Collarbones and tiny, elegant wrists. Sinewy arms and flat tummies. Hip bones and defined cheekbones. Thigh gaps and delicate knees.
Beautiful, no? In contemporary culture, this image is an aspiration for many. But at what cost? The desire for perfection has left an estimated 20% of college females and 7% of college males battling an eating disorder (Johnson & Connors, The Etiology and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa, 1987). Even more perverse, social media has become a “thinspiration” outlet for users to spread self-destructive thoughts like wildfire. Blogs identified as “pro-Ana” (short for anorexia) and “pro-Mia” (short for bulimia) are synonymous to starvation tool-kits.
By romanticizing eating disorders and promoting negative body image online, young people are being bombarded by unrealistic beauty standards and distorted states of perfection. The result has been tragic. Deflated confidence and destructive behavior has risen exponentially amongst college students.
According to a Glamour magazine survey, 33,000 women revealed that they value thinness over success and love. Even more, 150,000 American women die each year from complications associated with anorexia and bulimia (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).
Reality check: Those collarbones and tiny, elegant wrists? How about brittle hair and yellow skin. Sinewy arms and flat tummies? Sure, but prepare for bleeding gums and blue-tinted nails, too. Hip bones and defined cheekbones? Don’t forget wobbly knees, memory loss, and inescapable chills. Thigh gaps and delicate knees? Try glazed-over eyes and clouded thoughts.
No one deserves this.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, reach out. And please, ladies: feed your body, nourish your mind, and practice patience.
Love yourself, always.
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