FREE ESSAY ON ANOREXIA

ANOREXIA

Striving For Thinness
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is growing rapidly all over the world. There
are over seven million girls with this eating disorder in the Unites States alone. Why do
these girls believe so deeply that thin is beautiful? These young women are longing for
self approval through acceptance according to stereotype. Where does this thin stereotype
come from? The fashion industry is being accused by society for the sudden need to be
perfect beyond the average girl's reach, but the fashion industry is not taking the
blame. Can society put the guilt on the fashion industry because of the publication of
photographs of thin girls?
Several possible reasons for this disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, are puzzling doctors, and
leave me searching for a solution. Obviously young women are longing for self approval
through acceptance in a shallow and stereotypical world. Can we blame poor family
dynamics, is the media promoting mental illness by publicizing thinness, or is Anorexia
Nervosa an unlucky catch from the family gene pool? I began researching with an open mind
before I decided who or what was to blame for millions of young women everywhere denying
their bodies food. Forming an opinion seemed easy because of the awe given to the media,
but surprisingly the stand I took didn't accuse millions of models and actors who
appeared to be flawless. Young women are not developing Anorexia Nervosa simply because
of societal pressures to meet unreachable ideals. Women are getting this eating disorder
for reasons beyond media stereotypes.
Does the fashion industry cause most of these girls to an eating disorder? Millions of
girls read fashion magazines, but it is not common to see an overweight person modeling
the latest styles. These magazines are showing photos of extremely skinny women and
making obvious efforts to accent this feature. In advertisements, these stick figure
women wearing tiny shorts and bikinis "shows a boyish figure and a rather sickly
demeanor." The fashion industry claims that "there was a time when (models) were
voluptuous, but today...busty and voluptuous won't sell." This new standard for thinness
is almost impossible for most people to meet. The result of this is that "1 in 10 college
students suffer to a significant degree" (Darton D2). These models seem to be making
girls believe one has to be extremely thin to be desired.
People are saying the cause of Anorexia Nervosa among girls is the effect of the
photographs of slim girls in ads. This is not a stereotype or trend the fashion industry
is trying to make. It is simply the current vision photographers and fashion designers
choose to portray at this certain time. The girls chosen for these pictures seem to be
naturally thin. The fashion industry claims that they eat normally as well as live normal
lives. "But can eating disorders be explained away by media imagery? If magazines stop
publishing pictures of slim girls, will we all feel okay about our bodies?" (Gaudoin 75).
Can people blame photos for bad eating habits of society?
Thin women fill the pages of magazines and are seen everyday on the television. Being
thin is not only a fantasy or an illusion, but the only illusion is thinking that these
women only exercise and eat one small meal a day. Most models, actress's, and actors are
naturally trim. If they did not eat a lot of good food, they would not have the stamina
necessary to maintain a successful career in their industry. If girls obsessed with being
thin would consider that food is the key to a healthy and beautiful person, maybe we can
stop blaming the media for bad personal eating habits.
Woman have come a long way in today's world and get a taste of equality in almost
everything women now do. How can a woman believe they are confident when they are
uncontrollably striving to look like the thin girls in magazines or on television. In
other words, a woman obsessed with body image reveals a low self opinion and lack of
encouragement to be an individual. So how is someone supposed to get encouragement? If
possible from day one, this is where the family should step in and teach girls to think
on their own. Children should be asked to come up with their own ideas and standards
along with being taught to listen to their body. Rejecting food to control ones weight
makes a girl look sickly, weak, and near unable to participate in everyday activities.
Still, girls with Anorexia Nervosa assume that everyone thinks thin is beautiful and food
is the bridge to an overweight body. Merely because women that have this eating disorder
are not being encouraged by their family to search their own style, standards, and ideas
within themselves to achieve a body or look acceptable to themselves.
Genetics play a large role when girls are diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. Presently,
many of these girls have a history of mental disorders in the family such as
obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Anorexia Nervosa, despite popular belief,
is not a recent disease. In 1873 concurrently in France and England the two of the first
cases of this disorder were recorded (Brumberg 75).
Can society blame the fashion industry for girls everywhere denying their bodies food?
Naturally thin models sell products, but also give young girls a cloudy opinion of what
beauty is. The stereotype that beauty is nothing except slim has started into a
controversy. Whether or not fashion magazines is to blame is questionable.
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder starting to become out of control. We need to
better educate our teenagers before the problem starts on effects of this disease along
with many others. Becoming better educated on Anorexia Nervosa may deter any girl from
the ever-lasting effects of this narrow disease.
There are many other logical issues past the narrow minded idea that the media is the
cause for millions of girls starving themselves to death. I do believe that Anorexia
Nervosa is hereditary and also caused by girls not being taught to believe in themselves.
Girls with this disorder are striving for an ideal body without caring about their
standards or values. If we do not start teaching people individuality, then no girl will
be satisfied with herself. I do not want to live in a society where the population is
obsessed with looking "perfect", but somehow I feel I already live in such a society.
Sarah you need to make major revisions on this paper. I can not find the bibliography so
you need to take the quotes out. This paper has been through so many hands that I really
have know idea what I e-mailed you. I hope this will work out for you. GOOD LUCK! Sorry
for all the mistakes in the paper. DAHNYA&JANIS