Week 8 Journal--Influence of the Media

Something that struck me as interesting this week was the direct correlation between mass media and the increase of eating disorders within the population. Electronic media has affected the way consumers think. They see this constant “ideal body” and eventually are brainwashed thinking you’re not beautiful or handsome unless your skinny. The readings summarized how much money and time is spent on advertising. Advertising linked to the topic of eating disorders tends to glorify “thinness” and encourages all to obtain this perfect body. Cultural pressure within the social media is a huge contributor to the continuance of eating disorders. The content provided stated that

» The average young adolescent watches 3-4 hours of TV per day.(1)

» The average American child may view as many as 40,000 television commercials every year.(2)

» Four hours of television programming contain about 100 ads.(3)

» 30 percent of local TV news time is devoted to advertising.(4)

Children, teens, and adults are ambushed with these commercials constantly advertising perfection. Advertisements of diets, supplements, gym memberships, equipment, weight loss in general and even the continuous use of thin models and actors are a huge catalyst for eating disorders. The responsibility of teaching critical medial literacy should be put on the parent and reinforced in the school setting when given the opportunity. With this direct correlation I place the most responsibility on the parent to teach the child how to have healthy eating habits and avoid the pressure by loving themselves for who they are. Schools can help by looking for signs of children being influenced and continuing to expose advertisements for what they are when given opportunity. This knowledge has always been something that I have personally been aware of. I myself over the years have experienced that same pressure to be thin just not as much as others because of my learned awareness. But every time a diet commercial, or weight loss pill comes on I find myself giving in to that curiosity. In the past I have even found myself researching my favorite stars diets that I deemed to be the “perfect body” in hopes to find out “the secret”. The pressure from the media and weight loss will always exist. It’s terrifying to think that producers are capable of driving consumers to the vulnerable “solution” of eating disorders.

· 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991). (1)

· In elementary school fewer than 25% of girls diet regularly. Yet those who do know what dieting involves and can talk about calorie restriction and food choices for weight loss fairly effectively (Smolak, 2011; Wertheim et al., 2009). (1)

· 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991). (1)

The statics are beyond disturbing and just motivates me to help protect my children and students by educating them to stay above the influence and create the awareness of critical medial literacy.

· The incidence of bulimia in 10-39 year old women TRIPLED between 1988 and 1993 (Hoek& van Hoeken, 2003). (1)
» In 2001, U.S. advertising expenditures topped $230 billion, more than doubling the $105.97 billion spent in 1980. (6)

These are not coincidence.  

1. www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

2. Starsburger, Victor C., (2001, June) “Children and TV Advertising: Nowhere to run, Nowhere to hide”. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 22, 185

3. Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 10, 1999

4. Rocky Mountain Media Watch

6. McCann-Erickson U.S. Advertising Volume Reports and Bob Coen’s Insider’s Report for December 2001

7. www.medialiteracy.com