Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Erick Linares
Critical Analysis: Week 4
Dr. Rekers
Introduction to Psychology
20 April 2011
Critical Analysis: Week 4
Eating disorders have become common in the United States, as well as all over the world. People tend to deal with dieting, exercise, and a wide range of other options to try and lose weight, and sometimes those habits can spiral out of control. In the medical field, eating disorders are viewed as illnesses that are connected to a change in eating behavior, harsh body image distortion, and an obsession with the watching of weight. There are three common types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.   “Victims of anorexia are mostly adolescent females; they suffer devastating weight losses from severe, self-inflicted dieting.   Bulimic persons gorge on food, then vomit or take laxatives to avoid gaining weight” (Coon 296).   We know eating disorders may cause body image distortion but what psychological reasons cause people to develop eating disorders? What psychological effect does having an eating disorder cause?   Do the media take part in the cause of eating disorders?   Is having an eating disorder a reflection of self-esteem?
The media plays a huge part in our daily lives.   We often look to the media to find what is in style, what is the new trend, what is the next cool thing out.   We also look to the media to define our definition of beauty.   Have you ever wondered why they place the tabloids and magazines at the register when you go to grocery stores?   It is no coincidence that the images of skinny women in bathing suits and skinny celebrities are placed in front of you when you are idle and waiting in a shopping center line.   The media knows that their biggest audience is the woman grocery shopping for her family.   The media targets women to believe that being extremely skinny is what is beautiful; and to think that if you are bigger than a size zero dress size you are not beautiful....