The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents

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The media continues to send mixed messages to teens and younger children about what it means to be healthy. Fad diets, photo-shopped celebrities in magazines, filtered pictures on social media, popular music videos, and constantly changing “expert” nutrition advice are only a fraction of the many ways media has shaped a society solely concerned about looks, weight, and size. Studies show that eating disorder prevalence among teen girls has drastically risen over the past 50 years and continues to increase rapidly (Morris & Katzman, 2003). Furthermore, statistical evidence reveals that the average child or teen watches as many as five hours of television and views up to seven hours of other media sources per day (Morris & Katzman, 2003). Portrayal of the “perfect” or “ideal” body image is largely influenced by the vast amount of exposure to these media sources, leading to the willingness to try many dangerous weight-loss strategies to achieve the latest look.

In one study, almost half of the adolescent girls surveyed within a normal weight range described themselves as overweight, while 60% were attempting to lose weight (Morris & Katzman, 2003). Of 548 girls surveyed, and as young as grade 5, those who reported exposure to fashion magazines were two times more likely to be concerned with their diet and weight. Research reports that the media not only influences child and teen females, but also contributes to body dissatisfaction among young males. While the media portrays a slender figure for females, it also depicts a more muscular build for males (Morris & Katzman, 2003).

The influence of the media on young adults is significant because it occurs just as children are coming of age and developing a true understanding of themselves. Unrealistic standards of beauty fog the truth about the healthy ideal, not only hindering the correct nutrition education but also the self-confidence necessary to be comfortable in one’s skin. Health professionals should be aware of this growing influence and potential interventions such as media education programs in schools (Morris & Katzman, 2003). Additionally, with the media as such a powerful tool, it can also be utilized for health promotion and advocacy as preventative measures for at-risk populations (Morris & Katzman, 2003).

-KC


Morris, A., & Katzman, D. (2003, May). The impact of the media on eating disorders in children and adolescents. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792687/

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