eating disorders in our society? We are confronted on a daily basis with a barrage of images depicting and glamorising thin women. Because the media in general – and glossy magazines in particular – are seemingly obsessed by the idea that thin equals beautiful, it is easy to understand why the media have been directly blamed for causing eating disorders. Most eating-disorder experts contend that there is far more to an eating disorder than a simple desire to imitate images of emaciated models. But there’s little doubt that the media is responsible for putting pressure on some women who already feel vulnerable. To support this idea, eating-disorder counsellors cite the fact that women constantly say they feel inadequate because of their inability to lose weight and therefore look ‘beautiful’. Eating disorders are generally believed to be the result of unresolved psychological and emotional issues. The sufferer will normally discover that losing weight – either through extreme dieting or binge-eating followed by vomiting and/or the use of laxatives – establishes a form of control unavailable to the sufferer in any other area of their life. Once an eating disorder takes root, body image becomes distorted and the individual begins to feel she or he can never be thin enough. One of the biggest problems with recovery from an eating disorder is that those in recovery remain obsessed by body size and shape. Treatment is often required to alleviate the ‘horror’ of becoming a healthy weight. Also, as recovery begins, the problems underlying the disorder often surface. These issues, which are varied and complex, might include fear of sexuality, fear of becoming an adult, responsibility and identity issues or loss and separation issues. Many eating disorders occur almost accidentally when very young women begin to diet. Having achieved their dieting goal, they are encouraged by their peers and their own ability to control the process to take the diet further. They eventually become totally obsessed with dieting and food, until it dominates their life. Perhaps the most important message to take away from the escalating problem of eating disorders is that, for all of our progress as women, we still don’t feel comfortable and confident about our body image. It’s interesting to note that the problem of eating disorders is also beginning to grow rapidly amongst males. This raises issues about the pressures and values inherent in our society. For more information, contact the Eating Disorder Association: Adult helpline: 01603 621 414 (9am-6.30pm, Mon-Fri) |