In today’s society, there is a growing problem that affects a significant portion of the population. Eating disorders are a silent killer that torment and affect roughly 9% of the population, contributing to 10,200 deaths per year (Harvard). These disorders are characterized by negative changes in behavior, thought, and attitude towards food, eating, and body weight or shape. Sadly, they can have detrimental impacts on an individual’s life, leading to serious medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial consequences, and even death. It is not just a problem that affects females, as 25% of those diagnosed with an eating disorder are male (American Addiction Center).

There is a widespread misconception that eating disorders only affect underweight teenage girls, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, less than 6% of individuals with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as underweight (American Psychiatric Association). Additionally, eating disorders can hide in plain sight and are difficult to spot. There are eight recognized types of feeding and eating disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with the most common being Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating. All of these disorders can be life-threatening, leaving victims with intense fears of gaining weight and leading them to go to extensive lengths to avoid it.

Anorexia Nervosa manifests fear of gaining weight and may lead to individuals extensively restricting food intake, misusing laxatives and diet aids, and exercising excessively. Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by purging after calorie consumption, which could involve vomiting, excessive exercising, and using laxatives. Victims of this disorder tend to consume unhealthy amounts of calories due to guilt, and this, in turn, leads to binge-eating. Binge-Eating, on the other hand, is associated with consuming large amounts of food within a short period of time, leading to feelings of guilt, disgust, and shame. This vicious cycle of bingeing and restricting food intake is difficult to break and is severely unhealthy (Mayo Clinic).

While the causes of eating disorders are complex and multifactorial, research has shown that certain traits or behaviors may be learned from parents or immediate family members. Parents with disordered eating behaviors are more likely to have children with similar behaviors (Culbert et al.), and parental criticism of weight, shape, and eating behavior has been found to be significantly associated with the development of eating disorders in adolescent girls (Paxton et al.). As such, parental behaviors and attitudes towards food and body image can have a profound impact on their children’s impressionable minds. Siblings, particularly female ones, of individuals with an eating disorder are also at higher risk of developing similar behaviors (Strober et al.).

In conclusion, eating disorders are a silent killer that affects a broad range of individuals in today’s society. It is not limited to underweight teenage girls and can hide in plain sight. The causes of eating disorders are complex, but research suggests that certain behaviors or attitudes learned from parents or immediate family members may contribute to their development. It is essential to raise awareness about this issue and provide individuals suffering from these disorders with the necessary help and support to overcome them.

Social media has transformed the way individuals communicate, share information, and consume media content. Despite the many advantages that social media has brought to society, there are still some negative aspects associated with it, including the emergence of eating disorders. On social media platforms, the promotion of "thinspiration" and "pro-ana" content has become rampant. This content is harmful and promotes unhealthy weight loss and negative body image behaviors.

Exposure to thinspiration content on social media has been linked to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, and negative emotions in women, as confirmed by a study in the Journal of Health Psychology (Tiggemann and Slater, 2014). The findings of this research suggest that thinspiration and pro-ana content on social media can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Although social media platforms that appeal to children, such as TikTok, have blocked keywords related to these malicious topics, individuals can easily find ways around them by using new vocabulary such as "thinspo" and "ednotsheeren."

Another way in which social media spreads eating disorders is inadvertently, through the promotion of unrealistic beauty standards that can lead to negative body image in users. Social media is packed with images of thin and toned bodies that are often unrealistic and sometimes photoshopped. Despite this, many people believe the images to be true, leading to pressure for individuals to conform to body standards, which may be detrimental to their mental and physical health. Studies published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders and the Journal of Adolescent Health have shown that exposure to idealized body images on social media leads to higher levels of body dissatisfaction and negative emotions in women and adolescent girls (Fardouly et al., 2015; Holland and Tiggemann, 2016).

While some may argue that eating disorders are hereditary, studies suggest that they can also spread socially. Individuals born into a family with a history of anorexia are 11 times more likely to develop the disorder, according to research. Although researchers are still exploring how genes affect the likelihood of an individual developing an eating disorder, the fact remains that such disorders are commonly linked to genetic factors.

However, it is vital to note that social media still has a significant role to play in the spread of eating disorders. Harvard Medicine highlights that depression is a genetic mental disorder, with genetics being a factor in around 40-50% of cases. This means that in most cases of depression, approximately half the cause is genetic, while the rest is psychological or physical factors. To a significant extent, society could be regarded as a factor in the spread of eating disorders, given the social interactions and media that individuals encounter daily.

As a result, parents and adults are obligated to take action to prevent the spread of eating disorders. One way is to avoid dieting around children and to encourage healthy eating habits. Limiting internet access for younger children by blocking certain words and websites can also be an effective strategy to prevent exposure to potentially harmful content. Parents and adults must discuss with children the risks of exposure to harmful content and guide them on healthy and positive perspectives related to food and body image.