1. Eating Disorders in the U.S.
A Byproduct of Advertisements
By Liz Alvarez

2. Eating Disorders
In the U.S, people tend to define themselves by how attractive they are (to some extent)
Ideals of beauty are reinforced by the media
Thinness is usually associated with:
beauty
success, acceptance, and popularity
Positive attitudes such as persistence, determination, and self-discipline
It is estimated that 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders (mostly females)
The rate of eating disorders has dramatically increased over the years
The media has contributed to the rise of this type of mental illness that causes more deaths than any other mental disorder
Models and celebrities are usually very thin, sending the message to young girls that beauty, popularity, and success are associated with thinness
Unfortunately, eating disorders are beginning to affect people at younger ages because ads are also targeting children
Anorexic Models

3. Why Ads Contribute to Eating Disorders
Advertisements are a reflection of a culture obsessed with thinness and beauty but at the same time ads reinforce this fascination (vicious cycle)
Ads portray unattainable ideals of beauty and set impossible expectations for women to meet
The extent to which ads influence a person’s life depends on the individual’s vulnerability and personal experiences but they definitely affect how we perceive the world and react to it.
Ads promote negative attitudes
Shame
Depression
Anxiety
Body dissatisfaction
Poor self-esteem
Poor self-image
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
They feel that they don’t have control over their lives so they exercise, binge, or avoid eating in order to gain a sense of control
This negative attitudes, combined with stress, family history, and family problems, are the perfect combination for the development of eating disorders

4. Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa-people don’t eat enough because they think they are fat so they starve themselves (look extremely underweight)
Bulimia Nervosa-the person overeats and then purges using methods such as self-induced vomiting or laxatives (more difficult to detect-fluctuations in weight)
Teenagers are more vulnerable because they are impressionable and want to fit in (to feel accepted and popular)
Both disorders lead to malnutrition and even death
Dehydration
Heart disease
Suicidal thoughts
Depression
Kidney damage
Digestive problems

5. Distorted Beliefs
People with eating disorders have an intense fear of gaining weight
They are afraid of rejection
They have a distorted self-image
They believe they are bigger than they actually are
They are preoccupied with food and weight
Western society cultivates a deadly desire for thinness through the media
Success and worth=thinness
When people cross the line between fantasy and reality and incorporate the fantasy of ads into their daily lives, the results are devastating
Their insatiable need to feel accepted leads them down a dangerous path of self-destruction

6. Works Cited http://www.womenshealth.gov/body-image/eating-disorders/