What the experts say II

 

• From a more professional point of view I would like to analyze an article that I found on Battling Our Bodies, which stated that 63% of American women were not satisfied with their bodies and felt pressured and disliked by society because of weight which was the main identifier, and somehow wanted to change their appearance because of the pressure they felt on themselves from the society. Another research from the same page says that 86% of women were struggling with body image and wanted to lose weight. Many girls and women assume that there is something wrong with them and how their bodies look to others, when a person is not the “normal”, or “standard” size. “Women and young girls are now living in a society where their bodies define who they are. Girls are terrified to gain weight and are continually reminded by the media about various new diet products on the market, and the value in weight loss. They are also bombarded by countless television shows on plastic surgery and the number of cosmetic surgeries in this country are increasing every year. Women today face impossible images of beauty on a daily basis when they watch television, see a movie, or view a magazine.” (Negative Body Image - Understanding and Overcoming, April 2022). 

• With that come cases of extreme body disturbances which include eating disorders, depressions, or body dysmorphia. 

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health condition where people determine their “ugliness” by themselves. That means that a person spends a lot of time worrying about their looks and flaws based on their appearance and is always trying to find new ones to be worried about. Because they are looking at their bodies or faces for too long, they can actually create a false image of what they look like and they start to believe it, even though nobody can see those imagined flaws, except themselves. That is also one of the reasons why people go to plastic surgeries and have certain parts of their bodies improved.

• Another type of body disturbance is the condition Anorexia Nervosa, which happens when people have an extreme fear of gaining weight, even when they are completely underweight. They can't see themselves as beautiful or worthy of food, which is why they are punishing themselves for gaining weight. When left untreated, it can lead to damaged organs, especially the brain, heart, and the kidneys.

• Depression is also a very common condition for people who struggle with body image issues, as when people get depressed, they can see the world and themselves a little differently (worse), than they actually are and look. They tend to think of themselves as less attractive than they really are.

• Body image struggles is a topic not so much talked about not only in the media, but also in the real world, but what is even more important are these disorders, since they can cause serious issues for both the individuals' body, but also for the mental state of a person. If left untreated, the disease can lead to even more severe problems than “just” their organs failing. It can leave a mark on their soul for the rest of their lives, and this is why it is important to share awareness.

   

  
  
  

  Negative body image - understanding and overcoming. Center for Change. (2017, March 15). Retrieved April 28, 2022, from https://centerforchange.com/battling-bodies-understanding-overcoming-negative-body-images/