Eating disorders seem to be supported in society and culture, setting a bad example for those who have low self esteem and body issues.

Society seems to have a number of rules by which a person has to adhere. The culture as a whole seems to tell women and men that they need to look a certain way in order to be accepted and ‘okay.’ Not surprisingly, these society and culture ideas have impacted the incidence of eating disorders.

Thin Was Not Always In

Today even in some cultures, a woman that is seen as “fat” or “plump” is seen as rich or wealthy and her size represents prosperity. In cultures where food is scarce, the large woman represents the idea that she comes from a family with plenty of food. Even in France and England in the nineteenth century, fat and large women were considered beautiful. They were an object of beauty. But this is not the case in today’s world.

There is no doubt that in today’s society and culture the accepted image for a woman is to be thin. Women and young girls are surrounded by images of thin women on television and magazines. Although most women will never be as thin as the images shown to them, it is an image that they want to capture so they can feel worthy or accepted in today’s society. In a world where images are easily altered, the truth about what a woman or man should look like is hard to discern.

Each one of us is a customer of consumer goods and is influenced by advertising. In various ways, advertisers teach us and show us to want and what to want. They are not bad people or deliberately set out to send out false messages, but they are sending out messages that our society has already deemed as acceptable. But this might not be what WE think about ourselves.

The Great Diet Debate

In the past, users of diet products have been shown by advertisers young, pretty, slim, and carefree women. In turn, many women will start to deprive themselves and use diet plans and products and will eat what someone tells her to eat because she may feel they know what’s better for her and she feels unacceptable as she is and wants to be what society will accept. When and if the woman leaves the diet she may turn to a binge/starve cycle that can lead to the onset of bulimia and even anorexia. A simple diet can trigger a lifetime of troubles.

Fashion and Eating Disorders

The fashion industry plays a significant role when it comes to the topic of eating disorders. Many of us have seen the extremely thin models used to sell everything from jeans to perfumes. Women walking down fashion runways and featured on the covers of magazines are often incredibly thin. Not only women but men are also exposed to these images as they are shown well muscled, good looking, young and athletically developed young males modeling the latest fashion trends. Men and women, girls and boys are shown the ideal way to look. But while this might be ideal to society, it is often unhealthy for the human body.

The fashion, diet and advertising industry are not solely to blame for eating disorders but rather play a significant role. Someday, we might all live in a world where men and women are able to be healthy as opposed to fitting into a certain form. That day is on the horizon, especially as more people learn of the dangers of the alternative – eating disorders.