body self respect

I am a University student conducting a study on body image,  the effects media, personality, family as well as others have on our thoughts about dieting and our self image.this is for my own purpose of interest and is confidential.Body image is how you see yourself in the mirror/ mind, what you believe about your appearance, how you feel about your body(weight, shape,height), and how you sense and control your body as you move i.e. how you feel in your body not just about your body.

The desire for thinness among women is so prevalent that it is identified as a "normative discontent" (Rodin et al, 1985). 42% of 1st -3rd grade girls want to be thinner ( collins, 1991). 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat( Mellin et al., 1991)and report this is a greater fear than parents dying.

The average American woman is 5'4" and weighs 140lbs, the average model is 5'11" and weighs 117lbs. Media content-  ideal body image promoted for females is: young,, extremely thin, long-legged, tall, an image that is impossible for most women to achieve. The ideal body image for males: young, lean, muscled, 6-pack abdomen, broad shoulders and narrow waist, image may be achievable if genetically endowed and through unhealthy means.

So many of us are taking this image of the perfect body to an unhealthy level, i as well am guilty of this in previous years. The idea that should be promoted is everything in moderation, instead of litterally killing ourselves to get to this much sought out "ideal".Being healthy is best, in my opinion. My question to you, is how far are you willing to let your desire to be "ideal" affect your own personal health and everyday living? Comments please!

My desire to be ideal eventually took priority over my health and life, and I'm currently trying to gain enough to be healthy again- which may be more than the ideal considered by some younger counters from browsing threads (5'5", 128). The problem is that I often to associate my happiness/ confidence with the way I look, and so do many people I'm sure.

I think women/ females in particular have created this ideal, and we end up competing and encouraging each other to fulfill it. Funny thing is, a lot of guys don't give a damn about a couple of pounds- as long as there's boobs. So why do we care so much? 

Hi! I'm sorry my reply has come so late, hopefully it will still help you in some way!?  Personally, i will stop at nothing to obtain the look and weight that i believe will make me happy.  People often say that losing weight doesn't make you happy, however, out of all the methods i have tried in making myself happy... it seems to be the only effective method.  I guess it depends on the person.

Also, i think that the fact we care so much is deinitely due to the media.  Every day i see these body-perfect images, and i feel that if i don't reach that weight or obtain that look, then i'm letting myself down.  However, at the moment i'm not losing as much weight as i'd hope to, so i suppose i can hardly talk haha :)

xxxx

Original Post by bassline123:

Hi! I'm sorry my reply has come so late, hopefully it will still help you in some way!?  Personally, i will stop at nothing to obtain the look and weight that i believe will make me happy.  People often say that losing weight doesn't make you happy, however, out of all the methods i have tried in making myself happy... it seems to be the only effective method.  I guess it depends on the person.

Also, i think that the fact we care so much is deinitely due to the media.  Every day i see these body-perfect images, and i feel that if i don't reach that weight or obtain that look, then i'm letting myself down.  However, at the moment i'm not losing as much weight as i'd hope to, so i suppose i can hardly talk haha :)

xxxx

bassline123, you're not losing as much weight as you'd hope to because you're already underweight as it is. cc isn't a website for people with eating disorders who aren't in active recovery.

"Promotion of starvation diets or habits that exhibit signs of an eating disorder ("pro-ana", "pro-mia", etc.) is prohibited."

please get help. no one should have to have a bmi of 14 to be happy. until you get help though, you shouldn't be posting on this site.

If I'm being honest, I'm becoming slightly annoyed at the way people keep on jumping to the conclusion that i have an eating disorder.  There's no need to quote the rules to me, i know perfectly well that eating disorders shouldn't be encouraged, and i wouldn't promote it- especially not on here!  I'm sorry if i sound ''bulshy'' or anything, i just don't think you should see the figures on the screen and assume i have a problem, i have a slight frame so any extra weight on me has a larger visual impact than it would on most.  According to BMI charts i am at the bottom of 'healthy' weight (no underweight) and i have already seen a doctor earlier this week with my mum to ensure i wasn't putting myself in a dangerous position by dieting.  Thank you for your concern, anyway.

the reason i'm worried about you (and i truly am worried, not trying to be righteous or anything) isn't because of the numbers on the screen, but the other things i've seen you post. saying you'll stop at nothing to achieve the weight that you want, wanting a bmi veryy low i believe i remember you saying?? (underweight begins at 18... you can be naturally thin to a point, but only children of 7 have a bmi that low), how many calories are you eating a day? all of the things you've posted worry me, and are most likely triggering for the many people here trying to recover.

p.s. your bmi is 17.3... i don't know any doctor who would recommend losing weight at that bmi... even if you are small framed.

I understand why you would be worried from what you have read, but i may come across as sounding a lot more desperate of attaining 'those goals' than i actually am.  Also, i was told that my BMI was 18.5 and not 17.3?  I'm afraid i disagree with what you're implying, although i do agree with your suggestion of quiting caloriecount.. it seems to be having the opposite effects of what i had intended.  You can believe i have an eating disorder all you like, it seems i have no chance of making you see things my way (which is that i don't, of course).  I will lose a healthy amount of weight, with or without caloriecount.  In this case, without.  Thank you anyway, i know you may have just been concerned.  Moderators you can feel free to delete my posts or whatever if you -too- feel they have been triggering for others.