How might the proliferation of various media and the Internet affect the development of eating disorders in cultures not previously impacted by them?

Various media and social platforms are responsible for changing the socio-culture and developing various disorders.

It is proven that media and the internet influence the eating habit of an individual.

Advertisements showcasing thin body standards are luring the viewers in perceiving it as a beauty standard.

The young generation gets influenced by the celebrities portraying those unrealistic weight management ads and try to eat less and go on extreme dieting to lose weight to look beautiful.

Because of the online activities disorders like anorexia and bulimia have become part of the lifestyle to look like the defined beauty standards.

Therefore, media and online platforms influence eating disorders.

To learn more about eating disorders follow the link:

link

Answer and Explanation:

It is a fact supported by research that there is a genetic component to eating disorders. However, research has also shown that media, as well as other socio-cultural aspects in one's environment, also plays a significant role in the development of such disorders. Television, for instance - watched for an average of 3 to 4 hours each day - is constantly bombarding viewers with images of thin bodies while conveying the sense that those bodies are beautiful and desirable.

If that weren't inspiration enough to lead susceptible people, especially teenage girls, to start dieting or even controlling their weight through more extreme measures, TV also exploits the pain of those who are not in shape. Shows that display torturous routines and procedures that lead to weight loss are abundant. All of that contributes to the idea that thin is good, fat is bad,

We must also remember that TV has ceased to be the only means for people to have access to such ideas. The internet has proved to be a prolific arena for "thinspiration." Websites and forums preach and motivate internet users to develop eating disorders. It may sound extreme, and we might think they are only promoting dieting and exercising. Unfortunately, however, disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are indeed defended as a form of lifestyle at such online environments. Research has shown that they lead to a lowering in self-esteem. People who access such sites tend to reduce their caloric intake.

Therefore, the connection between media and the development of eating disorders is, sadly, clear. As more and more people get access to the internet, pro-eating disorder messages are now spreading to places where, previously, people were culturally protected from them, so to speak. A study has shown that, prior to 1995, Fijian girls did not seem to feel the need to diet or to resort to extreme measures to lose weight. Three years later, after being exposed to Western TV shows, 69% of Fijian girls were dieting, and 11% were inducing vomit.