Eating Disorders and the Media

Abstract

Body self-image is a major concern for teenagers. Pressure to emulate the American body ideal—ultrathin for women, muscular for men—comes from a combination of forces, with teens constructing their ideal body image through messages from family, peers, and the media. But do the media cause eating disorders? As with many aspects of media research, the answer is complicated, and this article discusses ways media may influence body self-image and eating behavior. Given concerns that negative body self-image may contribute to disordered eating, media education presents an opportunity to counter harmful messages and images on large and small screens and in the print media.