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Perla Hernandez

Ms. Figueroa

English

1 November 2018

Anorexia Nervosa

As the media rises, eating disorders also rise as the eating disorder is at any range of

psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Anorexia nervosa

is not only the type of eating disorder, there is many more; bulimia nervosa, purging disorder,

avoidant, restrictive food intake disorder, pica, rumination, and orthorexia nervosa. The first case

of anorexia nervosa was in the western nations when Queen Catherine was known for her

moments of starvation. She believed that she was not worthy of eating and starving herself made

her look more attractive. Affected by this disorder are females between the ages of 12 and 25.

Although it has been an issue for years, it has acquired more popularity in this generation

because of social media. Millennials do not see the issue with anorexia nervosa being constantly

popular in the fashion industry. The way the body looks has become a marketing technique that

only displays an incorrect message to their audience. If anorexia nervosa continues to be

normalized then many young females will start to malnourished themselves, thus making the

death rate of young females from the age of 12 and 25 increase. I believe that if there is no

change to this issue many lives will be lost. If I had the power to solve this issue, I would have

every school have a monitory class on this. Also, for the fashion industries to have bigger sizes

for models, and to moderate restrictions regarding their body weight or food intake on the thinner

looking models. Lastly, hospitals should make the rehab facilities look and feel like a household

environment where patients do not feel as if they are in a rehab facility. Since the media, fashion
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industries, and clothing lines normalize anorexia, society needs to invest more time in its

awareness because it is a real issue that many young adults struggle with.

Anorexia is not only a disorder, but it can also be inherited. Although traditional society

thinks that you can make develop the eating disorder it is proven that it comes from your

genetics. University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), a website that focuses on researches

on eating disorders and other medical things states, “Research suggest that certain area of the

brain function different with an active eating disorder” (Golisano 3). This means that a certain

part of the brain triggers the individual to not eat correctly. In a way you do make yourself not

eat, but it is the brain that triggers something in which it makes you not intake food. People with

certain types of chromosomes are likely to have an eating disorder. URMC states,” Research

results showed results of possible chromosomes 1 and 10 that appear to be significantly to

anorexia” (Golisano 3). Numerous victims are naturally born with these types of chromosomes;

it is out of their control. They do not get to choose what type of chromosomes they want to

obtain. All in all, chromosomes play a huge role in the development of an eating disorder.

Many young females are a victim of this disorder. According to Dr. Horne a therapist

who helped a patient struggling with this eating disorder. She talks about her experience with the

patient. People who struggle with eating disorders go to therapist for help and support, she states,

“She uses the time beautifully to absorb the feeling in the countertransference sadness, isolation,

the child who still hopes for a good enough totally in tune experience and whose only defense

against the pain of hoping for this is to turn.” Dr. Horne talks about how the girl would act with

her, she was out of this world; isolated by herself no one understanding. In some cases, teens do

not find comfort in their home to express these types of topics that Dr. Horne mentions. She

made the observation that the eating disorder can mostly be able to happen when an individual
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has a family with other types of mental health issues or the person does not get enough

“attention”. “… a brother who must have caused anxiety, parents whose professional lives are

directed outward at their own patients” (Horne3). A teen is fighting this eating disorder without

the support of her parents making her feel lonely. In not many cases, will the family members or

parents see the signs. In conclusion, being alone worsens the situation and could potentially leave

the victim emotionally unstable.

Social media also plays a major role when it comes to anorexia. Body shamers are known

to bully young female, for their body size. Gret Gleissner is a writer for Huffingpost, a web page

article that informs the audience how social media is a platform for body shamers to attach

young adolescents. Gleissner states, “Body shimmers use social media as a platform to talk

negatively about someone’s image and it strongly affects the emotional well- being of

individuals who already struggle with their relationship with food” (Gleissner 9 ). According to

this quote many young females are being bullied on social media for not having the ideal body

that many famous influencers or celebrities have. Due to peer pressure on social media and

bullying, anorexia has become more popular. “Individuals being to constantly compare

themselves to thin model, their peers, as well as famous social media users and being to feel

inadequate about their own self- image” (Gleissner 7). The outcome of many young females

seeing their favorite influencers and people on social media have thin looking bodies makes it

easier for them to fall into the desire to look thinner, thus making comparisons with their peers'

body. In conclusion, many young females are being characterized by their body image.

Society assumes that models do not struggle with eating disorders. Models and their

careers depend on their size and diet. Eva Musby, a writer for a website that talks about the

eating disorder anorexia on how fashion industries are with diets and figures of models. “Many
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models develop fears over becoming fat and losing their jobs… many models have been told by

their managers that they need to lose weight in order to keep working” (Musby 1). Models feel

forced to keep their body size in order to continue with their carriers. Managers also play a role

with shaming models by telling them what to eat and what not to eat. Anorexia on models affect

their health rascally. These are some things that can happen to a persons body if they were to get

the eating disorder; “Calcium deficiency, kidney stones, liver disease, interrupted menstrual

cycle… and many more are caused by anorexia”. Anorexia is not just making the person look

skinny it makes the person’s physical appearance look unacceptable. It also makes the person

depressed or have mood swings because of the malnourishment. Eventually, the body will not

have anything to eat, so that is when it will start to eat itself. The body will start to use muscle

tissue for energy because it needs fuel to be able to function. Not only will the body start to eat

the muscle tissue, but the person will grow more hair. The reason is since the body is so skinny

and does not have “fat” to keep the person warm it grows more so that the person is not cold.

