For centuries now, eating disorders have been an issue amongst society. Recently though, eating disorders have become an even more common situation for young adults. Eating disorders are still an unresolved issue, and there needs to be more action taken to bring attention to the general public. There are many reasons as to why people develop an eating disorder. One reason in particular is the influence from the media and celebrities. Social media is a huge part in teen’s everyday lives, allowing easy access to pictures, videos and posts of recognizable celebrities. Having access at first hand enables young teens to develop an eating disorder. One eating disorder in particular is Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss, struggle to maintain appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature, and a distorted body image of their self. People suffering from anorexia restrict the number of calories they intake and the types of food they eat. Anorexia is most common among young women, but can also affect males. Anorexia is seen throughout the entertainment industry all the time, enabling pictures of celebrities to be displayed for fans and young teens sending a negative message to those who look up to them. The media represents a world of upper class individuals who are looked up to as idols, and that can be both a positive and negative influence on certain people. There have been recent studies to prove that this is, in fact, the case. The media constantly shows an almost unattainable and unrealistic image of beauty through an influx of images and messages that has been known to be linked to eating disorders and body disfiguration, mostly among girls but also in boys.

There is evidence that anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder have been thought to be connected. In 1939, the term “anorexia nervosa” was referred to as “compulsion neurosis” and then later known as “compulsion cachexia” (Kasvikis and Tsakiris 1070). Recently, anorexia nervosa and bulimia have been studied as signs of an obsessive-compulsive disorder influenced by social factors. One study conducted by Kasvikis and Tsakiris, was to determine the frequency of anorexia nervosa in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorders. The result of this study showed that of the large group of subjects chosen, those that were anorexic showed the same compulsions of those that were not anorexic but did have obsessive-compulsive disorder. This study showed that there is a causal link between anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder (Kasvikis and Tsakiris 1070). According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, anorexia is “a serious physical and emotional illness in which an abnormal fear of being fat leads to very poor eating habits and dangerous weight loss.” Anorexia results from an individual’s family, biological vulnerability, psychological predisposition, and social climate. Anorexia is a very complex disease that has many lasting affects on an individual. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., without treatment, up to 20% of people suffering from serious eating disorders die. With treatment 2-3% of those suffering will die. Of those who receive treatment, 60% will make a full recovery, meaning that they will never have any eating disorder related thoughts or behaviors. The problem in society recently regarding anorexia has been an increase in this disease amongst young teens that are looking at media images on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (etc.) and are aspiring to be like the celebrities who they idolize. 

Anorexia affects many individuals of all ages and genders. Those who are affected by this disease are usually the people that are wrapped up in celebrity gossip or wanting to stay hip with the latest trends. Individuals who develop an eating disorder are highly influenced by the celebrities on the cover of magazines and who their favorite actor/actress is in their favorite show or movie. Currently, the media and the press are portraying an image of having to be stick thin and flawless. This gives off an inaccurate impression of what the norm to look like should be because more than half of the time the photos they are putting on the cover of the magazine, or the giant billboard for everyone to see are photo-shopped. Electronic and print mass media can be accessed so easily that the development of an eating disorder can be targeted at all age groups and genders. The media is a way to show what are the newest and latest trends in society are. Individuals who are into following the latest trends and wanting to look like a famous celebrity or model may not realize that by following in those footsteps one can head down the wrong path and end up suffering from serious long lasting health issues. Media reflects celebrities’ lives that epitomize a life of wealth and status. 

Eating disorders can occur in both males and females, even though when thought of an eating disorder people right away characterize it as a “women’s problem.” When one hears of a male having an eating disorder it is somewhat elusive. There are several studies that provide insight regarding men and eating disorders. In the United States, twenty million women and ten million men will suffer from a clinically diagnosed eating disorder (Research on Males and Eating Disorders). One study that is quoted very often suggests that males have a lifetime prevalence of 0.3% for anorexia nervosa, 0.5% for bulimia nervosa, and 0.2% for binge eating disorder (Research on Males and Eating Disorders). Multiple factors lead to males being undiagnosed for eating disorders. One major factor is that males face a stigma for having a disorder characterized as feminine or gay for receiving psychological help (Research on Males and Eating Disorders). Eating disorders are a gender-neutral disease, and even though most people recognize it with women it is just as likely to occur in a male. 

