The number of new cases of anorexia and bulimia appearing every year is alarming.It is even more alarming that this increase continues to grow. In addition, 90% of people with bulimia or anorexia are women.
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But why does this happen, why are women more prone to suffer from anorexia and bulimia? In this article we will try to answer this question, alluding especially to social factors (e.g. current beauty standards). We will discuss 5 explanatory factors.
Society, beauty canon and TCA
We live in an increasingly exposed society, where more and more bodies are coming to light. In addition, there is more freedom in many ways: people dress the way they want, publish the photos they want on the networks, etc.
This is a double-edged sword because, while we can enjoy our freedoms, and there is a growing trend of social media (and exposing everything), we also look more closely at other people’s bodies (because of their easy accessibility). This leads us to compare ourselves, to look at ourselves more in the mirror, to suffer if we do not “fit” the prevailing beauty canon (which rewards thinness), etc.
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This is when eating disorders (ED) are born. Two of the most frequent, anorexia and bulimia, have a lot to do with: how we look at our body, how we are mentally (psychopathological level), who we compare ourselves to, why we compare ourselves, etc.how we are mentally (at a psychopathological level), with whom we compare ourselves, why we compare ourselves, etc. In addition, it is a reality that women suffer much more from anorexia and bulimia disorders than men (90% of the cases are women).
Why are women more prone to suffer from these types of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia? We will try to answer this question by explaining a series of factors (mainly social).
Why are women more prone to suffer from anorexia and bulimia?
Women are more likely to suffer from eating disorders (ED), especially anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Specifically, up to 90% of cases of both bulimia and anorexia are women. This means that 9 out of 10 people with ED are women. In other words, just being a woman is a risk factor for suffering from an ED..
But why does this happen, and is there an explanation for it? There is no single explanation; there are several factors that could explain this fact. Let’s get to know them:
1. prevailing beauty model
The first factor we refer to explain why women are more prone to suffer from anorexia and bulimia is a social factor, and it has to do with the current model of beauty. has to do with the current model of beauty.. This model, prevalent in virtually all societies and cultures, is a model that extols the aesthetic values of thinness, conveying the message that thinness is synonymous with beauty.
To make matters worse, this model of beauty prevails in the female sector, but is practically non-existent in the male sector. Thus, women feel “pressured” by society (and the fashion industry, above all) to be thin and to take care of themselves, as if not being thin were a source of shame or synonymous with ugliness.
Thus, the current model of beauty, which praises excessive thinness, would be a key factor that would explain the origin and maintenance of eating disorders in women (especially anorexia).
Cases of anorexia and bulimia have increased alarmingly in recent years, accompanied by the emergence and enhancement of this beauty canon that “rewards” thinness.
2. Social pressure regarding image
On the other hand, in recent years, and more and more, image has become a very important aspect of our lives.. Social networks have also participated in this process, as we are continuously exposed to the images of others, and implicitly, to comparisons, messages that “we should always be physically perfect”, etc.
In other words, there is an invisible social “pressure” to look more and more like the current model of beauty. This model (and the pressure to conform to it to perfection), logically, ends up being detrimental to health, and has an important influence on the appearance of ED.
In addition, women are “penalized” more, on a social level, for being overweight than men. From this point of view, women are the ones who more – and better – “must” conform to this canon of beauty that advocates thinness (increasingly excessive thinness).
3. Media
The media is another key factor that would explain why women are more likely to suffer from anorexia and bulimia. This is because the media continually disseminate messages that defend the prevailing model of beauty (which says that only thin bodies are (which says that only thin bodies are beautiful).
Thus, these messages are perpetuated, and this model is perpetuated. On the other hand, the information broadcast by the media is very easily accessible to young girls, who are still forming their personality, and may show many insecurities because of it.
4. Certain sports or professions
There are some sports and professions where eating disorders are even more frequent in the general population.. These sports are: dancing, rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, etc.
Professions are: drama (actresses), models, etc. In addition, girls tend to practice most of these sports and professions more frequently, probably because of a cultural and educational bias, rather than because of their own biology or interests (which, of course, also have an influence).
Thus, we are talking about sports or professions that take into account the image, the body and/or thinness. That is to say, sports and professions that receive an extra load of pressure for being thin and for presenting an “impeccable” image.
5. Macho culture
As we have already mentioned, the macho culture in which we live immersed makes an apology for thinness, but only in women.but only in women. Thus, while thin women (who conform to the beauty canon) are “rewarded” or praised, nothing happens to men who do not follow this model of beauty.
If you look at the advertising on how to lose weight, operation bikini, how to take care of yourself, how to keep in shape, how to apply make-up, etc., it is almost always aimed at women. Messages such as: “lose weight to be more beautiful” (implicitly or explicitly) are constantly thrown at us.
Thus, machismo is at the basis of all these facts, which gradually permeate society, especially in younger girls who do not yet have a “defined” body or a fully developed personality.
Logically, if we add to this certain personality traits (insecurity, perfectionism, obsessiveness, etc.), all this can increase the likelihood of developing anorexia or bulimia.
5. Psychological traits
But not only social factors are risk factors for developing an ED, but also psychological factors.. Thus, some psychological traits may increase the likelihood of suffering from bulimia or anorexia, such as: showing high self-demandingness, a need for control, cognitive rigidity and/or obsessive perfectionism.
In many occasions, these traits are more prevalent in women than in men, which would also help to answer the question: Why are women more prone to suffer from anorexia and bulimia?