Anorexia amongst women – is the media to blame?

by Ellern Mede Eating Disorder Treatment

Did you know that the average female model has a BMI of 16.3, whereas the ideal range is anywhere between 18.5 and 24.9? This means that the average model is actually unhealthily thin, and yet they are worshiped by women all over the world. So, is the media image of the ‘perfect female form’ to hold responsible for the increasing cases of anorexia amongst women? Well, that is probably oversimplifying things, but it does seem likely that the media is one influence that may affect women who suffer from anorexia.

So, what are the causes of anorexia amongst women?

The truth is that anorexia, selective eating disorder, and other types of eating disorders are complex illnesses. There is not one single cause of anorexia. Yes, media does play a part as it portrays images of unusually tall, thin women, and tells us this is the ideal. Anorexia is also somewhat common amongst fashion models and other celebrities. Nonetheless, other things can contribute to anorexia, as well. Many women who suffer from anorexia suffer from other psychological conditions as well, such as major depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Some experts have also suggested a correlation between childhood abuse and anorexia. Indeed, not everyone who experiences abuse as a child develops anorexia as an adult, and not all anorexics were abused as children. But a large percentage of those with anorexia do have a history of childhood abuse.

How to prevent anorexia?

It is reasonable to assume that anorexia would be less common if the media did not draw a picture of unreasonably thin women as desirable. So, in terms of preventing anorexia, we can encourage the media to portray more realistic body images and promote body acceptance. We can also talk to our daughters about what they see in the media and help them understand what is real and what is fabricated for the big screens.

There is more that can be done to prevent anorexia, however. Since there is a correlation between child abuse and anorexia, we can work to crack down on child abuse. We can also work to provide adequate treatment to children who do experience abuse because that might prevent future psychological problems from advancing. Educating the public about anorexia might help, as well. It might not actually prevent anorexia, but might encourage people who are experiencing symptoms of the disorder to seek outpatient anorexia treatment early on, which would limit the medical complications they would experience from the condition. Right now, many people are not familiar with the early warning signs of anorexia and are not aware of just how severe the condition can be (it can be fatal).

The bottom line

So when we hear the question, is the media to blame for anorexia, we need to understand that that is only one small piece of the problem, but it does probably play a role. And then, we need to look at what we can do to begin preventing anorexia, which includes addressing the media but also includes looking at other issues.