Epidemic of Eating Disorders
Anorexia has become increasingly common in the recent decade, and the media is to blame. The article “By the
Numbers: Update: Eating Disorders” shows that 0.9% of women in the U.S. say that at at least one point in their life,
they have been anorexic. In the same study, it was found that 0.3% of men claim to have been anorexic (Table 1).
This data was received from the McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. In the same data, it was found that “anorexia is
becoming more prevalent in girls ages 8 and 11” (Table 1). Young girls watch television shows and movies where all
the girls are thin and flawless, so when these young girls grow up, they feel the need to be like the characters they grew up watching. Anorexia is becoming more and more common in today’s society and it poses a threat on its victims. The article, “Eating Disorders” states that “anorexia, compels people to starve themselves in order to become thinner, [and it] is the most deadly psychiatric disorder in the U.S.” (par. 4). Starvation is unhealthy and extremely dangerous and causes serious health related issues. For instance, people who suffer from anorexia can develop heart failure due to a lowered heart rate and low blood pressure. More complications from anorexia are swollen joints, reduction in calcium and muscle mass loss. These things lead to bones becoming more susceptible to breaking. Eating disorders result in brittle hair and nails as well (“Eating Disorders” par. 11-13). A sunken face, brittle nails and hair is not part of the ideal image an anorexic person is trying to acquire. If the media had more plus-size characters and did not put such an emphasis on cosmetic beauty young girls would not grow up with thinking that these are the standards that society has for them. If the media changed these things, then anorexia would not be so common in today’s society.
Numbers: Update: Eating Disorders” shows that 0.9% of women in the U.S. say that at at least one point in their life,
they have been anorexic. In the same study, it was found that 0.3% of men claim to have been anorexic (Table 1).
This data was received from the McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. In the same data, it was found that “anorexia is
becoming more prevalent in girls ages 8 and 11” (Table 1). Young girls watch television shows and movies where all
the girls are thin and flawless, so when these young girls grow up, they feel the need to be like the characters they grew up watching. Anorexia is becoming more and more common in today’s society and it poses a threat on its victims. The article, “Eating Disorders” states that “anorexia, compels people to starve themselves in order to become thinner, [and it] is the most deadly psychiatric disorder in the U.S.” (par. 4). Starvation is unhealthy and extremely dangerous and causes serious health related issues. For instance, people who suffer from anorexia can develop heart failure due to a lowered heart rate and low blood pressure. More complications from anorexia are swollen joints, reduction in calcium and muscle mass loss. These things lead to bones becoming more susceptible to breaking. Eating disorders result in brittle hair and nails as well (“Eating Disorders” par. 11-13). A sunken face, brittle nails and hair is not part of the ideal image an anorexic person is trying to acquire. If the media had more plus-size characters and did not put such an emphasis on cosmetic beauty young girls would not grow up with thinking that these are the standards that society has for them. If the media changed these things, then anorexia would not be so common in today’s society.