The Problem of Female Body Image

[Joe Cooler]

But doesn't social pressure about appearance cause that need for control to manifest itself in an eating disorder rather than some other behaviour?

yes and no. I mean obviosuly the thin look is not skeletal, so it wouldn't explain that. I also believe that if you are doing this just as a crash diet or "fad" or whatever, then your a poser.

You lost me. Are you saying that people can be "poser" anorexics?

[half jill]

yeah...which is my reasoning for the
care to explain,

[starvingeyes]

hahaha while i'm only speculating i'm sure what she meant is people who literally pose as anorexics to get attention. for instance, i have never met any real anorexics but i've known lots of people who say they are or were anorexic or bulimic at one time.

[Soozy]

Why on earth would people say that when they aren't?? I've known a couple of anorexics, but never anyone who'd say that they were when they weren't.

[starvingeyes]

because they want attention and getting negative attention is very easy, whereas getting positive attention is not.

it's usually a symptom of a different problem.

[Soozy]

That's just sad. You're right though - it must be caused by something more deep rooted.

[Kathy]

woah, I agree with you on something, as I've seen it happen... I've seen real cases of anorexia, as well as people who are not truly anorexic but label themselves as such, go thru the motions, and do it for attention. I met a girl in high school who did this and was using it to get attention and sympathy as a result of problems at home and the depression she was experiencing. I didn't understand the problems until I got to know her better.

I hope it's not common... I'd hate to think that people would begin to be desensitized to the issue of eating disorders after seeing or hearing about people who 'fake it' for attentionn.

[starvingeyes]

it's no different from all the tylenol overdose suicide attempts you see in high schools and stuff. just kids crying for attention.

[Lando]

I once tried to overdose on painkillers such as tylenol, but I forgot that I was bulimic and threw them all back up again...

[I AM ME]

Yeah I'd say there's a ton of poser's out there. Not that we should take it lightly when a person says they have a problem like that, but if they're telling everyone who will listen you might wonder.

It seems most people's natural reaction when they suffer from problems like that is to hide it, not shout it to the world

[Henrietta]

Well I just can't see why someone would lie about that. Perhaps you thought that they weren't because they don't look that way? Because I know for a fact that you can have an eating disorder, and actually not qualify as anorexic because of normal body weight.

On second thought, maybe I can understand it. Someone with it wouldn't admit it...someone who doesn't have it probably would.

I think the real problem here is not that both men and women experience the social pressure to be beautiful. But why do so many more women seem to die as a result?

[Olp_waited]

Yeah I'd say there's a ton of poser's out there. Not that we should take it lightly when a person says they have a problem like that, but if they're telling everyone who will listen you might wonder.

It seems most people's natural reaction when they suffer from problems like that is to hide it, not shout it to the world

My point exactly, especially when its people you hang around everyday. People with eating disorders don't tell their friends and they lie when their friends ask them what they have eaten. Eating disorder patients have other friends with ED's to share that stuff with, not with people they actually know who will force them to eat. Any eating disorder is more complex than anyone knows. No one is purely an anoretic or a bulimic or an over eater. Most of the time, a patient will go through all of these stages. It's also not all about weight or food, but that is what is focused on. Trust me on this one, I know that not all ED patients are stick thin, especially when I pointed out that they go through stages.

I believe women die more, because it is more socially acceptable for men to have weight.

[crustine]

..... people who are not truly anorexic but label themselves as such, go thru the motions, and do it for attention. I met a girl in high school who did this and was using it to get attention and sympathy as a result of problems at home and the depression she was experiencing.... .

This is exactly what i am referring to when i discuss control. This behariour is what anorexia is about. There is some aspect or even all aspects of their life that is chaotic or abusive and ED is the way to cope. This is one thing you can control. it is very powerful.

I see many of these people at the gym. They workout far harder than anyone else and ususally three times as long. They can control this. If you think it through it makes sense.

[Olp_waited]

right, its not only about food, but about control(I know broken record) and how far can you deny yourself, belieiving you are stronger than those weaklings that need food and can't workout for more than 1 hour, etc

[Henrietta]

Sounds like we have lots of people here with EDs...

[Axtech]

We need a better short form for "Eating Disorder"

At first glance I was wondering why Cass thought we all had Erectile Dysfunction.

[I AM ME]

I have ED

.....


Enormous #%$@





...Clearly I have a self image problem

[Henrietta]

[crustine]

Good one Rob, maybe we should start discussing that!