Eating Disorders Cont.

Today, the pressure to be thin are everywhere; television, magazines, billboards, and even radio ads talk about losing weight. The idea that being thin or skinny is the best way to be cause more and more girls/women to have low self esteem and some even resort to drastic measures to fit in to our societies beauty ideals. It is estimated the 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders, most of the people with these diseases are young women.

Now, most of us know how bad eating disorders are bad for our health, but what causes 8 million people to harm their bodies? Well, there are many factors that lead to eating disorders: biological, psychological, social, and traumatic life events.

Many people do not know that eating disorders are genetic. For example, when my mother was younger, she suffered from bulimia, therefore, I was at a higher risk to develop the disorder.

As mentioned before, the society that a person grows up in, can lead to low self esteem and eating disorders. The way a young girl is raised is a big factor in whether or not they are going to have a healthy self esteem and the potential for an eating disorder.
Here are a few situations that could cause an eating disorder:

• Parents being overly strict, over protective, and emotional distance.
• The child trying to live up to unrealistic expectations.
• A child hearing about their parents being unhappy about their bodies. (Mostly the mothers view of her body).
• If the parents place to much importance on physical appearance.

In America, women are reminded everyday about the importance of being thin. Women, are expected to always look their best and it is hard to resist these beauty norms. Women are held at an “almost-impossible-to-achieve standard of physical fitness and beauty.” Most women are trying to achieve the look of Gisele Bundchen, or Adriana Lima and looking like these women is almost physically impossible. Below is what the modeling industry is wanting in a model:
Editorial / Fashion modeling:
female:
5'8 to 6'0
90lb- 120lb Plus-Size modeling:
5'8 to 6'2
size 10-18
* To see a healthy weight to height ratio visit, http://www.consumer.gov/weightloss/bmi.htm*

Another factor that can lead to eating disorders is traumatic life events; sexual abuse, leaving home for the first time, dieting, or an event that leading a person to feel helpless or like they cannot control their live.

Resource:
Free Health Encyclopedia
http://www.faqs.org/health/Healthy-Living-V3/Eating-Disorders.html