Sex in the News: Anorexia the Socially Transmitted Disease

March 6, 2012 4:30 pm     Posted in Health, News, Sex  Leah - Ryerson University g+ page


By Leah

By university, most ladies probably know someone who has battled with anorexia, bulimia or some form of an eating disorder. Though it’s not a gender specific disease, it is most prevalent in young women. Researchers from the London School of Economics recently did a study on eating disorders, finding them to be “socially transmitted diseases.”

This is the first ever economic analysis of anorexia and found that “social and cultural environment influences” influence young women to starve themselves in hopes of achieving what they consider to be the “perfect” body. The research is limited to Europe, but it did find that in countries where women are thinner, there is also a higher prevalence in eating disorders.

The economists also reported that they believe if the media reduces the mass imagery of tiny models or celebrities it could eliminate some of the social pressures women feel. They believe that governments should more carefully regulate the fashion industry — encouraging the regulation of models on runways and in fashion magazines.

It’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure it’s one designers would be quick to support. Though there has been a slight increase in models with above average weights in the modelling world, they’re still not always that much bigger. Maybe Ford Models signing Kaela Humphries (who’s a size 16-18) is a sign of things to come?

Have you ever battled with an eating disorder? Did it stem from social pressures, or something else?

Leah has her Bachelor of Journalism in sight with just over a month left at Ryerson University in Toronto. When she’s not working on the Ryerson Review of Journalism she’s baking tasty cupcakes and hunting for a job (hopefully that pays). Follow her @Elleandbee. 

[Lead image via Lisa A /Shutterstock]

4 Comments on "Sex in the News: Anorexia the Socially Transmitted Disease"

  1. Clare says:
    Tue, 6th Mar 20125:49 pm 

    I lost my best friend 3 years ago to complications from anorexia. Ever since she was first diagnosed at age twelve, I've been baffled by the all too complete blame the media is given for eating disorders. Yes, it can be a huge factor, and its impact varies case by case, but there are so many other factors in play as well. My best friend was terribly unaware of popculture; we grew up in a small town, neither one of us had cable, and she cared even less than I did about movies, magazines, and clothes. I have no doubt that the state of body image and expectations from society negatively affected her struggle, but I also believe it is the expectation of perfection as much as being thin that has a negative impact.

    This article really hits the nail on the head I think, and looks to social pressures as one of many factors resulting in unhealthy body image an EDs:
    http://open.salon.com/blog/the_beheld/2012/02/27/…

  2. Natasha says:
    Sun, 11th Mar 20129:44 pm 

    The picture that you've posted with the article is very triggering. As a recovering anorexic, I was very thrown off to be scrolling through your homepage and see this girl's ribcage. I know that I'm not the only college girl with eating issues, and if you changed this photo, you could help someone keep her mind off her waistline.

  3. pilgrimageofhealth says:
    Mon, 12th Mar 20128:49 pm 

    I developed an eating disorder from pressures within the modeling industry. It's not worth it, ever. I'd rather be happy, healthy, and beautiful than thin and miserable.

  4. AlyJade says:
    Wed, 29th Aug 201212:26 am 

    I second that last notion, pilgrimageofhealth. I developed an eating disorder last year, and I really lost myself. Looking back, I can’t even seem to picture that was ever me. No one 15, or any age, for that matter, should feel anywhere near that much pressure to be any certain way. It’s been about 4 or 5 months since I last threw up, and I’ve promised myself that I’ll never lose myself again. To anyone who’s facing body image insecurities, or an eating disorder: You ARE beautiful. “People judge based on appearance, but God looks at the heart.” Hang in there, guys (or should I say “gals”?)!

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