Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are on the rise, with cases doubling between 2006 and 2018. Unrealistic body ideals promoted on social media contribute to distorted self-perceptions and unhealthy relationships with food leading to severe physical and mental health consequences. The most at risk are teenage girls.
toxic body standards
When you’re constantly bombarded with ads promoting rapid fat loss and posts from clinically underweight influencers showcasing unrealistic body ideals, you may start thinking that if your own body does not fit these criteria, it should not be shown; that it does not deserve likes, and eventually that you are unworthy of love or respect.
Rising body dissatisfaction
In one study, researchers observing 180 teenagers found that 61% of girls and 25% of boys were actively trying to lose weight. Among them, 8 out of 10 believed they were fat, while only 2 actually were overweight. The constant social pressure to adhere to certain unrealistic beauty standards, paired with the shame of failing to do so, can eventually lead to anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating.
understanding anorexia
Anorexia is characterized by a distorted body image and an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. The disorder often develops in people who see themselves as “too big” or who associate their worth with their weight. As a result, they may refuse to eat, be obsessed with calorie counting, make themself vomit, or misuse laxatives to get rid of the food they ate before the body can metabolize it.
Some exercise so excessively that they end up hurting themselves. People with anorexia are usually underweight, and the lack of nutrients and constant deprivation leads to many health problems, such as weak muscles, sleep problems, or hair loss.
what is bulimia?
People with Bulimia typically hate their bodies, fear being too fat, and compulsively control what they eat. Eventually, they tend to lose control, and binge eat large amounts of food—often until their stomach hurts.
Guilt and regret often follow, and they try to compensate for the loss of control with purging behaviors – like vomiting, or using laxatives —often hiding it from family and friends. Over time, The cycle of gorging and purging messes with the metabolism, it can create an electrolyte imbalance, damage the heart and kidneys, and lead to tooth decay.
Binge eating disorder
Binge Eating Disorder involves consuming large amounts of food within a short period of time while feeling a loss of control. The behavior is often used to cope with intense negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness, or loneliness. And comes with feelings of shame, disgust, and self-hate—all of which can exacerbate the cycle.
Some studies show that up to 80% of people who are affected also have another mental condition—the most common one is anxiety disorder. Over the years, binge eating can lead to obesity, and associated health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea.
breaking the cycle
To limit a further rise, we can learn to appreciate more natural body types, promote media literacy and critical thinking, and introduce a legal minimum age for the use of social media. Because children especially, deserve to develop love and respect for their own bodies—in particular, if they are born with genes that make an ideal Instagram look impossible.
what do you think?
What about you? Have you ever had an eating disorder? And if so, was your trigger social media or perhaps parental pressure? Share your experiences and what helped you overcome your challenges in the comments below!
Sources
- Galmiche, M., Déchelotte, P., Lambert, G., & Tavolacci, M. P. (2019). Prevalence of eating disorders over the 2000-2018 period: a systematic literature review. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 109(5), 1402–1413.
- Dane, A., & Bhatia, K. (2023). The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people. PLOS global public health, 3(3), e0001091.
- Misra, M., Shulman, D., & Weiss, A. (2013). Fact sheet. Anorexia. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 98(5), 35A–36A.
- Hail, L., & Le Grange, D. (2018). Bulimia nervosa in adolescents: prevalence and treatment challenges. Adolescent health, medicine and therapeutics, 9, 11–16.
- Bulimia nervosa – Wikipedia.org
- Feng, B., Harms, J., Chen, E., Gao, P., Xu, P., & He, Y. (2023). Current Discoveries and Future Implications of Eating Disorders. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(14), 6325.
- Weight Loss and Weight Management Market Size, Share Global Analysis Report, 2022 – 2030 – Fnfresearch.com
Dig deeper!
- Read about current approaches on Eating Disorders
- Read about the association between social media use and eating disorders
- Read about emotional dysregulation in Binge Eating Disorder
- Read about how adolescents perceive their own body
- Read about how Teenagers control their body weight
- Read about how social media influencers also influence eating disorders
- Read about genetic factors in eating disorders
Classroom activity
Objective:
Students will explore the causes and impacts of eating disorders by analyzing factors such as social media, societal pressures, and genetics, and will reflect on strategies to promote healthy body image and prevent eating disorders.
Materials Needed:
- Sprouts Video on Eating Disorders.
- Case studies or statistics related to eating disorders (See Dig Deeper).
- Whiteboards or chart paper for group discussions.
- Markers, sticky notes, or pens for brainstorming activities.
Duration:
60 minutes
Steps:
- Introduction and Context (10 minutes):
- Ask: “What do you think contributes to the rise of eating disorders in today’s society?”
- Write down students’ responses on a board or chart paper.
- Summarize or read aloud Scenes 1–3 of the script, highlighting the increasing prevalence of eating disorders and the potential role of social media.
- Group Exploration of Causes (20 minutes):
- Watch Sprouts Video on Eating Disorders
- Divide into Groups:
- Assign each group one of the following topics to analyze from the script
- Social Media and Unrealistic Body Ideals (Scenes 4–8).
- Genetics and Predisposition (Scenes 20–23).
- Societal Pressures and the Weight Loss Industry (Scenes 24–28).
- Read the assigned section of the script.
- Discuss and answer these prompts:
- What role does your assigned factor play in the development of eating disorders?
- How does it interact with other factors?
- What examples or evidence from the script support your analysis?
- Write key points on chart paper.
- Presentations and Discussion (15 minutes):
- Each group presents their findings, focusing on:
- How their assigned factor contributes to eating disorders.
- Connections to other factors (e.g., social media amplifying societal pressures).
- Allow classmates to ask questions or share observations after each presentation.
- Highlight recurring themes across the presentations.
- Pose questions such as:
- “Which factor do you think has the most significant impact?”
- “How do these factors reinforce each other?”
- Solutions Workshop (10 minutes):
- Brainstorming Activity: Divide students into pairs or small groups.
- Assign the task: Develop strategies to prevent eating disorders and promote healthy body image. Consider:
- Education (e.g., media literacy programs).
- Policy changes (e.g., age restrictions on social media).
- Personal actions (e.g., fostering self-acceptance).
- Write ideas on sticky notes and post them on a shared board under categories: Education, Policy, Personal Actions.
- Class Debrief: Summarize the proposed solutions and discuss their potential effectiveness.
- Reflection and Sharing (5 minutes):
- Ask students to write short responses to these prompts:
- What surprised you the most about eating disorders?
- How can you personally help promote a healthier culture around body image?
- Allow a few students to share their reflections with the class.
- Conclude by emphasizing the importance of empathy and critical thinking in addressing eating disorders.
Assessment:
- Evaluate participation during group discussions and presentations.
- Assess the quality of connections made between the script content and real-world examples.
- Encourage thoughtful, evidence-based contributions during brainstorming and reflections.
This exercise combines critical analysis, collaboration, and solution-oriented thinking, helping students understand the complexity of eating disorders and explore ways to address them.
Collaborators
- Script: Jonas Koblin and Ludovico Saint Amour di Chanaz, PhD
- Cartoon artist: Pascal Gaggelli
- Producer: Selina Bador
- Voice artist: Matt Abbott
- Coloring: Nalin
- Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
- Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
- Publishing: Vijyada Songrienchai
