This document discusses the impact of media on body image and the development of eating disorders in adolescent girls. It argues that the media portrays unrealistic body standards that cause girls to feel insecure. When girls internalize these messages, it can lead to eating disorders as a way to achieve the "perfect" body type. The document outlines short and long term physical and psychological effects of eating disorders. It also discusses campaigns aimed at promoting positive body image as a way to counter the negative influence of the media.

1. Running head: BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 1
Desiree Deoria
Healthcare Science 310
Dr. Porrazzo
25 November 2015

2. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 2
Body image is an unavoidable thing that people of all ages constantly think about.
The media plays a huge role on making this happen. The media can consist of the
Internet, magazines, television, and social media (i.e.: Facebook, Twitter). All of these
said things are a huge part of the new generation’s lifestyles. Through the media, “perfect
models” are often portrayed, giving teenagers who view the media unrealistic body
images to live up to. When a young teenager, normally a girl, is so self-conscious of their
body image, this can often lead to an eating disorder. The media has engraved the
“perfect” body types through recent years in magazines and television that more and
more cases of young girls with eating disorders and self-worth problems are rising.
There are short and long term consequences of the lifestyle behaviors associated
with the media influencing young girls to have eating disorders. Recent studies have been
done to prove that social media influences adolescent girls to have an eating disorder.
The short-term effects of an eating disorder consist of rapid weight loss with anorexia,
compulsive over-eating with bulimia, dizziness, and esophagus problems due to purging.
There are a number of short-term consequences of eating disorders, but the long-term
effects are what some teenagers become blind to seeing. Heart disease, hypertension, or
strokes are a common effect of obesity. Tooth decay, vitamin deficiency, and depression
are often long-term effects of anorexia or bulimia. Although all of these effects and issues
differ, overall, eating disorders leave short-term and long-term effects. Most are
irreversible. The main issue regarding eating disorders goes back to how they first
originate. The media plays a very large role in the way teenagers feel about themselves.
Seeing “perfect” models all over magazines, television, and social media apps does
nothing but set high, unrealistic expectations that young girls strive to achieve. Eating

3. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 3
disorders can start small, where a teenager may start to purge after eating only
sometimes. As time progresses, the teenager finds themselves doing it constantly. Not
only do eating disorders impact the individual experiencing the disease, but it also
impacts their close family members and friends. Sometimes it is hard for the family
members to understand why their loved one cannot just eat normally and be confident in
themselves. A person with an eating disorder may appear beautiful, but inside, they feel
as if they are not good enough, not skinny enough, and not pretty enough. Although
sometimes eating disorders do not arise from media influences, most times they do.
“According to a study done by colleagues at the American Journal of Psychiatry (2009),
crude mortality rates were, 4% for anorexia nervosa, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa, and 5.2%
for eating disorder not otherwise specified” (anad.org). Although the mortality rates are
not super high, the long-term effects of an eating disorder are very damaging to one’s
health.
Due to technology improving and advancing, the media has been able to branch
out in many different and new ways. Research is continuing to be done on the effect the
media has on young adolescents, especially girls. “The body type portrayed in advertising
as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females” (anad.org). This
statistic is very eye-opening because a very small amount of the American female
population actually possess the “perfect” model bodies shown in magazines, television,
etc. “47% of girls in the 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of
magazine pictures, 69% of girls in the 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures
influenced their idea of a perfect body shape, 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be
thinner, 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat” (anad.org). These statistics are very

4. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 4
significant. The numbers are extremely high and very concerning. Young girls inevitably
view the media and hope to look like those portrayed. It is vital for young girls to have
positive role models in their lives other than social media, so that their perception is not
influenced strictly through models and unrealistic goals. “Women are much more likely
than men to develop and eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people
with anorexia or bulimia are male” (anad.org). Typically women strive to be skinny,
tiny, and look like the models. Men, on the other hand, tend to view the media and strive
to be masculine looking, with large muscles and appear to be strong. “The systematic
study of body image began in the 1960s when psychiatrist Hilde Bruch (1904-1984)
posited that negative body image was a causal mechanism in the development of anorexia
nervosa. Since that time, numerous studies have linked body-image disturbance to the
development of eating disorders and the onset of dieting” (Rosen 2002). The media has
been impacting the thoughts of adolescents for years. Social media is becoming more and
more popular especially with the technology available at a teenager’s fingertips.
“Sociocultural theories suggest that the cultural emphasis on female appearance,
especially weight, contributes to the development of body-image dissatisfaction. The
impact of the mass media on body image seems to depend on the extent to which
individuals internalize messages about beauty” (Stice and Whitenton 2002).
The main causes of an eating disorder vary. Just like with other mental illnesses,
there can be many causes such as genetics, psychological and emotional health, and
society. Success and worth are often put together with being thin in the fashion world.
The media impacts the thoughts of young girls to desire to be thin. Symptoms vary with
eating disorders due to the fact that there are many different types. Anorexia nervosa is

5. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 5
potentially life threatening. The intense fear of gaining weight is present, along with a
distorted perception of weight or shape. Bulimia nervosa is also potentially life
threatening. Bingeing and purging are involved, as well as a lack of control over eating.
Typically a person with bulimia will eat a lot of food in a small amount of time and try to
purge it after. Binge-eating disorder is when a person eats too much food and feels as if
they have a lack of control over eating. After a person binges, they may feel guilty or
ashamed at the behavior. Along with all of these disorders, depression is usually present
as well. As far as treatment goes, usually it is important for a person to see a counselor.
Eating disorders are mental diseases. A dietician is typically involved to help change the
lifestyle of the individual. Treatment plans are important and sometimes family/group
therapy needs to be done. Prevention of an eating disorder involves a lot of
encouragement throughout a young teenager’s life. Encouragement of healthy-eating
habits from parents will help influence the adolescent to have a healthy relationship with
food. It is vital for teenagers to know that although the media may portray skinny
models, real body shapes and sizes vary. The media edits the women that are put in the
magazines and some teenagers do not realize this. Acceptance of bodies and respect can
help with self-esteem and happiness within a teenager.
Research says that changing the behavior of the media influencing young girls is
not going to be easy to do, but campaigns for a “real body” are rising and influencing
more people. For example, “The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty” was created to
provoke discussion about campaigning for unedited, real body shape and sizes. “In 2010,
Dove® set out a bold new vision for the brand with the Dove® Movement for Self-
Esteem. The Dove® Movement for Self-Esteem provides women everywhere with

6. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 6
opportunities to mentor the next generation and celebrate real beauty” (dove.us). The
“Dove Campaign for Real Beauty” focuses on the ideas that girls are constantly being
bombarded with unrealistic, unattainable images and images of beauty that impact their
self esteem. “Among the study’s findings was the statistic that only 2% of women around
the world would describe themselves as beautiful” (dove.us). This statistic is very
poignant and upsetting. This campaign shows that changing the behavior of how young
females view their bodies can happen. Even though a majority of the media shows
skinny, small girls, this campaign is a step in the right direction.
The most successful implementation processes to help prevent eating disorders
consist of teaching teenagers, especially girls that real beauty comes from within. In
schools, counselors should meet with girls who show any signs of self-esteem issues.
Eating disorders are preventable. Although the media will inevitably continue to show
unrealistic, skinny girls in magazines and on social media, there are also campaigns like
the Dove campaign that need to continue to occur. Having a strong support system will
help teenagers realize that they are not alone in the process of not feeling good enough. It
is vital for teenagers to know that there are people there to listen when they need help.
The media will continue to influence teenagers on their body image, but the world should
hope that it starts to influence teenagers in a more positive, healthy way in the future.

7. BODY IMAGE and MEDIA 7
Bibliography
"ANAD." Eating Disorders Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
"Body Image." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A.
Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 346-347.
Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 22 Nov.
2015.
"Eating Disorders." Symptoms. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
Ferguson, Christopher, et al. "Concurrent And Prospective Analyses Of Peer,
Television And Social Media Influences On Body Dissatisfaction, Eating
Disorder Symptoms And Life Satisfaction In Adolescent Girls." Journal Of
Youth & Adolescence 43.1 (2014): 1-14. Education Research Complete. Web.
23 Nov. 2015.
"The Dove® Campaign for Real Beauty." The Dove® Campaign for Real Beauty. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.