BODY IMAGE

Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Eating Disorders Caused by Mass Media

Kaylee Dowbenko
RPW 260
Saginaw Valley State University

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Mass media is everywhere there is television, the internet, and social networks, and it has
an impact on everybody. It is also has a large impact on those who live a Western culture
lifestyle, since they have the easiest access to media. Mass media has been known to set
standards for what a normal person should look like. One of the ways mass media represents a
way a person should look is what a normal persons body should look like. The outcomes from
what mass media believes what a persons body looks like has a large impact on society. There
are many points that argue that mass media does not cause body image issues, low self- esteem,
and eating disorders when the truth is the mass media is truly hurting us as a society.
Mass media effects those who are those concerned with their image, especially body
image. It is also believed that cultural ideas of attractiveness in Western cultures are difficult for
most people to achieve, suggesting that many people may have body issue concerns, (Gillen,
Gillmor, & Rutledge, 2013). In many cases, body image concerns leads to self-esteem issues,
body dissatisfaction has been linked to poor self-esteem (Fuller- Tyszkiewicz, McCabe,
Mellor, & Ricciardelli, 2010). Self-esteem is important because it determines how comfortable a
person is in their own skin, and if someone is not comfortable in their own skin, it could lead to
serious issues. For example, body image and poor self-esteem has been linked to depression,
eating disorders, and obesity, (Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, McCabe, Mellor, & Ricciardelli, 2010).
Therefore, it is important that people need to have positive self-esteem, or they could be affected
by other issues other than poor self-esteem. Mass media causes society to develop body image
issues, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.
Mass Media Effects and Self- Esteem
Television

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One of the main forms of mass media is television. Television is one of the oldest forms
of mass media, and a majority of people in Western culture have easy access to television.
Television is supposed to be a form of entertainment, but over the years people on TV have been
glamorized. There are some women out there who are heavily influenced by beautiful people in
the media, as well as those who are thin as well (Contreras, Ferguson, Munoz, & Velasquez,
2011). This causes issues for women who do not have a thin physique, being heavily influenced
by these women could cause serious poor self esteem.
When focusing on body image, some people begin to relate themselves to people on
television programs. According to Heinberg and Thompson, in past Miss America beauty
pageants contests have had measurements the size of Playboy models (1995). Most women, and
sometimes men, who watch beauty pageants like this, expect this is what a normal person
looks like. Since Miss America pageants feature what many believe to be real women, then
society would think that this is what a woman should look like. According to Smith and Swami
there are makeover TV shows that focus on what many consider real women who are the
opposite of an ideal woman, and transform them to make them look like a completely different
person. When a person has to undergo a complete transformation of themselves, just to feel like
the ideal person, it shows how low that persons self- esteem is. Since shows like this are
televised, viewers at home will believe that it is okay to change who they are.
The Internet
Ever since the internet has been around, it has become a very popular form of mass
media. People who live a Western culture lifestyle tend to use the internet on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, the internet has become a place where the topic of body image pops up. The
internet is one of the newer forms of the media that is associated with lower levels of weight

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satisfaction, and people feel an increased drive for being thin, (Miller & Tiggemann, 2010). The
internet is another form of media that makes being thin look ideal. In Western cultures most
people use the internet daily, which just so happens to be another form of media to bring up body
image. The internet is also aiming toward lower levels of weight satisfaction which definitely
affects the self esteem of those using the internet. Weight satisfaction is important for selfesteem, because it can be the outcome of health issues. Miller and Tigemann states that the on
the internet the current beauty standards that there is a desire to be thin, and the thinness seen
through the internet is at a level that is impossible for most females to achieve in a healthy way
(2010). Females that want to achieve the level of thinness as seen on the internet can really harm
their bodies in an unhealthy way. The internet stirs a desire for thinness, and that can cause more
than one issue in a person.
Social Networks
Social Networks are everywhere; it has quickly become a very popular form of
technology. One of the most popular social networking sites to date is Facebook. Facebooks
initial use is for users to connect and be in contact with other. However, the issue of body image
has made its way to Facebook. Looking at other Facebook users pictures, can cause another user
to start comparing themselves, which can affect the users body image (Gillen, Gillmor and
Rutledge, 2013). Even Facebook users cannot escape the issue of body image. When people are
on Facebook looking at other users photos, they start to feel that their appearance does not
match up, and this is when users start to feel body dissatisfaction (Gillen, Gillmor, & Rutledge,
2013). Facebook can cause body dissatisfaction which can lead to self- esteem issues.
Another relatively new social networking site that has been starting to gain popularity is a
blog type website called Tumblr. On Tumblr there has been a viral trend going around that is

