Body Image Distortions

Body image is a term which may refer to a person's perception of his or her own physical appearance, or the interpretation of the body by the brain. ^[1]

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• People pick up media messages that the quality of their bodies is a reflection of their own self-worth. ^[2]

• The connection between self esteem and appearance are often times exaggerated. Some people sacrifice their health to reach what they think is the most desirable body image. ^[3]

Body Mass Index 

In response to the death of 4 Brazilian models who died of anorexia, the government in Spain imposed a ban on extremely thin models as measured by their body mass index, also known as BMI. ^[4]

• Takes into account height and weight. ^[5]
• BMI greater than 17.4 for female models younger than 18. ^[6]
• BMI of 18.5 for female models older than 18. ^[7]
• So...for a 5' 9" model older than 18, that's about a weight of 126 pounds. ^[8]

Current figure VS. Ideal figure 

• Men usually don't differ in rating their current figure, their ideal figure, and the figure they think women find most attractive. ^[9]



• Women on the other hand rate the figure they think men find most attractive as well as their ideal figure as being way thinner than their actual figure. ^[10]

This is such a problem that a survey found two-thirds of college women admitted that they have taken part in unhealthy behavior to help control their weight! ^[11]

These activities are reinforced by advertisments that show an image of slimness. ^[12]

Eating disorders

 A distorted body image can be linked to an eating disorder. ^[13]

Anorexia

• Victimes perceive themselves as too fat. ^[14]
• Victims starve themselves to be thin. ^[15]              
• Often leads to bulimia. ^[16]

Bulimia

•  Binge eating
• Usually occurs in private. ^[17]
• Victim often consumes more than 5,000 calories at one sitting. ^[18]
• Calorie consumption is followed with self- induced vomiting, fasting, harsh excersise, or abuse of laxatives. ^[19]

Who is affected by eating disorders and why?

• White, upper to middle class teens and college age women.  ^[20]
• Sometimes victims have male figures in their life who are hypercritical of their weight. ^[21]
• May be a history of sexual abuse. ^[22]
• Peers such as athletic teems and sororities can encourage binge eating. ^[23]

Not just women...

• 90% of teens that doctors treat for eating disorders are female, but this problem also occurs with males.^[24]
• Increasing cases of body dysmorphic disorder which is an obsession with perceived flaws in appearance among young males. ^[25]
• Average age of onset for body dysmorphic disorder is 15. ^[26]

Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder

•  Excessive checking of mirrors and attempts at hiding perceived deformities. ^[27]
• Common among boxers, jockeys and other athletes where weight is an important factor in determining their performace. ^[28]



Fun Fact... 

If the dimensions of the original GI Joe were projected into a real 5' 10" man,

 he would have a 32" waist, a 44" chest, and 12" biceps. ^[29]