Body and eating issues seem not to be that uncommon today, as society has pushed this perfect image upon people. Comparing oneself to another can lead to low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders. These illnesses can cause negative consequences and it some cases lead to death. Eating disorders not only affect the one’s mental state, but physically takes over their body as well. I chose this topic because many young girls and boys my age suffer from these illnesses, and I want to learn more about it. Teenagers and young adults are extremely influenced by the social media and their idols so much that it eventually leads them to having body and eating issues. I think that this is an important topic to explore and talk about, because so many people are losing their life from this illness.
Cash, T. F., & Brown, T. A. (1987). Body Image in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa: A Review of the Literature. Behavior Modification, 11(4), 487–521. https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455870114005
• Those who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa also tend to have a disturbed body imaged. A disturbed body imaged for example can be someone who is obviously thin but seeing their image as overweight which is known to professionals as “body size distortion”.
• The second kind of disturbed body image is when someone can correctly process what they look like, but they still are dissatisfied with the way they look, which is known to professionals as “body dissatisfaction”. With mental disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa these two types of disturbed body image can occur together or just one can be present.
• In both instances with patients who have a disturbed body image, they usually focus negatively on a certain area of their body that they are insecure about. A lot of researchers have given credit to Anorexia and Bulimia’s underlying cause of disturbed body image to societies pressure to look perfect and be thin.
• Body image can be measured either by using the body-part size estimation or the distorting image technique. The difference between the two techniques is that in the first one the patient is just estimating the measurements of certain parts of their body, while in the second technique the patient is estimating their overall body size.
• This source was credible because it was a scholarly source since it was found in the PsycINFO database on the UNCW library website. As well as, it was an academic journal that was cited seventy-three times in the database.
Parent, M. C., Schwartz, E. N., & Bradstreet, T.C. (2016). Men’s body image. In Y. J. Wong & S. R. Wester (Eds.), APA handbook of men and masculinities. (pp. 591-614). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. https://doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1037/14594-027
• Similar to females, males also suffer from eating disorders and body image. Though males desire to be muscular and have a strong physique compared to women who wish to lose weight and be thin.
• Research has also shown that as women have gained more rights and societal equality has formed between the two genders, the self-esteem of males have decreased.
• Research has also considered the effect of culture in society affecting male body image. The source gave the example that Western culture focuses on more how the male looks, compared to Asian countries which holds intelligence to a higher standard than body image.
• Being ashamed of one’s body can lead to eating disorders, depression and other problems. Out of straight and gay men, it is the gay men who experience more body shame due to their appearance then straight ones due.
• This source was reliable because it came from the UNCW database called PsychINFO found on the library website. This source was found out of a book called Men’s Body Image, and it was cited a hundred and seventy-eight times throughout the database.
Thornton, L. M., Welch, E., Munn, C. M. A., Lichtenstein, P., & Bulik, C. M. (2016). Anorexia nervosa, major depression, and suicide attempts: Shared genetic factors. Suicide and Life- Threatening Behavior, 46(5), 525-534. https://doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1111/sltb.12235
• According to WHO in 2012 suicide was the second leading cause in teens and young adults, most noticeable in females. Most victims who commit suicide suffer from a mental disorder, and eating disorders and depression are of the most popular.
• Those who commit suicide must be very fearless and have a high tolerance to pain. Which is why individuals who can survive hunger and food restriction, like anorexia and bulimia victims commit suicide.
• Researchers have found a common genetic influence amongst participants who either suffer from anorexia, depression, or suicide attempts. Researchers also found that the environmental factors might not overlap for all there of the topics, but it is highly possible that the factors are trait specific.
• Various studies have concluded that anorexia and depression have a higher risk of leading to suicide attempts. These studies have proven that though there is a small possibility that genetics could take a part in anorexia, depression, and suicide attempts, it is environmental factors that is majority the cause.
• This source was reliable because it came for the UNCW library website’s database, PsychINFO. Also, this source was an actual study supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Wick, M. R., & Harriger, J. A. (2018). A content analysis of thinspiration images and text posts on Tumblr. Body Image, 24, 13-16. https://doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.11.005
• This source explored the connection between social media, body image, and anorexia. Researchers found that social media puts a lot of emphasis on looking perfect, being attractive and having a thin figure.
• It does not help that there are some websites like “Thinsparation” that is pro-anorexia and supports people with eating disorders to lose more weight. Images from thinsparation websites are being found on more universally used websites like Instagram and Tumblr, which can lead to negative consequences for followers.
• Research has also found that Tumblr is one of the main sites where thinsparation is found. And not only that, but Tumblr is known to have a theme of depression, worthlessness and self-harm.
• Thinsparation was created to societies standard of beauty, and that is what every girl wants to be because she wants to be accepted and wanted. Researchers also found that most of the images were sexual and objectifying, convincing the viewer that if they lost weight men will want them too.
• This was a reliable source because it came from the UNCW library database called, PsychINFO. Also, this source was an academic journal so the content inside came from a real-life experiment.
Mantilla, E. F., Clinton, D., & Birgegård, A. (2018). Insidious: The relationship patients have with their eating disorders and its impact on symptoms, duration of illness, and self-image. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 91(3), 302-316. https://doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1111/papt.12161
• This source explored how female patients suffering from anorexia react to their illness. The study also explained how those who suffer from eating disorders, view it as a relationship between the patient and the illness.
• It was important for researchers to understand the relationship between the patient and their illness, because it could be a factor in deciding how to treat the patient. This “relationship” between the patient and the illness was compared to a real-life relationship with a significant other.
• Patients described their relationship to be “abusive” and that their illness was very controlling, like it was a leading factor in their life and the way they live. Researchers found that patients need to learn how to rebel against their illness in order to cure themselves.
• It is common for the patient’s illness to be an entity and to be talking to the patient, this voice can either be encouraging to lose weight or be a bullying and negative about the process. This mental illness usually affects the patient’s social life as well, and eventually the patient losses their social life and friends.
• Evaluation This source was credible because it came from the UNCW library database called PsychINFO. Also, this source came in the form of an academic journal and the information found in it came from a study that was held.
Throughout my research of these five sources I have learned about the different illnesses that falls under the category of eating disorders. I have also learned the impact that social media has on younger people and what it can lead to. One point that really stood out to me in my research though, was how mental illness is really a relationship between the sufferer and the disease which is why it is so important to get treatment.