History of Body-Dysmorphia and Body Dissatisfaction
The origins of body-dysmorphia and body-dissatisfaction root far back in our culture. Different societal notions of what is deemed “beautiful” have shifted dramatically from century to century, even decade to decade. Our current societal emphasis on the desire for a slim body type, however, has accelerated dramatically since the early 20th century. The Roaring Twenties, specifically, witnessed a dramatic increase in eating disorders, disproportionately among young women. The idealization of the “flapper” aesthetic motivated young women to desperate ends to achieve this standard of “beauty.” Sales of patent medicines and harmful weight loss treatments, ranging from thyroid hormones to amphetamines to tape worms, skyrocketed and continued to remain popular throughout the 1900s. Mass media depictions of unrealistically thin young women further perpetuated this issue.
Even today, media representation of what is considered “beautiful” is severely limited and unhealthy methods of weight-loss are celebrated. Take Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Met Gala look, for example. Using a dangerously tight corset to create the illusion of a smaller waist, Kardashian had to take breathing lessons to avoid passing out while wearing her outfit. Additionally, the promotion of “waist trainers,” typically by fitness models or other social media influencers, reflects a similar get-thin-at-any-cost approach to beauty. There is no evidence that the trainers themselves enhance or improve workouts, but rather the restriction of air flow and mobility. These are just a few examples of the extreme lengths people are forced to go to in order to achieve this unrealistic standard of beauty.
Prevalence Among Youth
Issues regarding unhealthy body image and body dysmorphia disproportionately impact young children and teens. According to a 2015 report, one in four US children have engaged in dieting behavior by age 7. More than half of all girls and a third of all boys ages 5-6 indicate their ideal body size is thinner than they currently are. Children who engage in disordered eating behaviors are likely to carry these patterns with them through adolescence and adulthood. The physical and psychological effects of disordered eating and body dysmorphia are harrowing. Stigma preventing meaningful dialogue around self-image and eating disorders further silences victims and survivors.
Teen athletes, specifically in weight-class sports like rowing or wrestling, are at an increased risk for developing eating disorders and body-dysmorphia. Athletes take unhealthy dieting behaviors to extremes, often intentionally starving and dehydrating themselves to lose weight, or binging to gain. These behaviors have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of these athletes that continue throughout adolescence and into adulthood.
Prevalence Among Young Men
Stereotypical portrayals of someone with an eating disorder are almost always teen girls, under-representing the true extent disordered eating and body-dissatisfaction impacts teen boys. 25% of those diagnosed with anorexia are male, yet they are at a much higher risk of death, since diagnoses for males often occur much later since many assume males cannot HAVE eating disorders. Unhealthy behaviors like binge eating, purging, laxative abuse, and fasting for weight loss are nearly as common among males as they are among females.
These behaviors are only exasperated by media representation and the extreme diets of celebrities. Actors often go to extreme lengths to lose or gain weight to portray characters. Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt’s dramatic weight loss of over 60 pounds reflects the broader notion that in order to be beloved by others, one must change their physical appearance. Teen boys are more likely to experience muscle-dysmorphia, also known as “bigorexia.” This constant desire to appear physically muscular and strong drives individuals to over-exert and injure themselves. Representation of men in both film and television have increasingly produced unrealistic standards of muscularity and beauty.
Moments of Progress
Though unhealthy portrayals of body image are still prevalent throughout the media, realistic representation of men and women has grown substantially. The body positive movement has inspired many across the world to embrace and celebrate themselves. Promoting body confidence has led to the rise of vocal body-positive activists and performers. Social media campaigns like Jameela Jamil’s “I Weigh” have sought to reduce the stigma surrounding body-image and eating disorders.
Additionally, singer Lizzo’s message of self-love has resonated deeply with young people across the world. Her musical talent and charismatic persona have garnered widespread praise, despite critics constantly demeaning her appearance.
As a society, we have grown more aware of the harrowing effects of eating disorders and body dysmorphia, but there is still progress to be made. Self-love and fostering a positive relationship with oneself is key to living a healthy and productive life.
0
0
Average Rating