Disordered Eating and the Media Industry

This chapter takes a critical look at the relationship between mass media and disordered eating. The chapter examines the considerable part that the media plays in both the representation and commodification of bodies and in the construction of public narratives around EDs and disordered eating. It explores how media representations intersect with medicine and psychology, the influence of various forms of feminism and the emergence of “commodity feminism.” Several mechanisms come into play when considering the impact of media on ED diagnosis and the development of new categories and treatment programs. Documentaries often medicalize disordered eating, portraying it as a mental disorder rooted in a specific psychological profile. The identification effect occurs as individuals, influenced by the experiences of actors and celebrities with eating disorders, may self-diagnose or seek diagnosis and treatment. Entertainment value is found in emotionally charged or humorous storylines about characters grappling with the indignities of an eating disorder, while graphic depictions of behaviors such as binging and purging are largely deemed acceptable. Examples of portrayals of bodies and individuals with eating disorders in drama, comedy, and documentary are also scrutinized. Finally, the chapter considers the implications of the media industry’s eagerness to feature a greater range of body sizes and to use plus-size actors and the potential for the latter to become targets of media exploitation.