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called the thigh gap (Barrie, 2013). This thigh gap is exactly what it sounds like, a picture
which shows a gap between a womans thighs. However, it has been found that this thigh gap
is not exactly a healthy sign or even a sign of being fit (Barrie, 2013). With this so called trend
going around the website many users may see this, and find this somewhat attractive". This is
the same issue with Facebook; the girls see a photo and then compare themselves to unrealistic
pictures. This is a dangerous trend because this thigh gap is not exactly healthy for a persons
body. One Tumblr user mentioned that her friend has an obsession with the thigh gap, and she
knows the photos are hurting her self- esteem, (Barrie, 2013). If one girls self- esteem has gone
down because of this trend, then there is a possibility that other Tumblr users self- esteems are
going down too (Barrie, 2013). Barrie has even mentioned that 86% of girls say that social
media sites hurt their body confidence, (2013). 86% is a very large percentage of girls, and if
their body confidence is hurt then there is a possibility that their self- esteem is damaged as well.
Magazines
Another form of mass media that has been around for quite a while is magazines.
Magazines have been known to have an impact on women specifically. It has been researched
that bodies in the media, have been becoming thinner and thinner (Angood, Dwyer, Hamilton,
Jacobs and Turner, 1997). The specific form of magazines where bodies have been becoming
thinner and thinner are fashion magazines. Magazine subscriptions are popular among women,
and putting women with unrealistic body types on them are going to make consumers think
about their own bodies. Women who looked at these fashion magazines, were not comfortable
with their bodies, and had the desire to be thinner and were afraid of getting fat (Angood et al.,
1997). A study done by Sides- Moore and Tochkov, has said that women tend feel worse
about themselves than they did before viewing the images, (2011). When women see images like

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this, they actually reduce how women feel about their own beauty, (Sides- Moore & Tochkov,
2011). Womens self- esteem could actually go down by simply looking at images in a
magazine. Many women feel there is something wrong with their body just by looking at a
picture, thinking this is the way they are supposed to look. Woman also often question
themselves when looking at physical appearances in magazines, (Xiaowei, 2013). Women should
not be questioning their own appearance, when women start to question themselves this can
cause self- esteem issues. Women should never look at an image and think to themselves this is
what I should look like, or how come I do not look like that. Magazines are supposed to be
used for entertainment purposes, and instead women are looking at magazines and feeling less
confident about their bodies.
Health Related Issues
Eating Disorders and Body Image
Not only does body image affect a persons self-esteem, but body image could also cause
eating disorders. It has been researched that negative body image has been associated with
low self-esteem, (Muehlenkamp, Peat, and Peyerl, 2008). According to Muehlenkamp, Peat
and Peyerl researchers have proven that body image is a crucial part of a persons self- esteem,
and body dissatisfaction most often cause eating disorders (2008). Not only does body
dissatisfaction cause self- esteem issues, but also eating disorders as well. Many people believe
that body dissatisfaction and eating disorders only happens to adolescents and young adults, and
is never really seen in older adults. However older adults are affected by body dissatisfaction,
it appears that body dissatisfaction is common in adult women (Muehlenkamp, 2008).
Not only does body dissatisfaction common in younger ladies, but also adult women as well.

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Since body dissatisfaction is related to low self- esteem and eating disorders then women at any
age could be affected.
Not only women are affected by body dissatisfaction, but some men feel this way as well.
According to Cordero, Ousley and White, men sometimes tend to feel a little fat (2008). It has
also been researched that men who have an eating disorder sometimes have a characteristic of
feeling fat, (Cordero, Ousley, & White, 2008). Not all men feel comfortable in their own skin,
and some even have an eating disorder. This shows that since men feel body dissatisfaction, they
also suffer from low self- esteem. Both men and women are affected by body dissatisfaction
which, unfortunately, causes low self- esteem and in some cases, eating disorders.
Eating Disorders and Mass Media
It was already discussed that mass media has a large impact on body image which causes
self-esteem issues. It has also been researched that mass media has also in some cases caused
people to develop eating disorders. According to Levine and Murnen mass media is a risk for
both negative body image and eating disorders in mostly women (2009). Not only has several
types of media had an impact on body image and self-esteem, but it has also been known to
cause eating disorders. Mass media today is so powerful, that it is causing an increase in body
dissatisfaction in both men and women (Beresin & Derenne, 2006). Mass media should not have
this much of an impact on men and women, but it just shows how powerful mass media is. Plus,
it has been researched and found that body dissatisfaction in mass media can very well cause
eating disorders. If people are getting so caught up in mass media that it has an impact on their
body, they could develop some very serious health issues. According to Beresin & Derenne
eating disorders are a major public health problem today, (2006). Mass media has a big

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impact on people in society, and it is unfortunate that sometimes the mass media causes body
dissatisfaction and sometimes leads to eating disorders.
Mass Media Arguments
Mass Media and Body Image
There are some researchers that believe mass media is not as bad as we make it sound.
Smith and Swami have stated that television and magazine exposure is positively associated
with body dissatisfaction, with small to moderate effect sizes, (2012). Now, this mentions that
there is body dissatisfaction out there, but it has a small impact, which has been proven to not be
true. It has been proven before that body dissatisfaction is associated with low self -esteem.
(Muehlenkamp, Peat, & Peyerl, 2008). If body dissatisfaction is associated with low-self
esteem, then how can people only be affected only mildly to moderate about their body by the
media? In addition to this Herzberger and Molloy have said that many women develop
distorted body images and become frustrated at not being able to obtain the ideal figure,
(1998). Women try to look like those in the media, and they get frustrated when they do not get
the ideal results. If women are trying that hard to obtain a figure like so in the media, then it is
not a mild or moderate effect. There is no good side to body image in the media. Self-esteem and
body issues happen because people are so invested with the media that they will believe anything
they hear.
Other sources have also stated that sometimes magazines have a positive effect on
people. Women express more positive body image following exposure to average size models
than when exposed to thin models, (2012). Of course women are going to feel better about
themselves when they see an average sized woman in a magazine. However, most magazines in
the media do not feature average sized women. According to Angood, Dwyer, Hamilton,

