In the present day, media, including that of social media, floods the screens of users across the country. Images of celebrities and ad campaigns that do not accurately represent the way in which individuals look in everyday life. Distorted images plastered on screens everywhere do nothing but cause for negative effects on the self-esteem and diet patterns of society, especially the teenage demographic. Young women are forced to view images of other women with seemingly unrealistic and “perfect” bodies when they turn on the television, open a phone, or look around at magazines. The media as a whole contributes to negative body image and causes for the development of eating disorders such as Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa in the younger demographic of females. This is a direct cause of the pressures placed on young women by society to obtain a seemingly “perfect” body, although it is in most cases unachievable. 

Studies from medical professionals, published in online journals, are able to educate the younger generation as well as the total population in general about the signs and exactly what an eating disorder is. These important facts and figures are the start to the change of positivity that can help prevent the development of such disorders. Two doctors and professors at La Trobe University published an online journal that is very beneficial in the education of eating disorders, and helpful in proving the negative effects of the media, “Anorexia nervosa has been defined as a disorder in which the individual undergoes severe restriction of food… to achieve and maintain an extremely low weight” (Avgoulas and Verma). Anorexia nervosa is seen to prevalent in the young generation along with Bulimia nervosa which is characterized by “a period of binge eating followed by vomiting (purging)” these extreme measures can be explained by the individual’s “constantly overanalyzing their weight and physique” (Avgoulas and Verma). With the knowledge about these disorders is can then be easier to identify why individuals would be overanalyzing themselves and their physique. 

Researchers and medical professionals have noted the difference in the way in which girls view themselves before the exposure to media, and then after the exposure. This is such a problem in the modern world, so much so that it reaches far beyond the bounds of the United States. Researcher Anne Becker took the time to travel and observe the effects of the media on the individuals on the island nation of Fiji. Her findings continued to spark the interest of many other researchers and health professionals to look more into these negative causes. On the island of Fiji in the 1990’s, the government did not allow for the broadcasting of western media, this law was then retracted in 1995. Once the population began viewing western programs, and interesting finding was noted. The number of young women who admitted to taking unhealthy and detrimental measures to achieve a certain body image was found incredibly high, “At least four girls in every 10 reporting having to purge to manage their weight” (Mascrelli). This number of girls can be compared to the very rare cases of Anorexia nervosa that were found in the years before the broadcasting of western media. Although this study was conducted on the island of Fiji, it is clear that western media that is mainly produced in the United States, can be proven as a clear cause of such negative effects. With more extensive research, Becker took notice into the types of shows and programs that were being viewed by the young women who developed such problems. The findings stretched far beyond the television when Becker looked at girls who were solely partaking in interactions on social medias such as, Twitter and Instagram. Some of those effected also did not take part in social media at all, “school friends, conversations at school and interactions with social media — could introduce a girl to the attitudes about leanness popular in Western media” (Mascarelli). The extreme thinness shown on television, in ads, and on social media platforms create an unrealistic idea of the way a developing girl’s body “should look” “‘Social networks pass along values about how one “should” look’ she [Becker] concludes” (Mascarelli). The values that have been placed on the want to be extremely thin, have come too far and the impact can be seen all across the world.

The modern day standard of beauty projected by the media can be described by the phrase, “the thinner the better”. This assumed fact that has been adopted by the modern media and those who partake in it is detrimental to the way in which young women and the younger generation as a whole grow up. Arielle Culter spent a summer observing the detrimental effects of the media on women and she described the current mindset of society as, “an entirely normative obsession with body shape and size, an entirely normative obsession with body shape and size” (Ossola). The obsession with an incredibly thin body, and keeping up with the unrealistic standards of beauty is considered by Culter to be a “vicious cycle”. When looking at the demographic most greatly effected by the media in terms of developing eating disorders, “more and more 12-year-old girls are going on diets because they believe what you weigh determines your worth” (Ossola). When this young of a population is basing their worth based off a number on a scale, it is clear that there is something wrong. Although these girls have developed such problems such as Anorexia nervosa, much of those who have been effected by eating disorders can attribute their feelings of negative body image to the media. The media is flooded with images of women who have bodies that are uncommon to the average female, “when all you see is a body type that only two percent of the population has, it’s difficult to remember what’s real and what’s reasonable to expect of yourself and everyone else” (Ossola). 

The importance of a researcher’s perspective on this issue is very valuable to educate and inform the masses, so that awareness is spread. Although this is important, personal accounts of women and young girls who live through these pressures day in and day out also can shed much light on the way in which the media effects their lives with much more intimacy. Isabel Song, a freshman at UC Berkley, recounts the ways in which she feels personally she, and others in her generation, have been effected by the media.  She discusses the difference between wanting a healthy lifestyle, and then when that ideal goes too far, “I draw the line at wanting to lose weight for the wrong reasons…imitate the photoshopped bodies in magazines or thinking it’ll make you more popular” (Song). The recognition that the images in the media are altered and distorted is a clear fact that she identifies and this proves the severity of this problem. 

The distorted realities of the body have become so apparent in the recent times, that the toll it is taking on young women is one that needs to be addressed. Continuing the discussion of the different viewpoints of all those involved with the epidemic of sorts, even those models involved can agree that the media goes too far. Cameron Russel, a model with much experience in advertisement and involvement in media activity, released a TedTalks discussing why the media should not be trusted or turned to for the ideal body. “I have won what can be called the ‘genetic lottery’…I am a legacy…we view beauty has health and youth and symmetry” (Russell). She admits that her looks can be considered “luck” and it is nothing common or nothing that should be normalized. The information she presents about the way in which companies over sexualized her body even from her younger years, shows that it is a problem, and Russell agrees that it is harmful to the mental well-being of the younger female population. This account from Cameron Russel gives an insider look into the industry and the way in which they present their models in such an over sexualized way and why. Although such accounts are widely spread and trustworthy, many sources seem to disagree with the fact that the media plays a role in the development of eating disorders. BBC released an article entitled, “Models ‘not to blame’ for eating disorders in children”. Their facts are solely based off of the accounts of one leading hospital, “skinny models can give children a negative body image, but they don't cause the problem” (BBC Health). They claim that the problem is only on an exclusive group of children and those children have not been effected by the media in any way. Later in the article however, a spokeswomen from Great Ormond Street Hospital discusses the uncertainty of the figures. This shows a disconnect within the article, with the author and representatives from the hospital with differing opinions. 

