Self-Image
Most people are very concerned about the image they portray to the outside world as the image says a lot about a person. Due to this factor, people end up comparing themselves with real people, the media, or even the TV-media ads. For instance, I was so obsessed with how I looked. My growing tummy gave me a headache, and I needed to get a flat stomach since, to me, a flat tummy is a beauty statement. I also needed to up my fashion sense to the celebrities’ standards. I found myself so obsessed with looking at fashion magazines and even surfing the internet to be able to get the trendy fashions. I also spent a lot of time on YouTube trying to find videos that explained how to lose a tummy. I would always compare myself with the pageant girls and try to match their fashion and bodies. The obsession, therefore, harming my student life as instead of studying, I was busy trying to obtain the “perfect body” and a better fashion sense. The more I compared myself to these pageant girls, the more I lost my confidence, which also affected my student life.
Though not direct, there is an apparent connection between the media and eating disorders (Kyrola, 2016). The media mostly focuses on the petite and muscular bodied people, which may make people consider them as having the perfect body. A study done shows that teenage girls between 9-14 years get self-conscious about their bodies after interaction with magazines or the internet. The desire to look like their movie, internet, or magazines idols makes them go on a diet. Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa affect the girls as they try to get the perfect bodies. For instance, Demi Lavato, who is a known artist, shares on how she got bulimia while she strived to acquire the ideal body as portrayed by the media. She ended up having to undergo a lot of dieting and heavy workouts sessions, which were not healthy. Eating disorders can also be caused by other factors like stress, genetic factors, poor self-esteem, and irregular hormone functions.
Seeing as the media is has a significant role to play on self-image, the media should, therefore, embrace ways that help boost self-image. First, the press should appreciate all body shapes and sizes. The magazines made should not only have lean girls and muscular men but also include the big-bodied people (Levine, 2017). By so doing, the magazines will show that nobody’s size is terrible. Movie and shows directors should also feature the big-bodied people and give them strong characters in the films and shows. Featuring the big-bodied and giving them strong characters helps boost the esteem of big-bodied people as a ray of hope is shone upon them. The media should also sensitize people on eating disorders. Media should make known to individuals some of the causes of eating disorders, symptoms, and effects. Stories of people like Demi Lavato, who have battled eating disorders should also be shared widely. Sharing of such stories helps a person know that they are not in the battle alone and thus have hope.
There are various types of treatment for people with eating disorders. One of the ways to battle eating disorders is through therapy. Like alcoholics, eating disorder patients can attend therapy where the underlying causes are discussed and handled. Therapy is crucial as it provides the patient with knowledge of how to maintain healthy habits, communicate, and expressing their emotions. Nutrition is also an effective way to treat eating disorders as it helps to restore and stabilize one’s weight. Nutrition also provides relevant guidance on healthy eating and monitors one’s meal plan. Medications also help in treating eating disorders. The underlying causes that may lead to eating disorders, such as anxiety symptoms may require medications.