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Jacobs, & Turner in the media models have been becoming thinner and thinner, (1997).
Magazines do not tend to feature women with what society calls an average size physique.
Heinberg and Thompson have mentioned that bust, waist, and hip measurements have
evolved from a curvaceous standard to a more tubular one, (1995). If models in magazines are
becoming thinner and tubular, then there is no way they feature average sized models. There
was also a study done that when women looked at images in a magazine, they started to feel
worse about themselves than they did before they looked at the images (Sides- Moore &
Tochkov, 2011). Normally women do not have a positive body image when they flip through a
magazine. If anything, womens self- esteem is lowered because they cannot compare
themselves to models in a magazine
Mass Media and Eating Disorders
Mass media has been known to cause eating disorders, but in some cases it is believed
that mass media could actually help prevent eating disorders. using the internet, can help to
reduce symptoms related to eating disorders, (Dolemeyer, Kersting, Tietjen, & Wagner, 2013).
This seems to be a useful, but the internet is also a type of mass media where low levels of
weight satisfaction appear, and people feel the desire to be thin (Miller & Tiggemann, 2010). It is
also mentioned that, even though it is limited, there are programs on the internet that could help
treat eating disorders (Luce, Osborne, Winzelberg, & Zabinski, 2003). However, the internet is
one of the places where eating disorders may begin for many people. Mass media is a risk for
eating disorders (Levine & Murnen, 2009). Even though it is believed mass media can help treat
eating disorders, sometimes mass media is the reason eating disorders develop in the first place.
It is also a popular belief that men tend to not be effected by eating disorders. However,
according to Badmin, Furnham and Sneade, the link between body image dissatisfaction and

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eating disorders is not clearly apparent in men, (2002). This also tends to not be true, according
to Gadalla there are some men that have eating disorders, but only few studies have been
conducted to focus on these disorders, (2009). As for the possibility of body dissatisfaction in
men, this also a clear issue. Sometimes men who have an eating disorder, feel flabby and a little
fat (Cordero, Ousley, & White, 2008). When someone has an eating disorder because they feel
fat, it shows that they are not comfortable with their appearance. When someone is not
comfortable with the way they look, this is known as body dissatisfaction. Body dissatisfaction
causes low self-esteem. According to Muehlenkamp, Peat, and Peyerl body dissatisfaction has
been associated with low self- esteem, (2008). Just because men are perceived as macho, it does
not mean they do not develop eating disorders. Men do sometimes feel dissatisfaction with their
body, and sometimes develop eating disorders and low self-esteem.
Body image is looked at highly in the media, and looking a certain way in the media
definitely has an effect on those who do not look the way it is portrayed in the media. Those who
live a Western culture lifestyle have access to several types of media, and many people are
highly influenced by the media. Those influenced by the media are impacted when they do not
feel they live up to the standards to those in the media. Most of the time the media shines a light
on people who have a thin physique, and many people in society strive to have a body like
people in the media. When these people do not succeed, they have problems with their body
image, which leads to an overall body dissatisfaction. This easily causes low self-esteem, since
they are trying to look one way, but find it hard to become what they wish. Low self-esteem is
important to avoid in life, since it could eventually cause mental and health issues.
Unfortunately, the media is making it hard for those influenced by them to have a positive selfesteem.

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There are several types of mass media that causes a persons body image issues/body
dissatisfaction, as well as low self-esteem. Television is one of the more popular, and older forms
of mass media. People are highly influenced by television and when they see someone with a
thin physique, they desire to have that body type. The internet also has an impact on many
people who live a Western culture lifestyle. The internet is known to have an increased drive to
be thin. Social media is one of the newer forms of mass media, but it has a strong effect on
people. Facebook is supposed to be used to connect with friends, but instead people compare
themselves to other users photos, and they feel they do not add up. Even magazines are a form
of mass media that still has an impact on many people. When people see pictures in a magazine,
they desire to become that, when most of the time it is not possible. Eating disorders has also
been associated with body image, and some people who have issues with their body develop
eating disorders. Eating disorders can also develop through mass media, and this happens to both
men and women. Overall, mass media causes society to develop body image issues, low selfesteem, and eating disorders. Even though many people argue that mass media can improve a
persons body image self- esteem, and eating disorders, they do not mass media could have
caused these issues in the first place. Mass media cannot be trusted when it has such a large
impact on society today.

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