Young, innocent and naive girls are suffering because society tells them to have a specific look. If they think they are not of this “ideal beauty,” they develop unhealthy eating habits and disorders to achieve it. Research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, airbrushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem, and development of unhealthy habits in women and girls (media). The American research group, Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc., say that 1 out of every 4 college-age women are using unhealthy method of weight control, including skipping meals, over exercising, and weight loss pills. This is because they do not have the proper knowledge or understanding of dieting. To obtain the ideal weight they will go to great extents, even hurting themselves in order to be thin. They are exposed to these dangers because of the way companies choose to advertise their products. These companies fail to recognize the unintended consequences. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are two diseases that teens develop when they try to lose as much weight in the least amount of time in order to fit into oder to obtain “ideal beauty.” Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where food is avoided all together, whereas Bulimia is episodes of binge eating with foods labeled as “comfort foods” (sweet, high in calorie, smooth and soft) and then using inappropriate methods of weight control (purging or vomiting) (Powell). They believe either not eating at all or binge eating will drop them down five pant sizes. Not only that, but it will ultimately destroy their bodies. 150,000 women die each year from an eating disorder (social). Eating disorders, especially Anorexia, are associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide. The mortality rate of Anorexia is 20%, which is the highest of an psychiatric disorder (social). No matter their weight, the influenced teenage girls will always feel that they will never achieve the ideal form of beauty. As a result, they become frustrated. The young woman believe that they can never accomplish anything and convince themselves that there is nothing left to live for, ultimately taking their own life. According to an article in the 2003 issue of Teen Magazine, it was reported that 50-70% of girls with normal weight (proportional weight to their height) believe they are overweight. To them , the reflection in the mirror never changes. Even when they are underweight, the disease tricks them into viewing themselves as overweight. If a company using the thin ideal to advertise their product knew that it was having this effect on young women and teens, would they not think to change their ways?
http://www.medicinenet.com/images/Abanorex.gif∞ http://www.mesolooks.com/images/2.jpg∞ http://www.lib.umich.edu/aml/covers/dyingthin.jpg∞
Economics

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