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Bonni Miles
Dr. Cassell
English 1201.500
21 March 2021

How do social and cultural factors influence eating disorders in young people, and why are
young women more easily influenced than young men?

How the effects of social and cultural influences aid in the development of eating disorders in
young people, and why young women are more easily influenced in young women than young
men

Eating disorders are on the rise, especially in adolescents. We live in a society that

idolizes beauty. The messages that are sent by social media, magazines, television, and movies

tell young people that you need to look a certain way, wear certain clothes, eat certain foods, and

live a certain lifestyle in order to be beautiful and happy. These messages give a false narrative

that “fat = ugly” and “skinny = beautiful.” Do these messages drive young people to develop

eating disorders? How and why do these social and cultural factors effect young women and

men? Are these messages unconsciously ingrained into the minds of the youth?

The image of what society deems to be a perfect female body is constantly changing over

time. From the 1500’s until the early 1900’s the corset ruled the day. The corset was used to

tighten the waste and elongate the female figure. In the 1950’s curvy bodies were idolized as

being the most beautiful and thinness was not considered attractive. Flash-forward 70 years to

2021 and ideal body image appears to be thin with a small waste and an accentuated bottom. The
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real question is not what the perfect female body is, it is why are women’s bodies so often

scrutinized and critiqued on what is considered to be the perfect body?

Why are young women so easily influenced? Why do they seem to be the easiest targets?

Studies done by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) show that 0.4% of young

women and 0.1% of young men will suffer from anorexia. Studies also show that 1.0% of young

women and 0.1% of young men meet the criteria for bulimia nervosa. A study performed in 1994

suggested that “weight control behaviors among young girls are modeled partially on their

mother’s behavior” (Marcos, et al ). This informs us that young women are very impressionable

and tend to copy the behavior of those around them, especially female relatives. Another study

also found that middle school aged girls frequently discussed weight and dieting with their peers

more on average compared to young boys.

How do television and social media play a role in eating disorders? A study shows that

the average child in the United States watches around 20 hours of television per week (AHA)

and approximately 23% of the female characters in children and teen shows are underweight,

while the male characters are depicted as strong and powerful. Another study performed by the

AHA showed that teenagers spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes a day using their mobile

device and more than 70% of teens visit at least one social media platform every day. The

American Academy of Pediatrics states that a study shows that each hour on social media was

linked to a 62% higher risk of binge eating disorder (Morava and Willingham). The countless

photos of celebrities and models and now the new “Instagram model” are what young people are

aspiring to look like. In 2018 a study compiled by Ghost Data showed that 9.5% of Instagram

accounts are fake (Williams, Robert). The television shows and social media accounts that
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adolescents are being subjected to are portraying a very unrealistic fantasy version of what they

are supposed to look like.

On the other hand, there are many studies that show that genetics play a bigger role in

eating disorders than outside influences. In a letter sent from Dr. Thomas R. Insel, the director of

the National Institute of Mental Health, to the chief executive officer of the National Eating

Disorder Association (NEDA), Insel states that “Research tells us that anorexia nervosa is a brain

disease with severe metabolic effects on the entire body. While the symptoms are behavioral, this

illness has a biological core, with genetic components, changes in brain activity, and neural

pathways currently under study” (Johnson and Bulik). Many studies performed showed that

certain eating disorders such as binge eating appeared to have a substantial genetic component

showing that these disorders run in families (Bulik and Treasure).

Some sociologists believe that personality traits such as neuroticism and perfectionism

play a large role in facilitating some eating disorders, particularly anorexia and bulimia.

Research done by the Human Genome Project in 2003 (Bulik and Treasure) suggests that these

traits are partially driven by a person’s genetics. Thus, linking eating disorders back to our DNA.

Psychologists and other clinicians have noted that people with eating disorders lack important

coping skills and eating disorders are used in place as substitute for these skills.

A common misconception that those with eating disorders are seeking attention can be

easily debunked when you look at the statics and research showing how many young people

suffer from them. Research points to many factors that contribute to eating disorders, especially

in adolescents. There is more to eating disorders than just inherited genetics and personality

traits. Social and Cultural factors play a very big role, especially as we advance in technology

and people start spending more and more time on social media and the internet. All of these
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factors interact together in complex ways that play a big role in the development of eating

disorders. I would like to further explore statistics and research on how addictive social media

and television are and how the brain is hard wired to adapt to the influences around it.

During the final writing process, I have included a few more sources that have helped

with my research. One of the things that I wanted to further explore was how addictive social

media and television are. One of the most pertinent sources that I found was an article from the

Opposing viewpoints by Larry Rosen that found that 27% of children who spend at least 3 hours

or more a day on a social media site showed symptoms of poor mental health. It also provided

insight on how social media addiction effects the minds of those who use it. Another thing that I

discovered from this article was how the use of social media lights up the same part of the brain

that lights up when a person is using an addictive substance (Rosen).

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Works Cited

America Heart Association (AHA). “Many Teens Spend 30 Hours A Week on ‘Screen Time’

During High School. Science Daily, 2008.

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080312172614.htm Accessed 21 March 2021.

Bulik, Cynthia M., and Janet Treasure and EDRU Team of King's College. "Binge Eating Is

Linked to Genetic and Environmental Factors." Eating Disorders, Greenhaven Press,

2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010128246/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=3bf2775c.

Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

Johnson, Craig, and Cynthia Bulik. "Genetics Play a Significant Role in Eating Disorders."

Eating Disorders, edited by Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing

Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010128240/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=106af139.

Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

Marcos, Y. Quiles, et al. “Peer and family influence in eating disorders: A Meta-analysis.”

Cambridge University Press, 01 September 2012,

www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry/article/peer-and-family-

influence-in-eating-disorders-a-

metaanalysis/1BCBD24C29B6AEA2FC5AE1ED49A38B14 Accessed 07 March 2021.

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Morava, Maria and Willingham, AJ. “More screen time is linked to ‘binge eating in children, US

study finds.” CNN Wire, 4 Mar. 2021. P NA. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A653788490/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=21a31c62.

Accessed 7 March 2021.

NEDA. National Eating Disorder Association. Statistics & Research on Eating Disorders.

Accessed 20, March 2021. www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-

disorders

Rosen, Larry D., et al. "Social Networking Is Addictive and Can Lead to Psychological

Disorders." Are Social Networking Sites Harmful?, edited by Noah Berlatsky,

Greenhaven Press, 2015. At Issue. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010744223/OVIC?

u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=ed222ecf. Accessed 27 Mar. 2021.

Williams, Robert. “Instagram may have 95M bot accounts.” Marketing Dive, 2008.

www.marketingdive.com/news/instagram-may-have-95m-bot-accounts-the-information-

reports/528141/