Social media have a strong influence on society and the development of an eating disorder. Studies of celebrity culture show that celebrities represent socially valued qualities, including admiration, popularity, and status. Many young people form attachments to similar age celebrities and say that they have an influence on their behavior (Shorter). One study that was done was on a university campus that asked 159 females to fill out a questionnaire that asked the participants to write down the name of a celebrity “of your gender and about your age whom you admire.” Then the participants had to choose an image that they felt was closest to themselves, their favored celebrity and “the body shape you would like to be.” The experimenters did different calculations to find out which participants were at risk for an eating disorder. In conclusion, the experiment showed that people are willing to take part in unhealthy behaviors to fit in with the rest of the crowd and be seen as normal (Shorter). This experiment in particular proved that favorable celebrities and media content have an influence on eating disorder cognitions and behavior. Another article in Time Magazine referred to social media becoming a “toxic mirror” (Simmons). Simmons talked about psychologists finding a correlation between social media use and body image concerns, dieting, and a strive for thinness. There are also websites called “pro-ana (anorexic) websites.” These websites are for people who are promoting the behaviors related to eating disorders. These websites often encourage something called “thinspiration,” pictures of celebrities who may be naturally skinny to emaciated (Elad and Boyd). There are so many different ways for people to be influenced by society and culture to develop an eating disorder with all the technology that is available today.

There are debates on what causes the development of an eating disorder in an individual. Currently, there are three different theoretical models that can be used to generally explain the development of this deadly disease: biomedical, psychological, or the cultural model (Brumberg). The biomedical model proposes that anorexia can be developed due to a number of endocrinological and neurological deformities, such as hormonal imbalance, dysfunction in the hypothalamus, and lesions in the limbic system part of the brain. Most recently, the National Institutes of Health stated that patients who are suffering from both depression or anorexia nervosa over-secrete CRH (Bruhmberg). The psychological model is divided into three separate categories: psychoanalysis, family systems theory, and social psychology. Anorexia is seen as a response due to developmental crisis of adolescence in the first two categories. Anorexia is also said to be a dependence disorder, or an “addiction to starvation.” The last explanation is the cultural model. This is the most popular explanation for the cause of anorexia nervosa. The cultural model is explained to be the effect of social class and the desire to be thin based on media,  “The modern visual media fuel the preoccupation with female thinness and serve as the primary stimulus for anorexia nervosa” (Bruhmberg). The author explains here how media is what sparks the beginning of a life-threatening disease. The cultural model shows that what is socially accepted by society can have a huge impact on an individual’s life just because they started to try something they thought would make them fit in with everyone else. All three of these theoretical models have some influence on the reasoning of why anorexia nervosa is developed in certain people. Although there are certain biological and psychological factors, the cultural influence is most likely to be the bigger threat in acquiring an eating disorder because it can be easily accessed and plays a big role in our everyday lives. 

Gender and social class are the epitome of a thin ideal. Studies by psychologists, Susan and Orlando Wooley, and Judith Rodin confirm that weight is a woman’s “normative obsession” (Bruhmberg). Inferring that women are always thinking about their weight, which can be an influential factor towards the development of an eating disorder. It is particularly important to women of an upper class status. One notorious individual, the Duchess of Windsor, said, “A woman can never be too rich or too thin” (Bruhmberg). The Duchess of Windsor is one example of a recognizable individual that has the power to influence thousands of young adults to take the path of developing anorexia because people listen to those of higher class and especially those of royalty. A study held by Stanford University psychologist Sanford M. Dornbusch proved that there is a positive correlation between gender, social class, and the aspiration to be thin (Bruhmberg). This experiment shows that it is in fact true that those of higher status are more likely to be concerned with weight and the desire to look good, which is then reflected onto the lower class individuals who will take after those who are more socially valued. This example shows that famous individuals and the media have a big influence on young adults having a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. 

