Eating Disorder and the Media: Sharing Responsibility for the Blame
Countless people connect an eating disorder and the media for the way those suffering are portrayed by the journalists. With the fashion industry apparently pushing for smaller and skinnier models and the press portraying them as something out of the ordinary, there is bounty of blame for an eating disorder and the media can be to some extent responsible. In Spain, the country just placed a minimum weight on models, recognizing that severe health problems can develop from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. Spain's legislators claimed many of the models were torment from an eating disorder and the media was helping push that unhealthy trend. Whether other countries will pursue Spain's lead will very much depend on how the fashion industry response to charges of pushing the acceptability of an eating disorder and the media's reaction to the latest stand. The major problem, on the other hand, is the models suffering a disease denial to admit they have a problem. Bad Example Was Being Portrayed It's been noted that girls from the age as young as five or six years old are developing eating disorders and the media are seemingly quiet about this. Health publications and psychological experts are joining to announce the ill affects the industry's trends of skinniness is having on the young, impressionable children. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been certified as real and serious illnesses whose effects can ultimately cause long-term and life-threatening health issues. Those with anorexia decline to eat with many flat-out afraid of gaining weight, even though their bones may be sticking out and they are no where near the recommended weight for the age and height. But given that they suffer this eating disorder and the media continues to focus on them, changes will be slow to come. Bulimia nervosa sufferers in general binge eat and then purge the mass quantity of foods they ingested. They bring about this through regurgitation or by abusing diuretics or laxatives, which in the long-term could cause serious, even life-threatening problems by denying their body of the essential vitamins and minerals. While the effects of this illness may not be noticeable, as their weight generally remains the same, this is a concealed eating disorder and the media only looks at what will sell their product. Occasionally, you may get to see someone with a binge eating disorder and the media has a field day when their weight balloons. They are fast to point out when someone doesn't look skinny and perfect, yet give the impression to glorify those who are bone thin.
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