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Riff RaffSwimsuit Phobia: Media Images Making Us Hate Our Bodies
November 28th 2006 03:02
"I hate my body. I'm so fat!"
Who among us doesn't fear the swimsuit change room, its full length mirrors, and the dreaded shop assistant's chirp of "come out, Hon, so we can all see you in that bikini".
Is it any wonder that cases of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) have dramatically increased of late. Excerpts (below in blue) from Jane Feinmann's BDD article on The Independent Online have great points on the issue:
"Body dysmorphia: the tyranny of thin
Body dysmorphia used to be rare. Now, thanks to the size-0 brigade, it's becoming the norm. What can be done?
It's a sign of the times when even a TV cartoon recognises that women with obvious signs of anorexia nervosa have become normalised. A recent episode of South Park had the fat boy telling the little scrawny girl: "I think you might have an eating disorder" - to which she squeaks: "Oh, gee, thanks". There is now concern among experts that the current media obsession with ultra-skinny celebrities could be pushing our natural tendency to be self-critical towards diagnosable neurotic disorder.
'Women's perfectionist streaks are encouraged, as far as their bodies are concerned, so that they can only see their fat tummy in the mirror,' says Judy Price, a therapist who runs Happyweight courses.
Susan Sharpe was devastated when she put on weight in her forties, going from a size 10 to a size 14. 'I hated my body so much I even cancelled holidays,' says the mother of two. 'I never looked at myself in a full-length mirror and didn't let my husband Rob see me naked for five years. He kept telling me I wasn't that big but I didn't believe him.'
And though the magazine cover stories routinely warn of the severe health penalties, from loss of periods to premature death, that face women who 'starve themselves to silly weights', the pictures are sufficiently glamorous to send out the message: skeletal is sexy".
Some warning signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder are:
* Feeling you are disgusting.
* Engaging in repetitive and time-consuming behaviors, such as looking in a mirror, picking at the skin, and trying to hide or cover up the defect.
* Constantly asking for reassurance that the defect is not visible or too obvious.
* Repeatedly measuring or touching the defect.
* Experiencing problems at work or school, or in relationships due to the inability to stop focusing on the defect.
* Feeling self-conscious and not wanting to go out in public, or feeling anxious when around other people.
* Repeatedly consulting with medical specialists, such as plastic surgeons or dermatologists, to find ways to improve his or her appearance.
Check out these links for more info:
BDD Foundation
Mental Health: Body Dysmorphic Disorder on WebMD
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Comment by Sisi
Comment by pegasus
Poker Addict
Take a look at a brave former anorexia sufferer on Brenton's blog: Tales from the Other Side
Cheers
Comment by Cibbuano
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Or, at the very least, dress for your body type. Any woman can be sexy if she takes advantage of her good points and dresses with confidence.
Comment by pegasus
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