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Despite the fact that globalization has come along with a lot of advantages, there are negative sides. Globalization has affected the culture of eating healthy. Peer influence also becomes another factor of consideration when it comes to the issue of eating healthy. Thesis Statement: Globalization has had a major impact on eating disorders due to the mixing of cultures, influence of media, technology, and peer influence. Research to include in introduction (if any): Globalization is only known for its positives and rarely for the negative impact has it on mental health.

Globalization has been known to bring different cultures together, leading to major cultural changes. These cultural changes have indirectly played a role in the promotion of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Eating disorders are considered health-compromising behaviors that increase the risk of severe complications. The influence of media, technological advancements, and cultural exchange through globalization contribute significantly to the rise of these disorders.

Media Influence: The media acts as a powerful marketing and influencing tool. Fast food companies leverage media platforms to promote their products, encouraging a culture of quick and easily accessible eating habits. This mass dissemination of fast food culture through movies, television, and social media intensifies exposure, especially among impressionable populations. According to Gerbasi et al. (2014), most movies and media content advocate for fast foods, normalizing unhealthy eating behaviors and body ideals that can trigger disordered eating patterns.

Technology: Technological advances, especially in social media, have revolutionized communication and information sharing. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook influence eating habits worldwide by promoting certain aesthetics, diets, and body standards. Bordo (2013) emphasizes that social media exerts a substantial influence on users, shaping perceptions of beauty and health, which can lead to obsession with thinness and restrictive eating behaviors. The constant exposure to idealized images and dieting routines fosters discontent with one’s body, increasing vulnerability to eating disorders.

Globalization: The process of globalization facilitates cultural exchange, leading to the widespread adoption of fast food consumption and Western beauty standards across different countries. Bordo (2013) notes that globalization encourages the transfer of eating habits and cultural norms, which often promote thinness and dieting as ideals. As cities and countries become interconnected through trade, media, and migration, the norms surrounding body image and eating behaviors are becoming homogenized, thus elevating the risk of eating disorders on a global scale. The normalization of such behaviors contributes to the perception of disordered eating as a normative response to cultural influences.

The intersection of globalization, media, and technology creates a complex environment that fosters the development of eating disorders. Exposure to idealized bodies, restrictive weights, and dieting trends through multiple channels heightens vulnerability among adolescents and young adults. The constant reinforcement of these ideals leads to distorted perceptions of body image and heightens the desire for thinness at any cost, often resulting in serious health issues.

In conclusion, while globalization fosters cultural exchange and economic development, it also inadvertently promotes health-compromising behaviors like eating disorders. The influence of media, social media, and global cultural shifts contribute to the normalization of disordered eating patterns. These disorders are difficult to treat, as they often involve patients denying or being unaware of their condition. Therefore, public health initiatives focusing on education and awareness are crucial. Educating individuals, especially youths, about healthy eating habits and body acceptance can serve as the most effective strategy to curb the rise of eating disorders driven by globalization and media influences.

References

• Bordo, S. (2013). The globalization of eating disorders. In Thinking, Reading and Writing about the New Global Era (pp. 19-22).
• Gerbasi, M. E., Richards, L. K., Thomas, J. J., Agnew-Blais, J. C., Thompson-Brenner, H., Gilman, S. E., & Becker, A. E. (2014). Globalization and eating disorder risk: Peer influence, perceived social norms, and adolescent disordered eating in Fiji. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(7), 727–737.
• Bordo, S., (2013). The globalization of eating disorders. In Thinking, Reading and Writing about the New Global Era, pp. 19-22.
• Gerbasi, M. E., Richards, L. K., Thomas, J. J., Agnew-Blais, J. C., Thompson-Brenner, H., Gilman, S. E., & Becker, A. E. (2014). Globalization and eating disorder risk: peer influence, perceived social norms, and adolescent disordered eating in Fiji. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(7), 727-737.
• Swencionis, C. J., & Zbozinek, T. D. (2016). The Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Eating Disorders: A Review. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 41(3), 177–191.
• Homan, K. J., McHugh, E., Wells, B. A., Watson, C., & King, C. (2019). The Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review. Eating Disorders, 27(2), 193-214.
• Cash, T. F., & Smolak, L. (2011). Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention. Guilford Press.
• Fairburn, C. G., & Harrison, P. J. (2003). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 361(9355), 407-416.
• Stice, E., & Shaw, H. (2002). Role of body dissatisfaction in the onset and maintenance of eating pathology: A synthesis of research findings. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 53(5), 985-993.
• Richards, L. K., & Thompson-Brenner, H. (2018). Cultural Influences on Eating Disorders. In The Oxford Handbook of Eating Disorders (pp. 152-165). Oxford University Press.