Eating Disorders Personal or Social Problem Essay

In todays society, there is much attention being given to the subject of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia; unfortunately it is because these disorders seem to be becoming more and more common. The question that remains is whether eating disorders such as these are simply personal problems of the individuals, or if they have become a social problem that needs to be addressed more aggressively. Having grown up in this society, I see this issue as a definite social problem. To say that these increasingly common eating disorders are personal problems, implies that the causes of them are personal as well, which I believe is not the case. A social problem is something that goes against societys goals and values; it would seem†¦show more content†¦The clothes have become so small, that girls who wear a size 6 have to buy tops in a size extra large in order for them to fit. A teenage girl who is a petite size 6, the size of some top models, is being told she is ext ra large, and therefore she cannot gain any weight because she will not be able to buy the clothes she likes anymore. This is just another way that our society tells young women they need to be smaller, even when they may be slender to begin with. Another way that the media is contributing to the increase in eating disorders is through the huge wave of fad diets, weight loss books, weight loss exercise machines, weight loss pills, and weight loss program centers. You cannot turn on a television channel without seeing a commercial for various methods of losing weight. The large majority of these programs, pills, and plans are ineffective in healthy weight reduction and only cause more problems for those who do need to lose weight. Also, those women who do not need to lose weight are made to feel as if they should. With so much emphasis put on weight loss, many women who are of healthy weights already begin to feel as if they too need to lose weight. If it isnt bad enough that the media only shows fashion models who are much smaller than most of the women in our society anyway, the new trend is for the images of these women to be digitally retouched and airbrushed so as to make them appear even smaller than they are in real life. Not onlyShow MoreRelated The Cause of Eating Disorders Essay591 Words   |  3 PagesThe Cause of Eating Disorders Although the causes are many and varied, we know that people with eating disorders often use food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. For some, dieting, bingeing and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and a way to feel in control of ones life, but ultimately, these behaviors will damage a persons physical and emotional health, self-esteem and sense of competenceRead MoreEating Disorders Among Teenagers And Young Adults1007 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough life everyday, and you might be surprised by the fact that at least one of your peers could be experiencing this. Eating disorders affect thousands of teens and young adults around the world, especially young girls just like you. They are serious emotional disorders that can threaten your self-esteem, your relationships, your health and maybe even your life. Eating disorders are among the most challenging conditions anyone can face, es pecially when that person refuses to tell anyone about itRead MoreStudying Human Behavior : How It Impacts Decision Making, And Vice Versa987 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested in how to solve conflicts on an international scale. I double majored in social policy practice because I wanted to approach problems from a policy standpoint, with the goal of creating large-scale solutions. However, during the course of my studies, two experiences shifted my focus away from human emotions, behavior and problems in the political and policy arena toward clinical psychology. In one of my social policy practice courses, I contributed to creating a peer-education programRead MoreSocial Media s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week866 Words   |  4 Pagesdoesn’t see that his ribs are so prominent it looks like the skin’s going to give way. All he sees is fat and all he sees is numbers. It’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, or it was. Countless of my friends posted on social media their own struggles with eating disorders, finally courageous enough to break the silence. Creative quotes or personal pictures were edited and intensified to show the ugly truth of the same perception Kenny has. Body image has been and likely will be a tough opponentRead MoreEating Disorders : The Forgotten Issue1302 Words   |  6 Pages Eating Disorders: The Forgotten Issue In today’s society, it has become hard for the average person to fit the high expectations and perfect mold that has been created by being connected to the internet. With the pressure so high, and competition so intense everyone is striving to become perfect to fit the mold. Eating disorders have become common in many people as a way to change their body image or gain more control over their life, caused by the stressRead MoreEssay on The Dangers of Eating Disorders795 Words   |  4 PagesThe Dangers of Eating Disorders How a person perceives their body is influenced by what it looks like to them and what it looks like to others. Our society teaches us through media and social pressure that body image is important. Feeling attractive is an important part of self worth and for many, feeling attractive means matching a certain ideal appearance. Most of us will never be able to look like this ideal, but the message we get is that we risk social failure if we do not tryRead MoreGeneral Education Requirement For Psch 2701410 Words   |  6 Pageslimit your answers to the space provided only (i.e., not on the back of the pages, etc.). NOTE: When defining concepts, do not use a word to define itself, as that does not show your understanding of the concept, e.g., do not use â€Å"personal† or â€Å"distress† to define â€Å"personal distress.† The assignment is due in class on Tuesday, 4/12. (24 pts. maximum) A. Defining Abnormal For each of the 3 definitions of abnormal below, first explain in your own words and in one-two sentences (maximum) what the definitionRead MoreLifespan Development and Personality Paper1065 Words   |  5 PagesLifespan Development and Personality Paper There are many factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personality development in an adolescent. Adolescence, as defined in the Webster dictionary, is the transition period from childhood to adulthood. It is a period that can bring various and drastic physical, social, and emotional changes. Adolescence begins with the onset of puberty and extends to adulthood. This usually occurs during the ages between twelve and twentyRead MoreNutrition Counseling Practices And Psychological Counseling1294 Words   |  6 Pagespsychological counseling skill (Snetselaar, 2009). Current nutrition counseling practices have expanded from an initial, brief hospital encounter that provides education into a more in-depth counseling discovery of dietary changes related to an individual’s personal situation and emotions through links of nutrition science, psychology and physiology. â€Å"Clients approach nutrition counseling sessions with mindsets about themselves and the world around them† (Snetselaar, 2009). With much of nutrition counselingRead MorePersonal Theory Of Psychopathology And Progression Of Pathology Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pages Personal Theory of Psychopathology Melissa Labbe The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Personal Theory of Psychopathology In discussion of my personal theory of Psychopathology I will include (a) the definition of psychopathology, (b) etiology and progression of pathology, (c) the implications of the theory of psychopathology for treatment, (d) the process of counseling and the roles the counselor and client play (e) the ethical implications of this theory of psychopathology Personal