Eating Disorders

Sociology and Psychology

Photograph: John Lau

Every 62 minutes, someone dies of an eating disorder. Anorexia, bulimia, binging, and countless others all fall under the classification of “eating disorders”. These disorders are more than just about food itself or the drive to conform to society’s harsh standards. It is a very small part of something much larger. Eating disorders stem from a constant and vicious cycle of feeling not good enough, or constantly being told that one is not perfect enough. With the help of social media and the pandemic, these jarring messages are everywhere, and accessing them is as easy as ever.

However, it is important to understand the two most common eating disorders before the connection between social media and eating disorders can be discussed. Anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to as anorexia, causes one to view their body in a distorted light, which leads to a constant fear of gaining weight. This fear of gaining weight can manifest itself in different ways such as restricting food intake or constantly exercising. However, this cycle can break, and one might feel out of control, leading to a binge and purge cycle. Anorexia has the highest death rate among all mental health illnesses. 5-10% of anorexics die within 10 years of developing anorexia, and 18-20% within 20 years. Patients with anorexia are also 2 to 18 times more likely to commit suicide compared to their peers. Next, Bulimia nervosa, also known as bulimia, is a psychiatric illness in which one ingests large amounts of food within a short window of time. These binging periods usually spiral out of control, leading to feelings of resentment, anger, and shame. These feelings display themselves through purging (self-induced vomiting, fasting, laxative intakes, or over-exercising). Although most would expect bulimia to only manifest in adolescents and adults, the elderly and children as young as six can also develop bulimia. Despite increasingly widespread knowledge on the dangers associated with eating disorders, only 1 in 10 with bulimia receive treatment, and 30-50% of patients who receive treatment eventually relapse.

The global percentage of people who struggle with eating disorders has soared from 3.4% to 7.8% between 2000 and 2018. However, eating disorder diagnoses have increased by 25% overall for people between the ages 12 to 18 during the height of the pandemic. There has also been a 30% increase in eating disorder-related hospital admissions among females ages 12 to 18 during the pandemic. The pandemic has not only disrupted our social lives, but it has also affected our psychological moods. Being cooped up at home means that adolescents have been disconnected from the social structure and dynamic. Through this disconnection, everything becomes a little more riotous. Being at home means that most people have access to food day and night. At school, there are snacks and lunch breaks, meaning that adolescents are constantly surrounded by food. Having such access to food could lead to weight gain, which is another stressor that could lead to further understanding the rise of eating disorders amidst the pandemic.

However, experts have identified social media as the main stressor. With the current pandemic, human interaction is limited. Most of us spend time on social media to fill that void of connection. Despite its benefits, there are also downsides. Due to all the time spent at home, our understanding of body image diversity can become biased when we see pictures of others online. A recent study by the National Eating Disorders Association showed that Instagram was linked to increased awareness of body image and self-objectification. Pictures on social media can send messages of how beauty determines our worth and how we should treat our body, which can exacerbate the struggles those with eating disorders experience. Comparison is another big issue when it comes to social media. We often critique ourselves against what we see other people doing. By comparing ourselves to the highlights of someone’s life, these also conjure an unrealistic ideal of how we think we should look. A study of the eating attitudes and behaviours of native Fijian girls after being exposed to Western television was conducted. Although it isn’t directly connected to social media, the results derived are still applicable. It was concluded that prolonged media exposure led to key indicators of disordered eating and a desire to lose weight to resemble the people they saw on television. To clarify, social media is not the direct cause of anorexia or other eating disorders, but there is an undeniable link between the two.

Although social media can be toxic, the benefits are still evident. It gives us a chance and platform to advocate for change. The body positivity movement is a stark example of that as it encourages a safe space to discuss body diversity and supports people on their journey towards recovery and better health. Seeing other people on their eating disorder-related recovery journeys can also be empowering for others undergoing the same plight. Social media also allows for the wider public to be educated on eating disorders and the dangers associated with them. By recognising these signs, and educating others on how serious eating disorders can be, we can understand how to further help those on their road to recovery, and hopefully, prevent people from developing eating disorders. Through education, we are also chipping down the walls surrounding eating disorders a message at a time. With the pandemic still rampant in some places around the world, it’s important that we recognise the impacts the pandemic and social media can have on eating disorders.