Social media runs society as a whole in this generation.  This can be a good quality at times but also can have a negative impact on people. Suffering from anorexia nervosa is a serious disease and is a long and difficult recovery, provided that you are even strong enough to come back from suffering from any eating disorder. Many individuals will be hospitalized from having anorexia. Although two-thirds of those patients that have been hospitalized will return to normal weight, at least fifty percent of those patients will continue to have an eating disorder and show symptoms of “social and psychiatric impairment” (Bruhmberg). First step to recover from anorexia is for the patient to admit they have a problem and face reality. After doing that the patient needs to be comfortable to talk to other people about it because they will only want to help you. Talking to other people about having this disease will help the patient find a support team. On the road to recovery, highly suggested steps to take would be to go to a group therapy or even individual if the patient is not comfortable talking about their problem with other people they do not know. Going to a nutritionist can help tell the patient what is the right and wrong thing to be eating. If the patient is suffering from a more serious case of anorexia, residential treatment is recommended (Smith and Segal). The first step to any recovery is admitting you have a problem and need help. As a bystander of the patient, being there and helping them through it is all you can do to save this person from ruining their health. 

Spreading awareness of eating disorders is something that needs to be done more of. One example in history that was taken to spread awareness of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders was in May 1986. Susie Orbach, a leader in the feminist therapy community organized a Speak-Out against eating disorders to a larger audience through the presentation of personal statements and testimonials (Bruhmberg). Speaking out to the public about eating disorders is a great way to get the society more aware of how dangerous and serious developing one of these diseases are. Finding solutions to help people suffering from anorexia is what needs to be achieved to help stop more people from developing an eating disorder as well. 

Eating disorders are a serious issue amongst this generation, and there needs to be more ways to help the individuals who are suffering. Even though social media and celebrities are a big influence on young adult’s development of anorexia, there is no stopping the use of social media as finding out information with the use of social media runs our society. Other solutions need to be proposed to help people that are already suffering from anorexia and other eating disorders. Some solutions that can be taken could be to talk to other individual’s that have been going through the same situation as well. One of the first goals in a patients’ mind, and the people that are supporting the patient minds should, be to gain weight. This is definitely easier said than done, but it is the first step toward a recovery that the patient needs to realize will be worth it in the end. Another solution to help an individual that has anorexia should be determination to get passed this disease. The recovery process of any eating disorder is a long time. There is no one cure, and some of the steps that need to be taken to recovery can be expensive and tedious. The patient needs to be willing to go through with the recovery process with the intention of becoming healthy again. There are many different treatment options that a patient can take depending on their doctors, therapist, insurance and family. After going through with all the steps of recovery, the patient will be healthier and not at risk of any more heart problems or other fatal issues that can progress in the body. 

Social media and favorable celebrities show an unrealistic view of beauty and body image that people aspire to look like one day, but they have also been known to lead to the development of an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is the most common eating disorder to develop among young adults. Anorexia nervosa has been increased amongst young adults who are being influenced by the media and their favorite celebrities. Social media is one of the most influential factors for this generations behavior. With the increase in technology, this generation is growing up being dependent on it which can negatively impact their health. There are multiple health problems that can develop from being addicted to social media but one that is currently taking over some individual’s lives is anorexia. Electronically and printed media images of notorious individuals and the way they are portrayed has been a huge influence on the issue of developing an eating disorder. Many individuals look up to their favorite actor/actress, model or celebrity. Some people form an attachment to similar aged celebrities, and say that they want to look like them. Celebrities in 2017, are portrayed as being skinny, and most likely an unrealistic image of beauty. The media and favorable celebrities have a big impact on young adults developing an eating disorder. Many studies have shown that this is in fact true. There are steps that can be taken to help someone with this eating disorder, and help them become healthy again. Being there for the individual who has an eating disorder is one of the biggest steps in helping them in recovery. Taking the patient to therapy and a nutritionist will also help the individual get back to a healthier lifestyle. Anorexia nervosa is not just a physically draining disease but it is also emotionally and psychologically draining as well. Anyone suffering from anorexia needs support to help them get back to being healthy. Anorexia nervosa, amongst other eating disorders is highly influenced by social media and celebrities.
