If you have ever judged someone by their size, did you stop to think, “maybe they already struggle with their body image, or even an eating disorder?” According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, regardless of their size. Eating disorders may become fatal if not treated in time. 

 

Some eating disorders include (Aware, n.d.):

Anorexia Nervosa

Partial or total abstinence from food

Bulimia Nervosa

Engaging in a cycle of bingeing and purging

Orthorexia Nervosa

Obsession with eating what is perceived to be ‘healthy foods’

Binge-eating Disorder

Bingeing excessively with periods of uncontrolled, impulsive and continuous eating to the point of being uncomfortably full

 

Symptoms of eating disorders may be ignored if the patient is of a heavier weight and/or larger in size. Additionally, the beauty standards which society imposes makes it even easier for people, especially women, to develop an eating disorder (Morris, 2003).

 

Social media plays a huge role in the perception of our bodies and this is shown especially in impressionable young girls. The notion of “skinnier is prettier” is constantly being shoved down our throats. With k-pop trending even more than ever, the influence that Korean idols have on teenagers’ body image and self-perception are paramount. Korean idols are held to unrealistic standards, and are promoted as having the ideal body. Looking at your idol’s body on the screen and comparing it to what you see in the mirror is detrimental to your body image.

Recent research has also found that individuals who compare themselves and others whom they consider more attractive in terms of physical appearances, such as models or celebrities, tend to have higher risks with body image issues and the development of eating disorders Prolonged exposure to social media and its toxic beauty standards has been found to normalise the notion of being at an unhealthy weight (Jiotsa et al., 2021).

 

Eating disorders have devastating effects on one’s physical and mental health (HealthXchange, n.d.): 

  • Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about eating
  • Excess hair on face, arms and body (body’s attempt to be warm), 
  • Sleep disruption, 
  • Mental fuzziness
  • Anal and bladder incontinence, 
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Making judgments and choices that are illogical and irrational because they do not/ cannot weigh priorities as a result of changes in the brain associated with under-nourishment, binge eating and purging

 

Here’s a reminder that what you see on the internet can be largely curated and edited. Having and maintaining a healthy relationship with food, along with a healthy weight is important for both your mental and physical health (Brelet et al., 2021). It is also important to remember that someone may be struggling with an eating disorder regardless of their weight, and the main goal is recovery.

 

References:

Aware. (n.d.). Eating disorders. Retrieved from https://www.aware.org.sg/information/eating-disorders/ 

Brelet, L., et al (2021). Stigmatization toward people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder: A scoping review. Nutrients, 2021 13(8), 2834. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082834

HealthXchange.sg. (n.d.). Eating disorder complications: Medical risks, psychological effects and social impact. HealthXchange. Retrieved from https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-complications-medical-risks-psychological-effects-social-impact 

Jiotsa, B., et al (2021). Social media use and body image disorders: Association between frequency of comparing one’s own physical appearance to that of people being followed on social media and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 2880. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062880 

Morris, A. M., & Katzman, D. K. (2003). The impact of the media on eating disorders in children and adolescents. Paediatrics & Child Health, 8(5), 287–289. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/8.5.287

National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Eating Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders