Yeah, magazines do contribuite a great deal to eating disorders in my experience. It works something like this:
Life is sh*t, we all can at times feel very low and for teenagers who are not yet able to express themselves as fluently as adults- the exam pressure, social stigma and large ego/me-me-me society almost feed depression and low moods.
So, a teenager or adolescent picks up a magazine, FULL of images which are celbrated- do this, wear that, create a look identikat to this and you will be celebrated too- you'll be loved, the center of attention, fitting in perfectly, adored, accpeted- it can be read in countless ways. Fact is it says "this is posative, anything otherwise is negative and worthless". The levels they set are so high, mainly because things like airbrushing are so heavily used. I'm not talking about the odd spot here or there, I'm talking about dropping several dress sizes, losing all cellulite/shadowing and flawless skin.
It would seem the ideal is prepubescent and eats very little. It would seem that on the next page, large breasts and slobbing out with a tub of ben and jerrys is also how it works. Its confusing, yet the only thing that fits each mould is the thinness of the models.
Now I don't for a second thing they all have eating disorders, but I don't think many of them eat well- enough to maintain a weight where they might maybe be able to have children, maintain good bone health or be 100% in good health. But then I guess we'll never know for sure- the airbrushing would delete any under eye shadows, any odd skin marks, spots or hair loss.
And the smile for the camera? reads this is how to be happy, this will eradicate all your problems, you just need to live a lifestyle like mine, you just need to look as close to I do as possible, then everyone will love you, will admire your clothes, will feel so jelous, you'll never feel iscolated again.
Its just a shame that many people don;t see the myth 'till its too late, and the rest stay chasing the dream for the rest of their lives.
I have lost several friends to anorexia and bulimia. On my first week in hospital, a message cam back fo a girl who had gotten to her maintainance weight. It was not enough, her heart was still too weak.She had died about a month after leaving hospital. Another friend whom I was very sorry to lose, died at the age of 28. The list goes on, I wont name everyone on here, theres not the time or space.
I don't want to make out that the magazines are the entire reason why eating disorders develop, but when your feeling really low and have no way to get help, feel unsupported or just don't have the ability to trust those around you for whatever reason, a magazine image directed to be imitated (come off it, which are not!) can be an extremely seductive ideal to fall in to.