When the media constantly bombards children and adolescents alike with messages about “ideal” or “perfect” beauty and uses movie stars, singers, and so on. underweight, then it is not difficult to ask yourself “Does the media influence anorexia in adolescents?” and comes back with a resounding “YES!” When children see these images on television, magazines, songs, movies, etc., it is no wonder that the rate of eating disorders among teens is increasing rapidly and now parents are feverishly searching for an answer.

Rather than blaming themselves, the media, and others, it is important to remember that some teens are more likely to have eating disorders than others, and some will develop anorexia or another eating disorder with or without outside influences, such as the media. communication or their peers.

But how does the media influence anorexia in teens? And how do we stop the effects of this negative influence? The media has for years focused firmly on the outward appearance or outward beauty of a person. In the days of Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth, women in the media were portrayed as beautiful and not “skinny.” This trend has changed in recent years, and now, unless an actress or model is thin to the point of practically being able to see bones, she is criticized for being “fat.”

The latest example of this trend is the recent return of Britney Spears: after giving birth to two children, she was ridiculed for wearing a skimpy outfit, because she was “fat.” The problem is that, although she had two children, she was far from fat, but the media criticized her for daring to show her “less than perfect” body on national television. With topics like this, it’s no wonder kids and teens are being bombarded with messages about what perfection is and how to “be” perfect.

When does the media influence anorexia in adolescents? If one realizes that television programming and magazines are designed specifically for teenagers, they will realize that it is extremely unusual, even rare, for an actor, actress, or other star to be “overweight,” or even of normal weight. . From pre-teens to mid-teens, teens are bombarded with messages, whether direct or indirect, about the need to be “perfect” and what is “perfect.”

If Marilyn Monroe or Rita Hayworth were present today, they would be labeled “fat.” What a twist and shocking example of how our society has lost the standards of beauty and “perfection”! Two well-known, absolutely beautiful, healthy-weight sex symbols and beauty icons would now be considered “flawed.”

The media influences adolescents’ self-esteem and self-esteem when they are constantly bombarded with what society now considers ideal and a distorted perception of what is “perfect.” To stop the negative influence that the media has on children and adolescents, it is a good idea to limit exposure to programs and magazines that damage body image and it is good to promote a healthy body image.

Promoting fitness and a healthy body and mind about appearance and beauty is important, and stay on top of your teen’s body image and self-esteem issues. If your teen seems overly concerned about his appearance, weight, etc., it is of the utmost importance to have him evaluated by a professional. It could be a matter of life and death for your teenager.