Dysfunctional Attitudes and Disordered Eating

As recently as ten years ago, anorexia was something that the general populace hadn’t heard of in many remote parts of the world. This was largely due to the lack of access to television. When it arrived, things changed quickly and significantly and the influence of Western imagery, particularly on teenage females, was immense. Before they had access to TV, teenagers in these regions were not purging themselves or taking other drastic measures in an effort to control their weight. Perhaps unsurprisingly, data has shown that those teenagers who had access to TV and who were exposed to western-style programmes were more inclined to develop unhealthy eating attitudes than those without TV.

Not everyone exposed to Western media is bulimic or anorexic of course. This suggests that it is much more complicated than exposure to media images. It is likely that this simply exacerbates pre-existing inclinations. People with both healthy and unhealthy BMI’s (Body Mass Index) have been diagnosed with eating disorders, so it is not just about being thin. Eating disorders are complex and the focus needs to be shifted from BMI to how people think about food and how they feel about their weight and body image. Increasingly, males are being diagnosed with eating disorders, which in the past, was considered a problem that only young women developed.

Individuals who are prone to being obsessive, depressive or who are perfectionists are often extremely self-critical. Dissatisfaction with the body can be a catalyst for disordered eating and this can be exacerbated by cultural icons and images. Vulnerable individuals may then conclude that smaller and thinner is better. Those who suffer from anorexia are driven not only by thoughts of getting thinner and eating less but also by being in control. Those who binge on food, often do this to block an emotional void or emptiness and try to fill this ‘gap’ through overeating. The guilt and self-loathing that follows will often lead to purging.

How much the TV or media we are exposed to and how often it triggers eating issues is difficult to measure precisely, as there are always other factors. A recent BBC article stated that "up to an estimated 40,000 people suffer from anorexia in France, nine out of 10 of them women and girls. And a US Study reported up to 90 percent of American women report they feel dissatisfied with their bodies, and that of teenage girls, 44 percent believed they were overweight and 60 percent were trying to lose weight".

These are disturbing statistics and as a global society, we need to review our attitudes to shape, size and attractiveness. If we focused on people’s achievements, rather than appearance, healthier role models would be created. It is extremely concerning that in the 21st century, women are still described by their shape, size or hair colour. We need to promote the message that being skinny isn’t better and being a size zero or having a thigh gap is not a measure of attractiveness, nor a laudable achievement.