 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, March 19, 2010
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, March 19, 2010
|
Diet and Nutrition |
Eating Disorders!10/08/2003 |
Hi, I`m a High School student who is currently in the process of developing a research project on the media`s effects on a person`s body image. Thus, I was wondering what was your take on the media`s negative influences on a person`s eating disorders from a perfessional stand. Thank You for you time!
Body image is formed throughout your life and is reinforced by your experiences, family, peers, and the media. The ideal body image that is promoted by the media is one that is unrealistic for about 95% of Americans. Not only are you expected to be ultra-thin, but also physically fit with toned muscles. By using persons who fit this ideal in commercials, sitcoms, movies, and magazines, the media entices Americans to emulate this body type. Viewers tend to associate thinness with success and happiness,leading Americans to focus on physical traits rather than on other desirable traits, such as talents, skills, and health. One of the characteristics of eating-disordered persons is body image disturbance, or unhappiness with your physical appearance. Most persons who attempt to be super-thin experience failure, which in turn leads to depression, low self-esteem, and body image disturbance. In addition, they may use inappropriate methods of weight loss that are characteristic of eating disorders such as fasting, self-induced vomiting, or excessive exercise. The media could contribute to the prevention of eating disorders in several ways, such as (1) by presenting more average-sized or larger-sized persons in the media, (2) by educating the public about the dangerous consequences of eating disorders, and (3) by promoting healthy eating and activity habits.
|
Bonnie J. Brehm, PhD, RD Professor College of Nursing University of Cincinnati |
|
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) 
|