Essay on College Students: Addressing Body Image Struggles and Its Effects

Body image struggles occurs among college students due to negative perspectives they have regarding their physical outlook (Schwartz, 2006). Body image struggles among this category of students needs to be urgently addressed as it results in disordered eating, consequently evoking physical and emotional health problems such as malnutrition and depression, respectively (Schwartz, 2006). Some facts and figures about this problem are that it exists due to the feelings people have concerning themselves (Fairburn, 2008). Secondly, the problem has become widespread due to the media, which always showcases perfect bodies (Fairburn, 2008). Last but not least, young people in society are the most susceptible to this problem as they are the biggest consumers of media products (Fairburn, 2008).

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The progression of body image struggles into disordered eating affects students at an individual level by interfering with the aspect of learning. As disordered eating elicits physical and emotional problems, such issues affect a student's ability to concentrate, retain memory as well as process information, consequently resulting in poor academic performances (Cassin & von Ranson, 2005). Moreover, body image struggles translating into disordered eating among college students also affects the community by inhibiting cohesion and collaboration between students as those suffering from the problem avoid interacting with others (Cassin & von Ranson, 2005).

The issue of body image struggles resulting into disordered eating among college students requires immediate attention as it is a problem which has grown to a large extent, consequently increasing the severity of the matter within learning institutions. For instance, as it is evident in a recent study, 76% of girls and 46% of boys in college are struggling with body image due to dissatisfaction regarding their outlook and weight (Schwartz, 2006). In a bid to change themselves, 25% develop disordered eating thus an increase from 7.9% to 25% and 23.4% to 32.6% among male and female students respectively (Schwartz, 2006). Body image struggles that results in disordered eating affect any college student regardless of their age, background, or race (Schwartz, 2006). However, girls are most at risk due to peer pressure and the desire to be accepted in a highly progressive society of young and physically attractive fashion models (Schwartz, 2006).

References

Cassin, S. E., & von Ranson, K. M. (2005). Personality and eating disorders: a decade in review. Clinical psychology review, 25(7), 895-916. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735805000899

Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press.

Schwartz, A. J. (2006). College student suicide in the United States: 1990-1991 through 2003-2004. Journal of American College Health, 54(6), 341-352. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/JACH.54.6.341-352