Distorted Body Image

There are a whopping seven billion people currently living on this Earth. That means that there are seven billion different opinions, outlooks, and definitions on the word “beauty”. Though, when it comes to that word, most people generally link it to physical appearance when it is so much more about what is on the inside. Although beauty encompasses a lot of things, most are affected by social media on how we look, over critical judgement about self and others that can affect the mental and physical health of the person. Growing up in the twenty-first century, social media has been a huge part of people’s everyday lives. From the time they wake up in the morning to the time they go to sleep at night, there is always some sort of technology
Women, and often men, over criticize themselves to the point where they do not even need to look at a magazine to feel “too fat” or “not tall enough”. This poor confidence issue could be a real mental issue. “Distorted body image (also called negative body image) refers to an unrealistic view of how someone sees their body.” (EatingDisorderHope, 2017) EatingDisorderHope explains that sometimes body image is negatively impacted by one or more significant events. “For example, a gymnast who is continually chided by her coach and fellow athletes to lose a little weight, may develop a deeply ingrained and long standing dissatisfaction with her body, no matter how thin she becomes.” (EatingDisorderHope,
People who have distorted body image, people who have been judged, and people who have been made fun of often resort to two horrible outlets: Anorexia and Bulimia. “People with anorexia nervosa have a distorted body image that causes them to see themselves as overweight even when they're dangerously thin. Individuals with bulimia nervosa eat excessive quantities, then purge their bodies of the food and calories they fear by using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics; vomiting; or exercising.” (Brownell, 2017) As one can see, people can become extremely see conscious when it comes to their bodies. When it comes to “The Beauty Myth” many people may believe that there is no such thing, and that the word “beauty” is meant purely for beautiful things: Flowers, sunsets, a baby’s smile, Brad Pitt, etc. In reality, this majestic word actually holds a dark, destroying place in it’s beauty. The myth of beauty is that there is not just one definition for it. Beauty is expressed, said, and thought differently among seven billion people on this Earth, but because things like social media only express one form: Skinny and tall, many people resort to Anorexia and