Body Image and the Media
Introduction Body image, a multifaceted concept encompassing an individual’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about their own body, has evolved significantly over the years. It is both a personal and cultural construct, influenced by a myriad of factors, including the pervasive reach of media. In contemporary society, where media is omnipresent, the depiction of ideal body […]
Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that can lead to serious health problems. The most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image and a severe restriction of food intake.
Eating disorders can have serious physical and emotional consequences. The longer an eating disorder goes untreated, the greater the risk of these consequences. Physical consequences: Emotional consequences: Eating disorders can also lead to long-term physical health complications such as obesity-related health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The emotional consequences of eating
Risk factors for eating disorders include a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Some of the key risk factors include: Body image distortion: Individuals who have a distorted body image, or an unrealistic view of their body shape and weight, are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. Societal pressure to conform
Body image is thought to be manifested in, and influence some or all of the following areas: Thoughts and beliefs about the body E.g., “I am 5 feet 3 and I am destined to be fat;” “My body size and shape reflects my value as a person” Internal feelings and sensations E.g., feelings of vulnerability,
How realistic is the media’s presentation of women? Women and men come in all shapes and size, yet constantly the media presents us with only one ‘image’ – a very slender and unrealistic one. Only a small percentage of women actually look that way naturally. We forget when looking at these pictures that the best
The following article was written by Alicia Potter, and originally appeared in The Boston Phoenix, (1996). In pursuit of a new beauty ideal, American men are exercising themselves to death. As society demands a fitter body, frowning on every pinch of fat, clinicians suspect an increasing number of men are crossing the line into exercise addiction.
I think a member of my family has an eating disorder, what should I do? Be direct – tell the person why you are worried and be specific Don’t make promises you cant keep Seek professional help for the person Learn as much as you can about eating disorders Ask them what it is like
One counsellor said to me, “You’re at the centre of your own healing process. I’m just on of your tools.”. I really liked that. That’s the way healing should be. Saphyre There are many types of therapeutic tools. There’s talk therapy – where you talk about your experiences and express your feelings. There are counsellors
oin a support group – by sharing experiences within a group you can learn new ways of coping Read – study the subject. We can suggest books that you might find helpful Don’t focus on food, talk about other things Don’t put the blame on the sufferer – this only makes things worse Use “I”