METHODS TO OVERCOME EATING DISORDERS

The Media’s Relentless Display of Unhealthy Body Images

(Beauty Pressure)

This current generation's society, typically American, has expose to the public on the ideal image or body one would desire most. Skinny or toned models are exposed over and over in the medias such as TV, billboards, and magazines that teenagers read, some like Seventeen, CLEO, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Woman's Weekly & et cetera. Women population have been continuously bombarded with all these ideal images of how they should be, that their perception of a beautiful body had become distorted, further encouraging ''pro-ana''(shortened from pro-anorexia) and "pro-mia"(for bulimia) eating disorders. (Udovitch, M, 2002)

According to The Victorian, (2013), the media use pictures of skinny models to sell products that appeal to young girls. Many parents tell their children that the average woman does not look like that, but models are presented in a way that indicates a happy and exciting life. So, regardless of what you say as a parent, teenage girls want to look like these women.

Ways of Approach [Vague Speculations]

The first approach is mainly to the visual representation of the re-advertising. If we were to recreate the ad, some of the tactics and approaches much be evaluated and studied further before administering the ad. As you can see, the Yoplait ad is originally targetted to the American audience, so one must consider to preserve that quality by reusing female White American(or close) to re-enact the scene, only provided we are making a commercial. Only this way, we can maintain our target audience, because in my humblest opinion, it would be less effective to have an Asian to re-enact the scene. It just wouldn't cause much of an impact than a White American.

Next, approaching the body image of females. As the commercial in the previous blog post shows two 'skinny' female. This indirectly has already been focused to slim and fit women who clearly do not need to do any more dieting or weight losing because they look fine as they are, they just have to maintain their weight and live healthily. Adding on, perhaps a different approach that could be considered is using a average-looking women, who seems to be fitting to her height and weight, meaning that she is normal, not underweight or overweight. Steps taken must be careful cause we wouldn't want to offend either party of underweight and obese.

 Third, is the message content. The message content is of course the most important, and it must be positive. As one can see, the video shows a women who is highly concerned for her diet, and is speculating on the calories and how much she has to exercise to lose those calories that she will soon consume. Perhaps a different method of approaching would be having a female who is devoid of anorexic thoughts and yet is still able to look fit and would consume the product without second thoughts. Its mainly on the perception of a non-anorexic women's approach and way of life as the main role model and how all other women should think. Monologue should or can be maintained.

Lastly, is the psychological approach. Above is the example of a psychological approach of Dove on their product. It clearly shows how the American perceives themselves to be, while in reality they are more beautiful than how they describe themselves to be. The approach of using a complete stranger to describe that person clearly gives a reminder to the women that they are beautiful, more beautiful naturally than they think. Their general perception of themselves are harsh. In addition to the research, they do see themselves harshly, according to this documentary on Anorexia Nervosa. For me, I believe Dove didn't sell much of their product in this video, but instead selling the idea behind their product, and the meaning of it. The way Dove holds the meaning of what is true beauty, have given a big impact to the audience, which in relation to what I think Yoplait should also sell.

The rest are :

• Focus on feelings and relationships, not on weight and food. Share your memories of specific times when you felt concerned about the person’s eating behaviour. 
• Promoting on how the flavour of the yoghurt is as real as the cheesecake, and instead of eating what would have much more calories, can just eat the yoghurt that is both healthy and taste the same.
• Make sure you do not convey any fat prejudice, or reinforce their desire to be thin. If they say they feel fat or want to lose weight, don't say "You're not fat." Instead, suggest they explore their fears about being fat, and what they think they can achieve by being thin.
• Avoid power struggles about eating. Do not demand that they change. Do not criticize their eating habits. People with eating disorders are trying to be in control. They don't feel in control of their life. Trying to trick or force them to eat can make things worse.
• Avoid giving simple solutions. For example, "If you'd just stop, then everything would be fine!"
• Building Self Esteem Through Means other than Body Image.There are many ways for teenagers to build self esteem, other than focusing on an unattainable body image. To help your teen build self esteem, get her involved in social activities with others. 
• Social interaction is a great self esteem booster for people of all ages, but it is especially beneficial for children and teens. 
• 
  

Anorexia is a solitary activity, one that closes teens off from social interaction.
That’s why extracurricular activities are so beneficial.

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References

Website
Udovitch, M.. 2002. THE WAY WE LIVE NOW: 9-8-02: PHENOMENON; A Secret Society of the Starving. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-9-8-02-phenomenon-a-secret-society-of-the-starving.html. [Accessed 10 November 13].

The Victorian. 2013. Top Eating Disorder and Addiction Treatment Center for Women.. [ONLINE] Available at: http://thevictorian.crchealth.com/anorexia-and-the-media-how-to-influence-your-teen/. [Accessed 10 November 13].

Helpguide, (2012), Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder [ONLINE]. Available at:http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_self_help.htm [Accessed 10 November 13].

Images
Forbes, K., (2012), Is it a Secret or Real Beauty [ONLINE]. Available at:http://blogs.longwood.edu/advertising3/2012/09/26/body-image/ [Accessed 10 November 13].

NEDIC, (2012), celebrating our natural sizes [ONLINE]. Available at:http://www.nedic.ca/knowthefacts/preventionhealth.shtml [Accessed 10 November 13].

HealthierUJunction, (2012), Yoplait [ONLINE]. Available at:http://healthierujunction.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/yoplait-refrig.jpg?w=510 [Accessed 10 November 13].

Video
Piper, T. (2007). Beauty Pressure. [Online Video]. 02 October. Available from:http://youtu.be/Ei6JvK0W60I. [Accessed: 10 November 2013].

Science101Life. (2013). BEING TOO THIN: ANOREXIA NERVOSA (Full Documentary). [Online Video]. 13 June. Available from: http://youtu.be/5zOh9DSsxJQ. [Accessed: 10 November 2013].

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BY ERICA C.
*This post is strictly unofficial. For educational purposes only and is based on student opinion and research. Not for any other uses.