Why does every single girl on the earth at least once have a desire to be skinnier even

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Kevin Parsons
5 years ago
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1 Page 1 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia Increasing Adolescent Anorexia Why does every single girl on the earth at least once have a desire to be skinnier even though they really don't have to be? And why do they at least once say "I'm on a diet" or "I really wanna lose weight" when they are chatting with their friends? Is being skinny that important or such a good thing? Maybe it is. There are people who need to diet because they are obese, and weighing too much might cause them serious health problems. However, that is only a small number compared to the overall number of girls who say they want to lose weight, in the whole world. So why would they be so obsessed about being skinny? It is true that the adolescent years are the time when everyone tries to look good and imitate the ideal models or the TV stars. However, these kinds of girls tend to become anorexic, which is a serious social problem right now in the younger generation. In this essay, I would like to discuss why anorexia is a serious problem, and how important it is to have a healthy appetite. First of all, it would be important to understand what anorexia is. Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia happens to all kinds of people, young and old, female and male, but it often happens to the adolescent girls who keep thinking that they are fat. As a result, they keep on trying to lose weight even though the already have. They are convinced that they are overweight and have a strong fear of getting fat, so they develop the habit of dieting. They also develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of people or preparing a big meal for others while refusing

2 Page 2 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia to eat any of it (Mama's Health.com). Anorexics probably only get satisfied when they realize they are not eating as much as others. Interestingly, anorexic eating disorders are thought to be most common in people of higher socioeconomic classes (Mama's Health.Com), where people never really worry about not having anything to eat. So it can be said that anorexia is something psychological which cannot be controlled by medicine or drugs and can be only dealt with through mental care. The actual reason why people develop anorexia is not known, but anorexics probably think that they would be more successful and happier if they were skinnier (Family Doctor.Org). The question is where that idea comes from. Why skinny and not fat or muscular? This is mainly the influence of the fashion models or TV stars who are thought to be the most leading, fashionable people that everyone wants to be like. If people were asked what kind of image they have of models, most of them are likely to say that they are stylish, have long legs, a small face and are very skinny. There are not many chubby or fat fashion models in order to make the clothes look good. Moreover, popular TV stars usually appear very skinny and wear gorgeous dresses to emphasize the designs or details of the dress. The posters, magazines, commercials, and all those advertisements do not say it out loud, but they are obviously showing skinny is better than fat. The advertisements

3 Page 3 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia sometimes even fix models' bodies with computer graphics to make the body look more perfect. Models and TV stars are probably especially beautiful from the beginning, but they also get special treatments and have harder times than other people to keep themselves in shape. Yet not all the younger generation knows about that. Needless to say, when people are young, they have difficulty dealing with themselves. On one hand, they get tons of information about the leading fashions, the hottest looks, and the coolest attitudes, all of which comes from what they see in the actresses or models. They will talk with their friends about that, and they will try to imitate them to look better. On the other hand, teenagers are not old enough to see whether those models or actresses are made up images or close to reality. Some models and TV stars have a lot of cosmetic surgery to get those looks because those bodies and faces mean everything for their business. No wonder they are so perfect and people want to imitate them. However, everyone else will have to accept themselves as they are. This shows that it is quite dangerous for adolescents to be overwhelmed with information when many of them cannot accept themselves as they are. Anorexia among the adolescents is so serious that it has become a social problem, and

4 Page 4 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia is influencing the business world. For example, one of the most leading fashion-shows in Madrid stopped using underweight models in order to develop a healthier image of models. The show has started to use the BMI, the Body Mass Index, which is a calculation based on the height and weight, and if the number is too low, that model will have medical treatments offered (BBC News). Surprisingly, the BMI test makes about 30% of the models "too skinny" (BBC News). However, banning skinny models may also lead to discrimination against them. If they were born naturally gazelle-like, or if it is just the DNA that makes them skinny, there is nothing that they can really do about. Another problem is that there should be freedom for the designers, because in a way fashion is art. It is something that has the designer's image and spirit in it. Choosing a model must be a big part for them. Therefore, there will be further problems in banning skinny models. Although there are several problems in stopping to use skinny models, it is probably a good idea for now to use the models more close to reality. The most important point that needs to be considered is about the rights for the designers because skinny models, with treatment, can gain weight. Yet designers surely have their own image of their fashion and clothes might look the best with skinnier models. "Fashion is art" theory is very understandable, but as long as the adolescents try to imitate those leading fashions, there will be a large

5 Page 5 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia possibility of leading them to anorexia. Anorexia is a psychological problem, and needs to be cared mentally, teaching how they need to actually look at themselves be satisfied. If the fashion world, which the juvenile girls are most interested in, could help make youths think they are not fat by banning the too-skinny models, the chances of decreasing the number of anorexics will be stronger. All in all, it is difficult to decide what we want to give priority on teenage health or the rights of designers and the models. However, because anorexia is increasing and has become a social problem which influences the fashion world nowadays, it will be better if the designers try create the clothes that suit any kind of women. Women, especially adolescent females, imitate what they see on the catwalks. So the designers and the models must keep in mind that they have to ensure they are giving out the right messages. The adolescent girls also must learn that the phrase "Oh my god!! You are so skinny" is not always a complement. It is important to understand that beauty is developed by health, and it is very difficult to get better once people develop anorexia. Word total: 1285 References "Anorexia." Mama's Health.Com. 4 October <

6 Page 6 Increasing Adolescent Anorexia "Anorexia Nervosa." Family Doctor.Com. 4 May October < "Fashion Show Bans Skinny Models." BBC News., 20 September October < news/england/west midlands/ stm>. "Madrid Bans Waifs From Catwalks." BBC News. 13 September October < "Paris Fashion Week Kicks Off With No Plans To Ban Skinny Models." International Herald Tribute Europe. 1 October October <http // GEN France Fashion.php> "Skinny Models Banning Controversy Shocks Fashion World." Women Lifestyle. Fashion. Jiealth, Beauty and Personality. 13 September October < on-world/>

BODY IMAGE. Where do our ideas come from about how we should look? (ex. List sources you look at, people around you that influence you)

BODY IMAGE. Where do our ideas come from about how we should look? (ex. List sources you look at, people around you that influence you) BODY IMAGE What do we mean by the term body image? Where do our ideas come from about how we should look? (ex. List sources you look at, people around you that influence you) A is a measurement intended