Other articles, similar to the one published by BBC, discount the reasons that the media has an effect on body image and the development of eating disorders. An article published by the LiveScience Staff on LiveScience state that the development of such disorders are caused by solely peers, not the media, “only peer competition, not television or social media use, predict negative outcomes for body image” (Live Science Staff). This can be true, when looking at social media and comparing to the peers around in such young demographics, although this is not completely true. Such “competition” on platforms such as social media only stem from the larger platform of media produced by large companies and models. It can been seen as a kind of mimicry, trying to adhere to the ideals presented by the larger platforms, then recreated on more personal social media. Focusing on the involvement in social media, rather than the media presented on television and in magazines, tells much about the problems the younger generation faces when they simply open their phones or computers. The organization, Eating Disorder Hope, discusses the facts and statistics that have been gathered in regards to the effects of social media. “A 2011 study [1] from the University of Haifa examined 248 young women from the ages of 12 to 19 and found that more exposure to social media contributed to higher rates of eating disorders” (Eating Disorder Hope). This is a shocking statistic that was found, and although this was found in 2011, the researchers at Eating Disorder Hope have since stated that these numbers have only grown since the release of this article.

This growing problem is identified even with those who disagree with the effects of the media, such as the BBC Health article, “lots of people who have an eating disorder haven't yet got the treatment that they might need so I think the picture of people affected could actually be larger than this” (BBC Health). The fact that these two articles with very differing outlooks both conclude that the issue surrounding eating disorders is even larger than it is documented says a lot about the severity of the topic. The critics of the research that has been done regarding media and the development of eating disorders, such as BBC Health, have stated that the facts are far more severe than simply stated in facts and figures. Knowing this, it is easy to see that the information can be considered misguided and perceived a certain way based off of few accounts. 

Social media is prominent is almost every aspect of lives in today’s society, this is why it can be attributed to such severe problems such as Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa. Another article published on Eating Disorder Hope by Krystal Karges adds even more to the information regarding social media and it’s effects on this younger generation. She discusses the ways in which we need to be aware of the effects, due to their severity. “It is important to understand that adolescent’s are still in a phase of brain development and emotional regulation and often susceptible to peer pressure” (Karges). This refers to the susceptibility of adolescents in the effected demographic and why they are so easily impressionable. When solely discussing the numbers and statistics regarding this topic, it is interesting and disheartening to see that the numbers reflect such young ages. 

Deanne Jade, at the National Centre for Eating Disorders, outlines all factors of the media that causes eating disorders and why this is seen so prevalent in the present times. It is obvious that the involvement in media and social media as a whole can cause negative effects, “research has shown that it is those with low confidence and self esteem within each group who are most influenced by media communications” (Jade). Many factors can effect the way in which individuals view themselves, especially in the negative way, but the media in most aspects regarding body image cause for this negative outlook. Due to the fact that this younger generation is the most involved on online activity and activity on social media, it is no surprise that this is the demographic that is most drastically effected. The combination of the avid use, and the susceptibility to changes that are present during that time in the lives of young girls, cause for detrimental effects to mental and physical well-being.

One article published on an online journal, “Body Image in the Media”, discusses the way in which we as a society do not have an accurate idea of what an average sized women weighs or looks like. This can be attributed to the altered perceptions presented by the media, and companies in hopes of drawing in business and customers. Many advertising strategies involving including women that are even unhealthy thin, to appeal to those that are in hopes of looking like those displayed on ads and campaigns. Although, most of these images have been distorted by use of editing, or are simply unrealistic and unhealthy for the body and mind. “The average female fashion model weighs about 120 pounds. Meanwhile, the National Center for Health Statistics tells us that the average American woman weighs about 169 pounds” (Mirror Mirror). This is not to say that the want for a more fit, and more healthy lifestyle should be looked down upon, but instead it is important to identify what is “real” and what has been altered. Discussing the ways in which the media distort images and create unrealistic expectation for bodies, “Adults are better able to sort fact from fiction and to recognize when images in the media are unrealistic. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health reports that anorexia is the third leading chronic illness in teenagers” (Mirror Mirror). This connects to the statistics relating to the most common ages that are effected by such eating disorders, which are the younger ages, around age 12. These numbers that are effected are dangerous, considering that this is the point in the lives of young girls that they are developing not only physically, but mentally. 

The way in which we as a society can change this large problem across not only the country, but the world, is though education. The need for education regarding the detrimental effects of the images that are presented to us on a day to day basis. It needs to be made completely clear to girls at a young age that the media does not always display what is true and healthy. These problems need to be indented more actively to change the course of the lives of so many young girls, who's lives at some point are put on hold to deal with such destructive disorders. This should be a time of growth, development, and overall happiness, and it should not be plagued with feelings of inadequate looks. Overall, the problems regarding this can not fully be stopped by facing those who project it, although it is important to support campaigns of those who value the many different shapes and sizes of girls and women. By supporting companies and campaigns who value uniqueness, and real images and achievable ideas of beauty, we will move closer diminishing the media’s harmful effects. 
