Photographer : Thomas Raggam |
"I put some milk in a bowl and on a spoon, and crushed a cereal flake in it, so I can tell my dad I had cereal and ain't hungry when he gets home" Kaz, 15, England (My Ana/Mia Diary, 2005).
Most of us know we should be happy with a body of any size or shape but all the celebrities on TV and in magazines still seem to be thin. Some of us were teased for how we looked as kids or teenagers and this has made us feel bad about our bodies. Now we're tuning in to watch extreme makeover shows where normal people get to have their dreams come true—they have plastic surgery to change the way they look.
Our attitudes to body image have changed over time and they're different for different cultures. It seems that right now in the Western world, if you're not thin, you're not in. Some of us learn to love our bodies no matter what unrealistic standards are set for beauty, some of us don't.
What is the issue?Watching what you eat to maintain a healthy body weight is different to having an eating disorder. Approximately nine out of ten young Australian women have dieted at least once in their lives and they'll probably continue to do it (Better Health Channel, 2005). Eating well and keeping fit are measures of self-control and it's easy to admire someone who stays in shape. But some 80% of women and 45% of men say they're unhappy with their bodies (Williams, 2005).
Anorexia Nervosa is when someone limits what they eat to lose weight. They develop a fear of putting on weight and get so thin they risk their health. Bulimia Nervosa is when someone binges on high-kilojoule foods and then tries to make up for it by over-exercising, vomiting, or going on a strict diet. Bulimics often eat only in secret and feel ashamed and out of control. Other eating disorders include Compulsive Overeating Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Reach Out!, 2005).
Another worry is that the fight against obesity may lead to more victims of negative body image and eating disorders. Public health campaigns try to encourage obese people to lose weight by promoting the benefits of eating less and exercising more. Some people may take these messages the wrong way and risk their health by under-eating and over-exercising to the extreme.
Who does it affect?Ninety per cent of letters to Dolly magazine are about appearance and almost all are from teenage girls (Stephen, 1998). Think about it: how often do you hear girls getting complimented for being pretty or being envied by their friends for having lost weight? It happens a lot. They're not told nearly as much that they're smart or funny or kind.
For girls, attitudes to body image can change at different times in their menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. Some women feel they can't stay beautiful as they get older and try to hold back the ageing process. Our society is putting increasing pressure on women to stay young, promoting the benefits of plastic surgery and products like anti-wrinkle cream and hair dye. If a woman has a negative view of her appearance it's likely to affect her self-esteem and sexuality (Jean Hailes Foundation, 2005).
But it's not just women who are dealing with body image issues, men are now more concerned with the way they look. Around 17% of Australian men are dieting at any one time. Gay men and athletes are particularly vulnerable to poor body image or feeling insecure about their bodies (Better Health Channel, 2005).
Where is it happening?Seventy-six per cent of Australians are dissatisfied with their body (The Butterfly Foundation, 2005). It seems strange that eating disorders are mainly a problem in developed countries where there's no shortage of food. Some people in USA, UK and Australia are battling obesity and others are starving themselves to death.
The impact of eating disorders can be seen online. There is debate as to whether or not pro-anorexia and bulimia websites should be allowed on the net. These websites use the girls' names Ana and Mia when referring to anorexia and bulimia and claim to be support networks for people with eating disorders. Regular visitors to these websites are encouraged to wear red beaded bracelets so they can identify one another as having 'ana' or 'mia' when they're out in the real world.
Pro 'ana' and 'mia' websites offer 'thinspiration' (photo galleries of very thin models and celebrities) and 'food porn' (photos of delicious, fatty foods to satisfy hunger just by looking, not eating) to their visitors. One pro 'ana' and 'mia' website has a section listing 57 reasons for staying thin, including: "People who eat are selfish and unrealistic. Nothing can't be fixed with hunger and weight-loss. Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Eating is conforming to everyone else's expectations" (Fading Obsession, 2005).
Why is it happening?"400 to 600 advertisements bombard us everyday in magazines, on billboards, on TV, and in newspapers. One in 11 has a direct message about beauty, and that's not counting the indirect messages" (About Face, 2005). And, we see it everywhere. The physical appearance of a person seems to be valued more than their personality. From competitions like Miss World where girls are judged on how they look in a swimsuit, to dolls like Barbie, who has an exaggerated hourglass figure, society is creating and reinforcing a desired body image that is unachievable for most of us.
In August 2005, a Victorian parliamentary committee recommended banning magazines and newspapers from publishing photos of stick-thin models (The Age, 2005). There is a strong argument that these images have a negative impact on young girls' attitudes to their appearance and weight, and their sense of self worth. But then some people are naturally thinner than others, as Australian model Sarah (O'Hare) Murdoch pointed out: "who's to say what is too thin? I'm naturally this body weight. I don't think I'd like to be told I'm too thin" (Briggs, 2005).
How do I know this?About Face,
http://www.about-face.orgBetter Health Channel 2005,
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.auBriggs, G 2005, ‘For the record’,
The Big Issue, No. 236, 20 August.
Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria,
http://eatingdisorders.org.auJean Hailes Foundation,
http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/issues/em_body_image.htmMakayla's Healing Place,
http://www.makaylashealingplace.comStephen, S 1998, ‘Fat is (still) a feminist issue’,
Green Left Weekly, 11 March.
Williams, J 2005,
50 facts that should change the world, Icon Books, UK.
Reach Out!,
http://www.reachout.com.auThe Age 2005, ‘Stick-thin is yesterday's look in new push to foster a healthy body image’,
The Age, 10 August.
The Butterfly Foundation,
http://www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.auYouthSCAN,
http://www.youthfacts.com.auAffected by this issue yourself or know someone who is? Check out our sister site http://www.reachout.com.au
