Relation between Women in Advertising and
Eating Disorders in Young Girls
“One study found that 47% of the girls were influenced by magazine pictures to want to lose weight, but only 29% were actually overweight. Research has also found that stringent dieting to achieve an ideal figure can play a key role in triggering eating disorders.” () Women become increasingly aware of their bodies as they get older, especially with the constant awareness of media advertising. Studies have shown that 90% of eating disorders are from young girls who experience the pressure to fit society's ideal of “beauty.”() “In a culture that cuts off women from many of their own possibilities before they barley have had a chance to sense them, that pain belongs to all women.” () The media is a very powerful influence that impacts young women’s development negatively. Ultimately women are becoming more objectified, sexualized and expected to fit the beauty standards. With young girls facing these great obstacles of beauty standards result in bad habits leading to eating disorders.
There are several ways to interpret eating disorders for the purpose of this essay, the following terms are defined; any of several psychological disorders (such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia) characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior. (Merriam Webster’s online dictionary) Eating disorders happen as a result of severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as unhealthy reduction of food intake or extreme overeating. These feeding patterns can be caused by feelings of distress or concern about body shape or weight, and they harm normal body composition and function. A person with an eating disorder may have started out just eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual, but at some point, the urge to eat less or more can spiral out of control. (American Psychiatric Association) With having many different definitions for eating disorders American Psychiatric Association has the best definition that fits this essay perfectly.
Advertising for
Eating disorders have had a significant influence in the current public health where health complications have been on the rise among individuals. Women are highly influenced by eating disorders which needs to be considered effectively. Women pick their best images and use in advertising which has a huge impact on their followers on social media. In 2014, Always came out with an ad campaign called “#LikeAGirl” where they took young ladies under the age of 14, and adult women to see how they interpret the phrase “like a girl”. There was a stark difference- the kids viewed the phrase in a positive light, meaning that they could do whatever they want if they do it “like a girl”, whereas adult