Media's Influence On Eating Disorders

Did you know that about 30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder sometime in their life (Facts on Eating Disorders)? This incredibly high number is believed to be because of the unrealistic portrayal of attractive men and women in the media. Beginning in the 1960s both men and women’s looks changed in the media. Men began to be shown as strong and rugged while women were being shown as incredibly thin.While some believe that the thin images portrayed in the media help battle obesity in our country, it is greatly affecting individuals’ body image in a negative way because the media portrays attractive people unrealistically, thus people are turning to drug use and developing eating disorders in order to look like what society calls …show more content…
Over 90% of high school juniors and seniors are regularly dieting, even though only 10-15% are considered as overweight (Body Image). Women of all ages are thinking that they need to be skinnier to keep up with society’s expectations, even though the vast majority of them are not overweight. Because of this thought that they are overweight even though they’re not, it is leading them to lose weight in unhealthy ways such as developing an eating disorder, exercising excessively, or turning to drugs. The media and society portrays attractive men as being extremely strong, so men are turning to steroids. Over 1 million boys struggle with eating disorders and steroid use in the United States. (Body Image) Men are being shown in the media and society that they need to be strong to be attractive, so if they don’t fit into that standard, they are taking drastic measures to try to meet the society’s expectations. Because of these expectations that are put on men and their body image, many of them develop eating disorders in order to lose weight and using steroids to gain muscle