Body Image Effects On Women

Body image is a significant issue for teens today. So powerful an issue, “Studies show that teen girls are more afraid of gaining weight than they are of cancer, nuclear war, or losing a parent.” (“Self”). As we grow up, we learn to absorb everything around us, like a sponge. We see the skinny Barbie doll and muscular action figures, and naturally begin to believe this is what a normal body should be. Today, everywhere you walk you will see footprints of the media shouting out the newest fat-blasting secrets and daily weight loss tips. Young adults can be profoundly influenced by these ads and subliminal messages. Many young adults are suffering from extreme self-consciousness, and spend their time crying in front of the mirror because they
As the fashion industry grew throughout the years, they began featuring larger models in advertisements without having to label them as “plus sized.” For once, teenagers are thrilled to see models who are real and embrace their flaws. Not only this, but the maker of Barbie has recently announced that the skinny blonde doll we obsessed over will now be coming out with three new body types and a variety of skin tones. “We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty,” said Evelyn Mazzocco, Senior Vice President and Global General Manager of Barbie, in a company statement (Bowerman and Malcolm). The creators have come to realize how unrealistic body portrayal can damage the confidence of young people and have acted to help children in the future feel more confident. Similarly, in 2004, Dove launched a campaign called “Real Beauty,” which promoted awareness of how unrealistic perceptions of beauty are made. After Dove shined a light on the issue, it helped illustrate how critical people can be about their bodies. As shown in Dove’s research, only 4% of women globally consider themselves beautiful and 54% admit that when it comes down to their appearance, they are their own worst beauty critic (“Our”). By raising awareness of what
One cannot deny that these activities help to prevent excess weight gain, but many are unaware of the behaviors that can result from it. Sometimes, when teenagers are told to “eat healthier,” this is often misinterpreted as “starve yourself.” With this being said, many teenagers do not provide their bodies with the nutrients needed to grow properly due to the pressure of losing weight. In addition, Orthorexia is a common co-occurring eating disorder. Recently found in a website which specialized in eating disorders, it is defined as a desire to eat only ‘healthy’ foods, or to avoid entire food groups (“Excessive”). Dieting has been an American obsession in the past, but it is proven that lifestyle changes that focus on well being rather than restrictive eating are more successful. Not only this, but the constant pressure to go for a run or go work out is banging at the door. For people struggling to look like the 6’1 120 pound models in the People magazines, it can lead to excessive exercising. For this reason, it is said that, “Psychologically, excessive exercise, like self-induced purging, has been shown to be a response to uncomfortable internal states like high levels of depression or anxiety (“Identifying”). This is a similar state of anorexia that was described earlier. A recent article stressed the importance of basic health by asserting that,