Body Image Affects All

In today’s society, not only women, but men too try to conform to a certain body type. People do this because they want to be feel accepted.

Just because a women does not have an hourglass figure with small hips and a slim stomach does not mean she is not beautiful. If a man does not have broad shoulders and a slim waist, that does not make him any less attractive. Society has shoved us into such a small spectrum; they cannot feed on anything else but its own conformities.

Businesses have advertisements that try to sell based on the issues men and women have with body image. They use photoshop and skinny models to try and get people to feel insecure, which makes them want to use their products. These advertisers use body image insecurities to make profits on their products.

According to CSWD.org, “80% of 10-year-old girls have dieted. 90% of high school junior and senior women diet regularly. Young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer, or losing their parents.”

Body image has taken an unhealthy turn on our society, but most people do not look at it as a serious health factor. According to The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, “3% of the total population suffer from eating disorders”. Usually eating disorders are because of an insecurity in body image, which eats at people’s self esteem until they feel like there is  no other option. The body boundaries are so tight in this society people can never feel proud of themselves.

Body image issues have a huge impact on our everyday lives and are important in our society. You are beautiful the way you are, do not let photoshop tell you otherwise.