Don’t tie human value to weight
Mental illness traditionally has been an overlooked topic of discussion globally. Individuals and societies are distinct, but their ideas and practices reach beyond geographic boundaries, and result in new challenges to mental health and eating disorders.
Several factors influence how a person develops an eating disorder: family history, exposure to eating disorders, mass media, and acculturation. But diet culture, which promotes unhealthy eating habits, greatly influences whether a woman becomes anorexic.
Mass media promotes the idea that thin women are healthier and sexier. But where did this idea come from?
According to Colleen Thompson, the American diet industry earns $72 billion annually. Endorsements by celebrities, corporations and the public leads to an acceptance of diet culture, perpetuating body-image pressures and encouraging women to restrict food. For some, this leads to an obsession that eventually spirals out of control.
The internet and social media spread the message that physical appearance is a most valued quality. This, and a skewed form of acceptance, often force women to place significant importance on their weight.
Racial and ethnic minority groups also risk developing eating disorders because of acculturation and body image. The National Eating Disorders Association reports that shortly after Western television was introduced to Fiji, several of that island nation’s women were at risk for clinical eating disorders.
Is getting rid of social media the way to cure eating disorders?
Of course not. But instead of associating value with weight, we should look out for others and use our energy to redefine beauty and spread positivity.
– Mia Wolosky,
Coral Gables
TILTING LEADERSHIP
Re the May 4 story “DeSantis declares ‘state of emergency’ over, invalidates all remaining local restrictions:” The governor has signed into law a bill that makes it more difficult, if not impossible, for local governments to enact policies meant to keep their citizens safe, or safer, from contracting COVID-19.
Currently, 33 of the 50 states have vaccination rates higher than Florida. Not only are we behind all but 16 states, we are, in essence, encouraging the not yet vaccinated Floridians to choose not to be vaccinated.
In Gov. Ron DeSantis’ quest to pander to those who don’t want to wear a mask or get a vaccination (polls have shown most of those are Republicans and thus, his voters), he is once again proving that he is not Florida’s governor, but governor of the Republicans of Florida.
DeSantis should take a page out of the playbooks of the 13 Republican governors of states with higher vaccination rates and stop making this a dangerous political game.
– Jill Cohen,
Davie