“Eating disorder” is a term that we learned in middle school health class.
We were all tested on anorexia and bulimia, and only learned enough information about the diseases to pass the test and move on with our lives. What we weren’t tested on were the multiple forms that eating disorders come in, or how they begin. Many of us also hadn’t learned in depth about negative body image as a whole. Our young selves didn’t consider the fact that these disorders could actually happen to us.
In my teenage years, I felt the strong urge to be accepted by others, and much of my confidence came from this.
I got into the Charlotte modeling industry, which was supposed to be a fun hobby to help boost my self-esteem. Instead, professionals within the industry began to tell me to lose weight and tone up. They also compared me to famous models, and other local models in my region.
Looking back now, I recognize the fact that I was not overweight in the slightest bit.
But when your body is constantly being compared to others by adults and you have to try your hardest to look good in every piece of clothing you try on, it’s hard to be happy with your body. Although the “typical model body” is what many strive for, the modeling industry is not the only cause of low self-esteem. Many girls continue to compare themselves to other girls on social media every single day. If you are constantly seeing photos of “fit” girls who are in your own age group, your self-confidence could easily take a nosedive. You may find yourself wondering why you don’t look like that, or how you could. You may begin to doubt your figure when you never worried about it much before.
There are many ways to deal with negative body image, but drastically changing your eating habits is not the healthy or smart resolution.
After trying to hit the gym in a healthy routine, I was not seeing the results that I anticipated. I was getting frustrated with not looking like the seemingly perfect bodies on social media. This frustration drove me to the beginning of an extremely unhealthy physical and mental condition.
I began to drastically eat less, and the results made me feel better about myself – but only at first.
I didn’t even need to go to the gym! I’d typically eat one meal a day and maybe a few healthy snacks, chased with bottles upon bottles of water to suppress my appetite. Some days, I’d try to push my limit and not consume any calories at all. However, after a few days of this “diet”, a long lasting headache and tensing in my stomach began. The weight was creeping off, but I felt myself getting sick from the lack of nutrients and dizzy from the lack of energy.
I found myself asking, “Is making myself miserable worth the few extra pounds that may be lost?” ABSOLUTELY NOT!
My friends and family worried about me, I sometimes worried about myself, and my mental health struggled immensely. Others who have struggled with eating disorders may understand how it feels to be stuck in the repetitive cycle of trying to look like an unattainable goal, and giving more than you can afford in attempt of gaining a perfect body. It is emotionally and physically draining.
Many young adults struggle with negative self-image and more struggle with eating disorders as one may think.
When frowning upon yourself in the mirror after scrolling through one of the “perfect girl” Instagram models who recently took photos at the beach, it is extremely important to take a step back from your phone and remember that photos can be edited, everyone has different body types, and almost all of the people you are comparing yourself to have their own insecurities as well. Everyone struggles with their self-image sometimes; you are not alone in that. It may take time, but accepting your body type is an important step towards self-confidence.
After realizing these things, look in the mirror and pick out what you love about YOU! Next time you are beginning to feel any sort of frustration with the way you look, pick out three things that you are proud of, and focus on those. Taking time to appreciate what you like about your appearance could lessen the chances of an unhealthy habit forming.