Do you believe that fashion triggers eating disorders? “ Specialists in eating disorders warn that the focus on fashion implies that certain illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia are primarily caused by the desire to look like a model” (Kimberly Conniff Timer). On November 14, Ana Carolina Reston was only 88 pounds when she died.
She was the second model in most recent months to die from an eating disorder. About two years after her very first fashion shoot, Ana came back exceedingly lighter than ever. Eventually, this disease called Anorexia got the best of her. After she became ill, her face began to appear more and more on the covers of magazines across the globe.
Not for her modeling efforts, but rather for her sickness that was slowly consuming her body. Her dreams as a little girl of becoming a cover girl came true, but like Tom Phillips said, “ It was for all the wrong reasons. ” Fashion in general has a huge influence on many individuals who are now suffering from some form of an eating disorder. The issue is that, in our advanced world today, media and fashion are delivering the message that “ A Beautiful Image” is only sought through being tremendously slender. Eating disorders are worldwide problems that are affecting the many lives and futures of diverse and beautiful people.
Some main factors that may trigger eating disorders are seen through the media. However, such eating disorders may even be triggered by simple things like the clothes you put on every day. A lot of times, the things you wear affect the way you feel about yourself. Whether you put on an outfit that’s suitable or just too tight, you always notice the pros and cons of your attire. However, sometimes, you are not satisfied with the way things look on you, and it’s usually because of your physical size. Fashion in general may influence eating disorders because it sets unreachable standards for people.
The fashion industry doesn’t necessarily promote eating disorders, but it does promote being at an unhealthy weight and size. (life123. com). Through experience, I’ve come to notice that many students find that if they do not look good in a certain fashion, they become self–conscious. Eventually they feel that changing their physical appearance and losing weight, would help them to fit in with a desired crowd and even make them feel more comfortable with themselves. When surveyed, many students in the Waianae community said that it felt good to be complimented about their weight loss.
They became more confident keep under control. They also felt good about the changes they’ve made. It gave students a sense of freedom and accomplishment that allowed them to see that they had total control of their bodies. This is a pro affect for them.
However the cons of unnatural dieting may lead to dangerous disorders that are both unhealthy and sometimes fatal in certain cases. Personally, I myself have encountered self-esteem issues. I felt the need to fit in and saw “ beauty” on the covers of teen magazines, and in famous TV shows or advertisements. I struggled to find my confidence throughout the beginning years of high school. Luckily, beauty found me, and it wasn’t because of the clothes I wore, or the size I was. People would tell me that I was a perfect weight and was just right for my age. Eventually, later on down the road, when I just started to notice weight gain, I came to the realization that I was not overweight and looked content with myself in old pictures.
I allowed myself to believe that I needed to lose even more weight to impress others around me. I discovered that beauty is what you make of it. In which I thought beauty was perceived best through a number you saw on a scale.
But it’s a mixture of different aspects that make up true beauty. Physical attributes are only a small piece that plays a part in the means of being beautiful. Individuality and personality are also very important. In reality, everyone is different and we all carry something that signifies us from the rest. It’s up to you to decide what beauty you want to behold. Whether it’s surface beauty, deep beauty or even a blend of both, we are all beautiful and it needs to be embraced in the most pure way possible. Staying true to yourself, and not letting little flaws get to you is one way to obtain your special uniqueness. When people try to impress their peers around them, eventually they get tied up with all the details, developing life changing struggles, for example eating disorders which one may develop while watching their weight and trying to adjust to a new sociable group.
The key of it all is, to be yourself and become happy with the person you are inside and out, not only do you develop a healthier lifestyle emotionally, but you establish your true colors, which to me is simplicity, and by all means beautiful. Eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge eating, are caused by stereotypes and power struggles. “ Approximately 95% of people who suffer from Eating disorders are adolescents. Anorexia is a disorder where one may starve themselves and lose their appetite. One in every two hundred girls has Anorexia” (Tadeo). It is not necessarily a diet, but a psychological disorder where one continues to restrict the foods they eat.
It is the obsession of continuously watching your intake of food, which in all, is very small amounts. People with anorexia develop a distorted view of their body image and shape. Some behavioral signs that occur include depression, easy irritability, withdrawal from social events or family occasions, fatigue and loss of focus. One psychological sign that may come up is anxiety. The individual often feels constant worry and tension, and appears “ edgy” at some points while going through a dramatic change. Even more common than that, however, is Bulimia. Bulimia involves eating and purging, or even over exercising until one regurgitates.
