An Obsession with Body Image Essay - 546 Words

An Obsession with Body Image Millions of Americans — women and men — have a secret obsession. Theyre obsessed with how they look, who wouldn’t like a flatter stomach? They worry that their thighs are too flabby, their breasts are too small, their arms are too scrawny, their face is too chubby, their body build is too small — any body part can become the focus of this obsession. Quite obviously, most people care about how they look. I have found that most of these insecurities are a prodigy of media: television, magazines, dolls, action figures, and so forth. Surveys have shown that many of us are dissatisfied with some aspect of how we look. In the survey I conducted I found a few answer about the body image society†¦show more content†¦I went to a local Target and examined a few popular doll and action figures. These toys had many things in common. Each item was flawless, no acne, love handles, double chins, thunder thighs- NOTHING. In fact these so-called â€Å"hum an-like† dolls were perfect! Yet, one thing was wrong, I could not find one person that resembled Cheerleading Barbie or Surfboarding Ken in the entire Target store. If one wanted to look like any of the dolls on those shelves they would most likely spend many years at the plastic surgeons office because it is not realistic for the average body to do it alone by eating right and exercising. â€Å"Dolls might be planting in boys’ minds a template for a he-man’s body that cannot be attained without engaging tin obsessive behaviors to build muscle and strip off fat, and then augmentation those efforts through the consumption of drugs like human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.† It has been proven that if Barbie was real that she would not be able to reproduce or even stand up because of her unnaturally thin body. Sadly enough these dolls and action-figures tell those who play with them that beauty lies in â€Å"abs of steel,† clear skin, and dangerously thin or unattainable muscular bodies. The methods to which people to go to change their body can often be physically and mentally dangerous. People go to great length is pursuit toShow MoreRelatedThe Obsession with Body Image Among Adolescents1789 Words   |  8 Pagesinclude low self-esteem to resorting to eating disorders. Body image is also very important among teens these days. The pressure of trying to attain the â€Å"ideal† image is detrimental to some. Body image is commonly defined as â€Å"the degree of satisfaction with one’s current physical self—size, shape, or physical appearance† (Jones, 2001, p.1). Many studies have shown that adolescents, especially females, place great emphasis on body image due to social comparison. The finding has been that femalesRead MoreAmericas Obsession With Weight Loss and Body Image1104 Words   |  4 PagesAmericas Obsession with Weight Loss and Body Image Introduction Concern with weight and body image is a widespread preoccupation for many Americans. In a study of college students 74.4 percent of normal weight woman and 46 percent of normal weight men said they thought about their weight or appearance all the time or frequently (Body Image, 2012). Focus on appearance is at an all-time high in American culture increasing the potential for negative body image. Poor body image increasesRead MorePhysical Fitness And Educational Programs982 Words   |  4 Pageswomen. From being defined as a â€Å"vision of the body and its possibilities† to a literal culture of physical strength and appeal, how we understand fitness has been shaped throughout many generations. 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Marketing strategies are implemented for the sole purpose of increasing sales and revenue for the ever increasing demandsRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1240 Words   |  5 Pagesexceptionally more flawless than they actually are. The standard of body shape that the media presents influences how people view themselves, and can possibly lead to long term health issues. The â€Å"perfect body† is most commonly viewed as a thinner figure with a defined waist. No one ever said that women were made to fit into this mold of the perfect body. The social media has created a standard of beauty that consists of the â€Å"perfect body†. Most famous people fit into this standard, so it is no shockRead MoreMedia Vs Body Image1385 Words   |  6 PagesWhoever controls the media, controls the mind. Jim Morrison. Since World War II, the media has increasingly advertised a slimmer and thinner body image for the ideal body type. The media has become more influential in our lives, so much that it influences how each person feels about their own image. Studies show that Body image is closely linked to self-esteem. Low self-esteem in adolescents can lead to eating disorders. The most common eating disorders in American are Anorexia Nervosa, a seriousRead MoreThe Male Struggle with Body Image1583 Words   |  7 Pages people tend to focus a lot on fema les and the problems they have concerning their body image based on popular culture, stereotypes, and other generalizations of how a woman â€Å"should look.† What we do not realize however is that males struggle with their body image as much as females do and are often not recognized in their fight to meet the expectations of society. Males struggle with all kinds of eating and body disorders just as females do and the expectations pushed on them by the media, womenRead MoreThe Male Struggle with Body Image1632 Words   |  7 Pages people tend to focus a lot on females and the problems they have concerning their body image based on popular culture, stereotypes, and other generalizations of how a woman â€Å"should look.† What we do not realize however is that males struggle with their body image as much as females do and are often not recognized in their fight to meet the expectations of society. Males struggle with all kinds of eating and body disorders just as fem ales do and the expectations pushed on them by the media, womenRead MorePlastic Surgery Addiction1100 Words   |  5 Pageswith thousands of images of beautiful models and celebrities. This â€Å"reality† affect the sub-conscientious of many people with low self-steam and fill the mind of men and women with insecurities about their body images. Plastic surgery appears as an easy solution to this matter, but actually, cosmetic surgery can be just the tip of the iceberg of a more complex issue related with body images problems. Plastic surgery is not always related with a bad thing. For example, facial and body injuries that causeRead MoreEssay about Male Body Image639 Words   |  3 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Body image is what you believe about your physical appearance. Images of beautiful men and women are displayed everywhere from billboards to television advertisements. Fortunately, everyone does not look the same. Looking at models and movie stars often can create a negativ e self image of oneself in relation to these images. Approximately 46 percent of men of normal weight think about how they look constantly or frequently (Cloud, 46). The emergence of men’s new obsession with body image is connected