Eating disorders is a worldwide issue which effects over 24 million people each year (“ANAD”). The third most common eating disorders is Anorexia Nervosa (“South Carolina Department of Mental Health”). Anorexia is when an individual has a loss of appetite or does not eat at all, in order to become a certain weight. This disorder primarily effects adolescent girl. Society built this disorder, however, what has been created can be destroyed and prevented, in order to save the lives of those who succumb to it.

. It is followed by the characteristics of: not maintaining a healthy body weight, having a distorted self-image and being petrified to gain weight. 10% of people with eating disorder, receive treatment at a facility for it. The other 90% self-treat themselves, or grow out of it. If anorexia is not treated, it can become life threatening, from the lack of nutrients.

Society, has built this problem, through their unrealistic views on how a body should appear. Many adolescents, see their favorite actresses, models, or TV personals, with these flawless figures which they want to emulate. ANAD, Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, stated “47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures and 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body. Being “small framed” has become a fashion statement, a trend to this generation. This disease was first identified in the late 1600’s however in the 1970’s is when this illness was brought to life through journals and newspaper articles. “Anorexia Nervosa is a disease related to the culture we live in. This means the disease is most common in the Western world, and a lot is depending on the different factors.” Stated a writer from the history of anorexia article. It is proven anorexia is more prominent in developed countries, where we have more than enough nutrients and food to eat. A statement was made, saying, the reason anorexia is more common, is because people are getting less exercise so to compensate they eat less, which overtime can lead to compulsive disorder of anorexia. We all have a common knowledge on anorexia but we are conservative to the problem until it affects us personally. This is the reason, anorexia has sky rocketed over the decade instead of declined.

95% of Adolescents, between the ages of 12- 25 are the number one target of eating disorders, including anorexia as the top. This is because we are the most influential age bracket. With every generation the impact it has on kids keeps growing. Children are scared to become fat, starting from age 8. Almost half the children in third grade and under have said they want to be thinner. The impact of the media not only is affecting adolescents but preadolescents as well. How would a parent feel, hearing their five year old say they want to diet; something has to be changed.

Magazines, movies and commercials are a big impact of this unrealistic, unhealthy depiction of what being sexy/cute is. But, so does the words people say. Jokingly, people might say “you’re so fat, or what a fatty” to a friend who just ate junk food, or food relatively fast. There might be laughter than, but who knows what is going on in the mind of the individual. They might laugh but then they go home later and work out excessively, the next day, they might eat less, and then less, continuing a cycle to make sure they are never called fat again. Simple words like these cannot be used, when being fat is a taboo in this society, even if used jokingly. Many that suffer from this illness, are too embarrassed to say anything. So a step we as common people can take is using derogative words towards, friends, classmates, and our peers. Another step that can be taken is that of the media, they won’t change their ways, unless we protest against it or stop buying their products. Stated early, folks are conservative towards matters, until it affects them.

Anorexia nervosa, can be a disease, created by this generation and also destroyed. By learning about it and talking about more with our peers we will be become educated on the matter. We need to watch out words and our actions, and protest the companies that make being anorexic okay.