Although, models depend on their size and diet they do not realize the harm that they are doing

to their bodies.

Those on the other side of the issue may say that having an eating disorder is normal.

Many fashion designers tend to go for small size females. Jim Edwards who is a writer for

business insider talks about how fashion designers would pick young and “natural” thin models

for their runways. Edwards states, “1985: Calvin Klein told WWD the reason why he liked Moss

who appeared on obsession ads through the 1900’s was because she was always thin” (Edwards

3). Calvin Klein wanted someone who did not have any cosmetics done on them; he wanted

someone who was natural in all aspects, including being skinny. Since many fashion designers

prefer skinny females the size of clothing started to get smaller. “Clothing models wear for ads
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and editorials spread-smaller and smaller, forcing the models who wear them to get thinner and

thinner” (Edwards 3). This type of action towards the models to makes them have to lose weight,

makes the models to choose between having a job or not having a job but being healthy, not to

mention the managers telling models what to say or do. To summarize, the pressure of being

skinny in the fashion industry makes it easier for an eating disorder to happen.

Never the less, my point still stands all though many might say that you can change your

eating habits and ignore the negativity. Some peers might still talk down on you by saying, “That

food is too greasy.” “Are you sure that’s going to help you stay in shape?” Millennials do not see

that when they tell someone who is struggling with this disorder, it triggers something in their

brain therefore making the person fall back into the disorder. Yet, it also comes from genetics, so

many people who struggle with this cannot help it. It is not their choice whether or not they want

to stop dealing with their disorder. Many do not see this to be wrong in the sense that they say

that it is better to be skinny than overweight, but in reality, what is the perfect size? Many say

that depending on the size it all matters but in reality, no one knows the perfect size is to be

healthy.

In the final analysis, society needs to be aware of the influences of disorders in the media

platform, anorexia is being normalized by the media, models industries, and fashion industries.

Anorexia nervosa can be inherited, the individual does not have the control on what

chromosomes are developed. There are many victims who are struggling with this disorder,

which affects the person's emotional well-being. Social media users who have anorexia nervosa

find it harder to an outlet. This issue can be solved in elementary schools before middle school to

make a monitory class for students to prepare for the real world, in elementary school not many

students are involved in social media. Their environment is mostly about family, friends and
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playing outside. They do not really get involved with social media. With that being said, it is

more covenant for a program to be introduced to them at a young age so that when they reach

middle school, they already have background knowledge and they do not struggle to get help.

Also, if they have the symptoms or are getting the bullied, they know what precautions to take,

this makes them more confident in their own body and for their mind.

Unlike the older kids like middle schoolers, they are already involved with social media

so it is a bit harder for them to be more confident in their body and not let words affect them so

much. The environment that they are in is a bit different from the elementary where social media

is mostly involved. With that being said, it is a bit harder for words not to affect teenagers from

that age group because they take things too literal, making it easier for internet trolls to make

them feels worse about themselves. If we can make this happen it would help reduce the amount

of eating disorders from happening, not only with eating disorders but also mental health. The

students will know what to do in case they are starting to feel the signs or if they are already

experiencing it, they know who to go talk to. Making it easier for adults to help the teen. All in

all, if schools make a class on preparing young kids for the real world as in social media it would

make the kids more confident in their body and their minds would not be too weak, so that they

would not take things to literal. Making it harder for internet trolls make them feel less about

themselves. This is also great for other mental health issues as well not just eating disorders, this

program can help teenagers and young kids so much so that when a scenario happens the know

how to take care of it. Without having the help of an adult if it's minor or without feeling less

about themselves.
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Word cited

“Anorexia Nervosa.” Welcome to URMC - Rochester, NY - University of Rochester

Medical Center, Golisano Children Hospital, 2018,

www.urmc.rochester.edu/?redir=urmc.rochester.edu.

Edwards, Jim. Three decades of Thin: How the Fashion Business Promotes Anorexia,

business Insider, www.buisnessinsider.com/three-decades-of-thin-how-the-fashion-buisness-

promotes-anorexia-2012-3.

Gleissner, Greta. “Social Media and It's Effects on Eating Disorder.” Huffingpost.com,

Huffpost, 2018, www.huffingpost.com/entry/social-media-and-its-effects-on-eating-

disorders_us_591343b0e3bb894d5caa.

Musby, Eva. “Anorexia Nervosa.” Anorexia Nervosa, 2018, www.mirror-

mirror.org/anorexiamodels.htm

Horne, Ann. “Clinical Commentary.” Journal of Child Psychotherapy, 2015,

web.b.ebscohost.com.

Bergese, Rebecca. “Clinical Commentary” Child and Adolescences psychotherapist,

2015, web.b.ebscohost.com.