Eleven million people in the U.S. have an eating disorder, and you wouldn’t suspect it by their physical appearance. The major types of eating disorders, and symptoms, and behaviors to look for are: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and compulsive over eating. But the eating disorder most common among young people I know is anorexia.
Anorexia is an intense fear of getting fat, even if underweight. Some of the symptoms of anorexia are frequently complaining of being cold, eating only certain foods, suddenly becoming a vegetarian, insisting on preparing one’s own food, or all together avoiding food. This is the cause of malnutrition.Their bodies are also experiencing a chemical disturbance. They may develop facial and body hair, suddenly behave differently, have a hard time making decisions and/or think irrationally. Often they are hospitalized due to dehydration, malnutrition, or kidney and heart problems. Anorexia is the most common mental-health condition.
Does society's promotion of a thin body as the ideal female form contribute to anorexia?
Yes it does! I think that supermodels and television teach young girls that you aren't pretty if you aren’t skinny. I believe that girls think the perfect body type is when you look like that super model or celebrity you see on posters or on TV. It puts a perspective into girls’ minds that they are fat if they don’t look like that celebrity.
I have read in many articles that there are women who will go to the fashion shows and see how sickly thin these models make themselves to “look good”. They say the fashion industry has gone too far in pushing a dangerously thin image that women, and even very young girls, may try to copy. Girls look up to these supermodels, so