Research says that “ three in every one hundred girls are Bulimic” (Tadeo). Bulimia is similar to anorexia. Accept the fact that with bulimia, one eats excessively then regurgitates or even over exercises to diminish weight gain. Bulimia is very dangerous and may lead to more compulsive disorders that are more difficult to keep under control. To be diagnosed with Bulimia, one must be purging regularly, at least twice a week for two whole months (kidshealth.
org). Most people who suffer from Bulimia purge by vomiting or taking laxatives. Anorexia differs from bulimia because people with Anorexia are usually underweight. Those with Bulimia, maintain at a normal level of weight, or may be overweight as well. Someone with Bulimia might make excuses to go to the bathroom immediately after eating meals.
This is a common sign to look out for. Other signs include dieting with only low calorie foods or constantly trying to burn off the things they’ve eaten. The last disorder is Binge Eating. Binge Eating is when one eats to find comfort. This disorder may lead to becoming over weight and unhealthy.
Binge eating, often leads to self- esteem problems due to the fact that you may gain a few pounds. Binge eating, isn’t just eating too much at a special occasion like a thanksgiving dinner, but consists of consuming unusual amounts of food everyday even when you become full. According to Kidshealth. org, “ normal appetite increases from time to time is normal. ” Although, when eating large amounts of food on a regular basis, usually in a quick pace while you’re doing something like watching television or finishing homework, indicates that you may be binging. Overall, the main point is that in general, all of these eating disorders links back to fashion. The world we live in today is advanced within its high tech industries. Media is constantly throwing the focus of having a “ Barbie like” appearance and how there is no other exception to this.
This creates a subconscious feedback from people, who then believe that society must live up to bodily standards that the fashion world projects. Unfortunately, after being tricked into this scam, many people go about it by developing life threatening eating disorders. Starving themselves and ridding their food anyway possible is how they try to adjust to these standards and it’s really taking a toll on many. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder (Crowther et al. , 1992; Fairburn et al. , 1993; Gordon, 1990; Hoek, 1995; Shisslak et al. , 1995).
These statistics show that eating disorders are continuously growing. For various reasons they continue to spread like a disease from person to person. The question is why has rates become so alarming? Why now? Fashion imposes that “ thin is in” (Clinical Nutritionist: Alexis Beck) and we are no longer worried about intelligence, but the size of ones self to estimate beauty. Eating disorders appear to be more fashion or trend rather than disease” (Alexis Beck). Many people don’t realize they have an eating disorder, and see it as being fashionable. Upon observation, I’ve discovered that these disorders are still breaking in the lives of young individuals in our community. Many teenage girls especially are affected.
However, the striking news about this is that not only are females highly affected, but there has been a growing rate of males who are beginning to experiment with eating disorders (Bulimia. com). Doctors discovered that boys are more obsessed not necessarily to lose weight, but retain a more muscular physique with little body fat. Some boys do this when playing sports or out of being bullied about their weight by their peers or even family members. Because of their obsession with fitness and building muscle, some go overboard and develop the typical concerns and beliefs of a girl who has an eating disorder; to establish a better appearance and build their self-esteem. Within girls, some of the reasons vary. For example, “ girls are more likely to watch their intake of food and diet while first experimenting ith an eating disorder” (ADD AUTHOR).
Although, there is no primary cause of how eating disorders came about, there are many theories that some experts believe to be true. Researchers have found “ between the ages of 13 through 17, many young teenagers develop eating disorders. ” (Tadeo).
During this time peer pressure, academic stress and puberty may all seem too overwhelming for some teens. In the result of not knowing how to cope with such changes, they may develop the mentality of not being in control of their personal freedom and even their bodies. During puberty it is extremely normal for a person to gain a few pounds. However, many can’t seem to understand this aspect and develop food phobias, becoming very fearful of their new weight (kidshealth.
org). Through personal observation, I believe that, even your peers can influence you to believe that the skinnier you are the better. I was once in cheerleading and someone told me that if I lost weight, I would get more attention from people and could become a better cheerleader. They basically told me that the skinnier I became the better everything would turnout. Through this experience, I learned that some of your closest friends may have the power to depict your opinion and engage you to the most dangerous and unhealthiest ways to losing weight. Many people are easily offended by the words “ You’re gaining weight”, and may do anything to change their perspective. People fear they’ll lose their attraction and will no longer be liked or noticed by people around them. Linking back to fashion, people perceive the same idea.
