Friday 8 April 2016

Fad Diets in the Media

Chloe talks about the pressures of suffering from an eating disorders in the run-up to summer, and how all bodies are perfect, no matter what the media says about them

- Chloe Murray

Now that Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner, it's that time of year when everyone is focused on getting that "summer body". I am sick of seeing fad diets and exercise routines plastered on magazines and television advertisements. As a former anorexic, it is hard for me to ignore these diets, in which the media tells me I must follow in order to have a "flat tummy" or "toned arms".

Although I disagree in the idea that the media can cause eating disorders, I do believe that it can be very triggering, and can definitely prolong recovery or aid relapse. Nowadays, everyone is so focused on body image, with celebrities being criticised all the time for being "too big" or "too small" that we forget what is important in life.

This time of year can be difficult, as I am in the process of booking holidays - an exciting job for most people. Yet for myself, although I can't wait to travel around Thailand with my best friend, I would not feel comfortable in a bikini and shorts right now. I hate showing my body. I don't want to succumb to the fad diets I see in magazines, where the photos of beautifully toned and slender women make me dislike my body even more.


It's hard not to compare yourself to the photoshopped images we see daily, and not want to change a single thing about ourselves. Anorexia will always make me conscious of my body, but the media will emphasise this greatly. All bodies are beautiful, no matter what shape or size, and we must all remember that there is no such thing as perfect!

For more information on finding support, click here

For more information on understanding eating disorders, click here

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