This generation is obsessed with how many calories their body is taking in everyday, what kind of food they are letting themselves consume and how much of it they do consume. This causes eating disorders, which is common amongst college-aged females. What they don’t know is that starving themselves isn’t the answer to the body they are looking for; eating healthy and exercising in good proportions are what helps to maintain a well-being.
Many girls look in the mirror in the morning and thinks to themselves: “I’m too fat”, “I need to lose some weight” or “I’m not pretty. “ It’s a problem girls have been dealing with for a long time. But starving themselves to look like the models on the front of a magazine isn’t the answer to looking beautiful.
This poses as a challenge in our society because of the media that continuously tells women that skinny is what’s in. A society full of relationship, school and family problems all lead to stress which lead to not eating. These stresses, which college students are immune to on a daily basis, don’t just lead to an eating disorder but can lead to depression, anxiety or low self-esteem.
Just in America, it is estimated that 8 million people have an eating disorder- seven million women and one million men (yes, men go through the same problem girls). Of those with eating disorders, one in 200 American women suffer from anorexia, and two to three in 100 American women suffer from bulimia. Just because you personally don’t have an eating disorder, nearly half of Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder. You may not be dealing with the disorder yourselves, but a close friend or family member may and the best thing you can do is help!
Eating disorders aren’t as easy as people feel they are to handle. It is an on-going challenge that individuals have to deal with and they could always use loved ones to help with that extra push to move forward. There are many reasons out there why girls would contract an eating disorder, but one of the most common causes is the peer pressure and idealized body types seen in the media (for example, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show).
Women (and men) should want to be happy and successful in life, but to feel this way you must love yourself including your body inside and out. College is just one obstacle you will have to master, but you shouldn’t let it win. Why let stress take over your life and let it infect your body with a disease that could most definitely kill you? You can fight!
The media is the key enemy here, ladies. Since the rise of the media’s spotlight highlighting many skinny bodies, a trend has started. Women everywhere compare themselves to models in magazine ads and TV commercials. Women often think to herself “Why can’t I look as thin as her? She is so beautiful.” News flash ladies: she may be beautiful, but is she healthy? No! You are what you are, beautiful, so why do you want to drain yourself of it while beating the life out of yourself through an eating disorder. Here is the simple solution to the media. Simply cut down on watching TV so you wont see the commercials, throw out your magazines and love yourself. I know you can’t cut media fully out of your life because it is what our society is based on, but minimize it to train your brain that you yourself are fine just how you are.
Now, no one said you shouldn’t exercise and eat healthy; you just have to do it in a healthy, non-obsessive way.
Simple tip of the day: Calorie counting is not worth it. Don’t waste your time keeping track of how many calories your body has consumed because it can lead to some serious problems. Instead, when you’re out getting food to eat or make state to yourself did I have something from that food group today? Did I have too much bread earlier? This is an easy way to stay healthy.
Compliment yourself. Dedicate one positive compliment to yourself everyday. Also compliment others, like your girlfriends. Exercise to feel good, not to lose weight. Exercise is one of the major reasons why college women stress; they feel the need to work out until they can’t work out any longer. They want that slim look that will make the boys stare, but ladies is that really worth your health? Incorporate exercise into your daily routine; do not push yourself to go work out especially when you’re not feeling well.
Be Happy. Believe in yourself and be who you are. Don’t try to change your body size, look and feel for others. Stay healthy and stay beautiful!