Effects of Media on Young GirlsI remember her standing in front of the mirror and looking at herself. How she thought she was beautiful, I don't know. Because the image I saw was of a person who looked like a living corpse. She must have weighed only 100 pounds, her hair so fine, her black bags under her eyes and her grayish complexion made her look like a dead woman. As she saw me looking at her out of the corner of my eye, she slammed the door in my face. She was the big sister I knew now. She was no longer the big sister I could go to for advice or a laugh. No, she was too busy with her own schedule and not to mention her terrible mood swings. My older sister Jessica was one of many teenagers who suffered from an eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. Eating disorders have increased sharply over the past 20 years among young girls and have now become a major problem in the United States. Many experts have attempted to find the cause of eating disorders, and one of the many solutions lies in the effects of media on young girls. By using ultra-thin models and actresses, the media illustrates the message that happiness and success go hand in hand with a thin body. The messages show that to be thin, like teen idols and role models, people need to reach a weight that is not healthy. For these young girls, the media's message of thinness contributes to their low self-esteem regarding their body image, which leads to dangerous eating disorders. Media is an important aspect of today's culture. In the United States, almost every household has a television, and the average American watches television 3 to 5 hours per day. Television is not the only... middle of paper ...... pattern of binge eating followed by self-induced purging or laxative abuse. People with the condition often limit themselves and then indulge in foods feeling sick soon after. The effects of this disease are damage to teeth due to stomach acid, dehydration, weakness, electrolyte imbalance, throat bleeding and infections, digestive and intestinal problems, muscle spasms and aches. head. The question you need to ask yourself is, “Is being thin worth getting sick or even dying?” » Many young girls don't see the dark side of being thin. All they see is beauty and glamor due to all the messages they receive from the media. Since young girls find it important to emulate these thin images, they spend hours and dollars trying to reduce their waists and legs through dieting and exercise, all to achieve "body image." perfect” of society..”