Female Body Image and Anorexia.

Female body image and anorexia.

Research into health problems with anorexia

Malnutrition

Heart and muscle problems.

Research into skewed body image

Never see themselves as too thin.

Afraid to gain weight.

Research into future problems.

Relationship with food and eating.

Many young women suffer from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder, because they have a skewed body image and feel they are fat, even when they are dangerously thin. Society helps add to the stigma of being overweight, and society has created the feminine ideal of the "perfect" female body that is extremely thin. Young girls want to fit in with society, and so they develop eating disorders as a way to be perfect and fit in.

Anorexia Nervosa

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of female body image. Specifically it will discuss anorexia nervosa and the "perfect" feminine body. In most society, people look down on overweight people, and young women, who are the most prevalent victims of anorexia nervosa, know this, and they desire the "perfect" extremely thin feminine ideal. However, anorexia is extremely dangerous, and it can lead to numerous health problems, as well as a skewed body image and future issues with food and eating.

The course readings on anorexia show the disease is on the rise, and many young girls report some kind of eating disorders, when only 30 years ago, they were hardly known or talked about. There are a variety of cultural contexts regarding anorexia, from ideals about the female form to the girls' great need for control in their lives. Thinness also shows a triumph of will over the mind, and it represents the power to control hunger.

There are several health issues that can come from anorexia. Often, the blood pressure lowers and sufferers are often cold because they lose much of their body fat. Not eating enough can lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, and it can lead to a variety of other health issues, from dental cavities due to vomiting, to more dangerous health issues. Anorexia can put a strain on the heart and other organs, and there have been cases where people have died from anorexia, because their bodies could not handle the stress of the disease. Musician Karen Carpenter is a good example. The disease can lower the heart rate, and lead to potassium and other deficiencies, too.

The course readings and many other sources show that young women suffering from anorexia are suffering from a skewed body image. In most western societies, the ideal female form is tall and thin, sometimes extremely thin. When young women mature, they begin menstruation, but they also begin to form their curves. They gain fat in their hips and breasts, and sometimes in other areas, too. Many see these curves as feminine, but others see them only as fat, and the goal is to not be fat at any cost. They become obsessed with gaining weight, and will do anything to remain thin and ideal to society. They want to conform and to fit in, and so they turn to anorexia in an attempt to maintain a body image that is really far from ideal. In many cases, they cannot see their own image at all. Even when they lost startling amounts of weight, they still think they are "fat," and will not eat. It is very difficult to treat anorexia, because the girls simply equate eating with being fat, so it is difficult to get them to eat normal, healthy, and balanced meals. Most of the sufferers are women, most begin in adolescence, and most are perfectionists.