Corner Brook -
Are the cultural ideals of Western society a breeding ground for negative body image and eating disorders? The simple answer is yes. Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are most prevalent in industrialized societies like our own.
World wide, the highest incidence of disordered eating exists among caucasian females of elevated social status. With the rapid spread of globalization, issues regarding body image and food attitudes are being found in even the such remote places as rural Fiji. What are different societies doing to cope with this, America's latest export?
Some countries have begun to take a stand, but their actions are insufficient. France and Britain are currently developing strategies to minimize the impact of photo-shopped material on youth. Italy has banned size zero models at several fashion shows. Yet the media industry still has free rein in the publishing department and girls continue to fall victim to disordered eating at an alarming rate.
What kind of society would project such distorted and unattainable imagery to its children that the result is starvation and death as a price for belonging? Ours does.
Treatment options are inadequate.
Until we recognize body image issues and eating disorders as societal diseases and stop placing all blame the individual and the parent, we will continue to watch our children starve and punish themselves for our distorted ideals. I think it's time magazines came with disclaimers:
Warning: Photoshopped images within. Not real people.