If they don’t wear the popular trends, people will not care for them. Recently, I had developed a fashion show dress code assembly. Within this assembly, I targeted teens at the Waianae Intermediate School. My purpose was to demonstrate that having sensible dress sense is important, especially when students are going to school or may have a special interview. I used several volunteers from the high school to demonstrate some comfortable fashion that’s suitable for high school students. As upcoming freshmen, I felt this was important to know. Through this show, I wanted people to recognize that you don’t need to draw negative attention to yourself to get noticed.
Dressing within your comfort zone and knowing that dress sense is important, is all that matters in the end. Size and body image shouldn’t interfere with self-worth. By using not only “ slender” participants, but a range of diverse people with different body sizes, I helped demonstrate this aspect. Unlike the media, I wanted to ensure that any size, big or small, can still be considered beautiful and have a sense of style. Without the needs of putting on less clothes and losing your self-esteem, anyone has the power to look beautiful, with no expectation to live up to other peoples standards. Upon having a target audience that consisted of upcoming freshman, I conducted a survey.
On this survey were two short answer questions 1) How did they feel about the presentation? 2) Do you think it’s important to stay in dress code? The answers I received were all pretty similar in comparison. The majority of the class really enjoyed the presentation and wanted to watch it again. They stated it was an interesting and fun way to show how to dress and what to expect in high school. Many enjoyed the fact that I showed two fashion attires, one casual and the other professional. It gave a better perspective of knowing what’s decent to wear on a regular basis and also helped the boys and girls to get ideas for professional attire, purposely for mock interviews or even scholarship interviews. I think most of them are confident and really enthusiastic about entering into high school based on all the positive feedback I was able to get. They seem like they understand that dressing appropriately is important.
Although some felt it restricted them from expressing themselves, they still understood the overall message of my presentation. All in all, the purpose of this fashion show was to promote through decent fashion. I wanted the upcoming freshman to see the dos and don’ts of fashion in high school. My goal was to show that you don’t need to dress less to impress, or have a certain body figure to look good in appropriate clothes. It all depends on what your perspective is of “ good fashion”. My job was to change the perspective of students who believed that drawing negative attention to yourself and using uncomfortable clothes is the best way to view fashion. Instead, I helped them to see that dressing comfortably is a much better option than trying to bring yourself down to fit someone else’s standards.
The fact that youth, are willing to view fashion any way their mind perceives it, gives them more of a chance to see fashion through being model like and dressing in ways that are very appealing. These are the most common ways fashion and media industries would show portray this negative statement. My way of trying to change this particular mindset of fashion, was by putting on this fashion show. I ensured that I did not use a particular group of highly fashionable yet ultimately slender individuals, but rather more of diverse people who are of all sizes and are not afraid to dress comfortably and still show their creative sense of style. My solution was simple; to set an example through upperclassman and their sensible feel of appropriate attire. I delivered a broad view of ways to dress without having to degrade yourself or bring down your self-esteem.
In so doing, I picked out outfits for models that brought stylish insight yet held decency. I managed to speak to an audience in my community providing them with good judgment and ways to help you reason your fashion so it’s fit for school or any important occasion. With my advice, hopefully next year, these soon to be freshman will distinguish what they’ve learned about fashion and put it to good use within our school and community. In essence, our future generations will establish a more positive reputation of Waianae High School, showing society that students are becoming better role models who are not afraid to show professionalism and maturity through fashion. With these achievements, students will also gain more self-esteem and will become more comfortable with the real image of which they view themselves. The whole idea of dressing within dress code was not only to prove that dress sense is important, but to show everyone that you don’t have to change your wardrobe to impress people.
More importantly, you should dress comfortably and be happy with who you are. There is no need to change your physical appearance by losing weight or dressing inappropriately. Beauty is not only about surface, but everything else in between, from personality, to intelligence and the values you hold in life. So be yourself and live to reachable standards rather than, living according to someone else’s.
