A fantastical place where everyone seems to look perfect. Lying in the heart of California, Hollywood is home to movies and movie stars. Although "Hollywood" is an actual place, it extends farther than just the location -- in a sense, Hollywood is everywhere celebrities are. These celebrities are always perfectly put together, perfectly photographed, perfectly shaped, perfectly etc...
Should I go on?
Hollywood seems to thrive on being thin. Numerous celebrities have or have suffered from eating disorders and bad body image, celebrities such as: Demi Lovato, Paula Abdul, Nicole Richie, Elton John, Kate Winslet, Kelly Clarkson, Princess Diana, Lady Gaga, and many more.
Q: What are some of the reasons why celebrities have suffered from bad body image and eating disorders?
- Princess Diana struggled from bulimia in her early years. "I had bulimia for a number of years. And that's like a secret disease. You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don't think you're worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day - some do it more - and it gives you a feeling of comfort. It's like having a pair of arms around you, but it's temporarily, temporary. Then you're disgusted at the bloatedness of your stomach, and then you bring it all up again. And it's a repetitive pattern, which is very destructive to yourself."
- Paula Abdul's body image struggle was a result of being a dancer. As early as the age of seven, she suffered from bad body image.
- Kate Winslet said that her eating disorder was fueled by her peer's reactions to her weight. Classmates nicknamed her "Blubber," and overtime the criticism ate at her, leaving her with depression and a disorder. Since then, she has overcome her bad body image and now embraces her look. "I'm happy with the way I am. I'm not like American film stars. I'm naturally curvy. This is me, like it or lump it. People think that if a woman isn't rail-thin, then there must be something wrong with her - it's such nonsense."
- Fear can also create bad body image. Fear, such as paranoia over competition, can lead to drastic changes in eating patterns. For example, Black Swan, a film about ballet, depicts how a dancer thins her way to nothing in hope to succeed at ballet. Also, for the Jersey Shore fans, Nicole "Snooki" struggled with eating disorders due to the fear of being replaced on the cheer leading squad.
- Celebrities are human too -- at one point in every one's life, everyone experiences a temporary lapse in having a healthy body image.
Q: How does celebrities' weight influence the body image of teens around the world?
A: Teens are affected by the "perfection" of a celebrity's body daily. Teens see these celebrities as role models, usually dismissing their flaws completely. When dismissing their flaws, it is easy to be enchanted by the fake exterior of celebrities. These fake and airbrushed depictions of celebrities negatively influence teen's self esteem. Celebrity eating disorders seem to be romanticized and usually aren't described as disorders, making them seem healthy when they are exactly the opposite.
Statistics of the Day
According to recent studies by the South Carolina Department of Health:
- 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
- 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight
- 80% of 13 year olds have attempted to lose weight
Information Credit to:
http://www.edreferral.com/Celebrities_who_died_or_have_Eating_Disorders.htm
http://text.teachingmatters.org/node/8615
No comments:
Post a Comment