In this day and age, an increasing number of male and female adolescents who are with normal body mass index have an irrational fear of putting on weight and suffer from anorexia as a consequence. Personally, I would argue that social media is the root cause of this phenomenon. However, I also believe that people with significant online influence can use their platforms to educate the young generations about the importance of a balanced diet and fitness regimen as well as enabling them to cultivate a healthy body image. In addition, seeking professional help is also advisable.
Eating disorders are caused by an intricate combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors, but the advent of social media has certainly exacerbated them. Every day, millions of photos of celebrities flaunting their perfect physique and diet are uploaded on various social media platforms. While humans have long equated thinness with attractiveness and self-worthiness, the era of social media influencers has allowed this social construct to permeate the young’s perception, thus exposing these impressionable teenagers to unrealistic beauty standards as well as fueling their desire to become extremely skinny.
In an effort to prevent eating disorders among teenagers, I believe it is incumbent upon influential figures to use their platforms as a means of raising awareness and promoting body positivity. People, especially the young, are known to frequently turn to individuals that they idolise for advice. As a result, instead of promoting unattainable lifestyles, famous individuals should advocate for a balanced diet and workout routine as well as normalize body imperfections like cellulite. In case of severe anorexia, however, young people are advised to seek professional help and medical interventions as soon as possible in order to minimize adverse effects on their health and well-being.
In conclusion, I believe the young’s intense fear of gaining weight and their unhealthy obsession with being skinny can be attributed to social media and influencer culture. So as to put a stop on this problem, two viable solutions are holding celebrities accountable for raising health awareness and seeking professional help in case of experiencing severe eating disorders.