Eating disorders: A social disease

Not all -- but a large population of today's eating disorders stem from our societies focus on body image and weight.

Let's face it -- our society is nuts.

We accept the fact that "Plus-Sized" models are now size 8-16. We accept the fact that magazines airbrush the living crap out of every single image of women within their pages yet we hold ourselves up to that standard. We accept the fact that kids as young as 4 are dieting (yes that is a f-o-u-r). We accept the fact that more lives are lost because of eating disorders than any other mental illness but God forbid we fork over the $ to treat sufferers. We accept the fact that Pro-Anorexia is a lifestyle that has infiltrated every corner of the web and our solution is to "Shut down those sites!" We accept the fact that dieting moms push their issues on their daughters. We accept the fact that sports require restricting food and water for weight requirements and pure vanity. We accept the fact that fat chat is a daily event that takes place in front of our children with listening ears.

But then we sit and wonder;

What's wrong with our children? Why are they not happy? Why are they cutting? Why is there so much bullying? Why did that child commit suicide?

It all comes as a shock when you don't open your eyes and walk around this insane planet for one day and notice how totally destructive our society is to our self image and body image.

Do it -- I double dare you. Watch prime-time TV tonight. Google the word "thinspiration." Open a fashion magazine, pick one, anyone and see the walking dead who are hailed the closest thing to perfect that we've ever seen. Browse this list of dead women consumed by their disease. Look at the athletes lost who were more dedicated to their sport than their lives. Take a stroll into Victoria Secret at the mall (actually you don't even need to step inside since the massive promotional images on the outside of the store include a woman's ass in a lace thong which is so appropriate).

Then go about your lovely little day. Concerned about your lovely little problems. While your children stick their fingers down their throats within earshot while you pretend to not notice. A burden you say. A frickin burden.

mamaV

XOXOXOXOX



**Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, psychiatrist, therapist or counselor. I am however a woman who has recovered (fully) from her eating disorder and I have been blogging on this topic since 2006 which stands for something. Qualified to make these statements? No. Making them anyway? Yes. Ranting like a lunatic? Absolutely.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• eating disorder anorexia
• social disease
• mamavision blogger
• bulimia

[bringhomethebacon00]

amen



[jadehope43]

100% true! thank you so much for posting. you help me so much!

[misstiggykins]

@samanthasea7 - Many, many young women compare themselves with stick thin models and wish to be that skinny. But most of those women don't have an ED. Yet, there are women with severe EDs who don't give a damn about this models and don't have any body dysmorphia. The desire to look like a skinny model, and even restricting food with the objective of trying to look like a thin model are not diagnostic symptoms of an ED. Many women diet to try to be thin. Most don't develop EDs. Most diets fail.

[samanthasea7]

To all these people who are commenting that there is no scientific proof that the media and society causes ED:

I can tell you that nothing has influenced me to want to be skinny more than seeing stick thin models my age, wondering "If I'm that tall, why am I not that skinny?" This isn't a feeling, an emotion of deprivation and want, that is bound into my DNA. It has been established by society and the images of these girls that I make my role models.

And you may say, "don't be so lame, be a

[masterfulmuffin]

I think what makes it so difficult for people to admit the social aspect of the disorder is that they feel that they're too introspective, too self-aware, too 'different' to fall prey to the craze. But it isn't like looking at a picture of a supermodel and thinking "why am I not that thin?" It's the everyday stuff, like seeing dozens of "lose 5 pounds" magazine covers at the store, constant bombardment of weight loss ads, to the point that you think you don't notice it, but there's an impact.

[Jardinduluxembourg]

But you ARE skinny!

[Revvedupwithduo]

@nnchelseann thats my goal! XOXO

[Revvedupwithduo]

@questions117 as they say every woman has an eating disorder. Pathetic? yes...but at least we are all in it together! mamaV XO

[misstiggykins]

@questions117 - Eating disorders are biologically-based illnesses. You didn't pick it up from society. Society doesn't help many people with established EDs, but there is no evidence that society causes EDs. In contrast, there is plentiful evidence that supports a biological basis for EDs.

[misstiggykins]

I don't dispute that our culture is body obsessed and utterly vacuous. I would be perfectly happy to see real news in newspapers instead of 'news' about plastic celebrities and their 'bikini bodies'; not because I am in any way 'triggered' by thin bodies etc., but because it's banal nonsense. However, it's easy to assume that the media causes EDs when there is actually very little evidence to confirm this unfounded hypothesis. IF you want some links to good science I'm happy to provide them.

[misstiggykins]

You need to read some of the hard science around eating disorders; seriously! For a start off, a person can have a severe eating disorder (ED), yet never experienced body dissatisfaction, body dysmorphia, or felt 'pressured' by culture. Second, there is clear evidence that anorexia nervosa, at least, is underpinned by autism, autistic traits or OCD in a significant number of sufferers. Everyone is exposed to our ridiculous, body obsessed culture but most people don't get EDs. Think about it!