Anorexia. Is it a cultural disease?

Typically, anorexia and bulemia effects more white women than women of other races. Not to say that only white women are effected. I have a friend who is black, 5 foot 7 and 110 lbs at best, her desire is to be as thin as Nicole Ritchie. Sadly, she suffers from bulemia. In my opinion Nicole Ritchie's body type is not only unhealthy but also unattractive. She looked so much better before she took her weight loss to the extreme. I have Asian friends who are naturally thin (even after child birth) and have hispanic friends who are thick (but not fat). I consider myself to be thick, 5 foot 9, 135 lbs and I wear a 6/8. I think beauty and radiance comes from having a posistive self image, regardless of your race or your clothing size. What do you think is the biggest factor contributing to eating disorders? Is the media to blame?

I believe that anorexia and bulemia are cultural diseases, but they affect those who have issues which make them susceptable to the diseases.

When you pick up most fashion magazines or watch movies and TV, you rarely see females who have curves or any type of shape. The media pushes the image of "the thinner, the better", and this can cause some people to desire that image so much that they starve themselves.

I recommend that teenage girls watch the movie "Real women have curves." It's a neat movie about loving yourself and your body.

BTW, guys can become anorexic and bulemic also.

You seem to talk an awful lot about the bodies of your friends. Perhaps if you (and other people) didn't pay so much attention to that they wouldn't feel so insecure that they want to be different.