Eating disorders have been a worldwide issue in the lives of young adults. 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25 (“Eating Disorder Statistics”). Not only have eating disorders become evident in the lives of young women, but they have become something that is in a sort, considered beautiful. The media has distorted the definition of perfection to the point of unreachable expectations. Due to this, the mindsets of young women have changed to fit that of society; they feel obligated to change their bodies so that they will be accepted. Eating disorders exist because of the way society portrays “perfection.” In today 's society women feel like they have to look a certain way to feel accepted, and we have the
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Most of these individuals don’t realize how severe their conditions really are. The main character, Lia, in Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson has a hard time realising the severity of her anorexia as she shows in this quote, “ I change into the yellow rode in my bedroom and make sure the quarters I sewed into the pockets aren’t making them drop. … I step on the scale 107.00 fake pounds.” Treatments are available for theses kinds of disorders, but they can be extremely expensive placing them out of reach for many people. The cost of outpatient treatment, including therapy and medical monitoring, can extend to $100,000 or more.(South Carolina Department of Mental Health) Most people are not willing to spend such a large sum of money on this kind of therapy. People also feel that their disorder is just a diet so there is no need for treatment. Art can be a very effective treatment for visual people. Judith Shaw’s work called Mindset allows us to see into the mind of an anorexic. According to Shaw, art is a very valuable form of treatment, allowing the patient to explore themselves and find who they really are. Using herself as an example, Shaw says, “The process of making each piece has helped me discover who that person is and grow to like her.” She also touches on the fact that most people don’t plan on anorexia or bulimia being a permanent thing. It starts as a diet and then spirals out of control, and before you know it, the person is addicted to losing weight. “I didn’t decide to become anorexic, it snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet.” This quote from Portia de Rossi’s autobiography, Unbearable Lightness, is a key real life example of the way anorexia can get out of control quickly without
Most of these individuals don’t realize how severe their conditions really are. The main character, Lia, in Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson has a hard time realising the severity of her anorexia as she shows in this quote, “ I change into the yellow rode in my bedroom and make sure the quarters I sewed into the pockets aren’t making them drop. … I step on the scale 107.00 fake pounds.” Treatments are available for theses kinds of disorders, but they can be extremely expensive placing them out of reach for many people. The cost of outpatient treatment, including therapy and medical monitoring, can extend to $100,000 or more.(South Carolina Department of Mental Health) Most people are not willing to spend such a large sum of money on this kind of therapy. People also feel that their disorder is just a diet so there is no need for treatment. Art can be a very effective treatment for visual people. Judith Shaw’s work called Mindset allows us to see into the mind of an anorexic. According to Shaw, art is a very valuable form of treatment, allowing the patient to explore themselves and find who they really are. Using herself as an example, Shaw says, “The process of making each piece has helped me discover who that person is and grow to like her.” She also touches on the fact that most people don’t plan on anorexia or bulimia being a permanent thing. It starts as a diet and then spirals out of control, and before you know it, the person is addicted to losing weight. “I didn’t decide to become anorexic, it snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet.” This quote from Portia de Rossi’s autobiography, Unbearable Lightness, is a key real life example of the way anorexia can get out of control quickly without