Eating Disorders
...t that so many young children are becoming obsessed with dieting and their weight? I feel that it is because of society’s constant message about the importance of being thin. These statistics haven’t gotten any better because of the fact that we as a society look at TV and magazines hoping to one day look like what we see. We also send our children the wrong message about self image by buying them unrealistic toys like Barbie. In March of 1956 Barbie was “born.” She had a ponytail and curly bangs and was clad in a knit bathing suit with black and white strips, gold metal hoop earrings and high heels. She was eleven inches tall and an adult. A countless number of little girls modeled themselves around Barbie. Barbie portrays a wrong self image for young girls. Actually Barbie’s proportions are not humanly possible if she were a real woman she would have to grow to be seven feet tall. She would have a bust that was between 38-40 inches, her waist 18-24 inches, and her hips 33-35 inches. If she were a real person, Barbie would probably weigh around 110 pounds. This image has been portrayed since the early 1950’s and they look at her and feel that all should look like her. Therefore they become afraid of being any different so they develop illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia. People who are anorexic people tend to starve themselves. No matter what their actual weight, anorexic consider themselves fat. This leads to shrunken organs, bone mineral loss, low body temperature, low blood pressure, slowed metabolism, and an irregular heartbeat which can lead to cardiac arrest. Anorexics usually strive for perfection. They set very high standards for themselves and feel they always have to prove their capability. They usually put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. A person with anorexia may also feel the only thing they have control over is the area of food and weight. Normally they feel powerful and in control when they can make themselves lose weight, and they feel that focusing on calories and losing weight is their way of blocking out feelings and emotions. For most, it is easier to diet then deal with the problems directly. They usually have low-self esteem a...