No More Size Zero. Essentially, size zero models cause death. 20% of anorexia sufferers die prematurely as a result of complications of the disease (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 2006).

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English 10GK

Due date: 2012-02-02

No more size zero

Statistics show that there has been an 80% rise in girls admitted to hospital due to eating disorders in England over the last ten years (BBC, 2010). In 2007, 84,377 days off work were taken up due to eating disorders, which is a significant increase from the 58,878 sick days taken up from eating disorders in 2002 (Levy, 2008). These shocking figures are not just a coincidence; they are a result of our society. Not just our society in general, but something very specific in our society- the obsession with size zero. The large number of size zero models set an example and leads people to think that size zero is the norm, when really size zero is as far away from the norm as you can get. Size zero models should be banned, as they create a false idea of beauty, they can cause eating disorders and after all, aren’t curvier women more beautiful?

Essentially, size zero models cause death. 20% of anorexia sufferers die prematurely as a result of complications of the disease (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 2006). The shocking rise in eating disorders is no coincidence. In the past few years, models and celebrities have become smaller and smaller. Marilyn Monroe, the beauty ideal for women in the 1950s was a size twelve. Now, just a few decades later, the ideals of beauty are the likes of Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham, who are both size zeros. The size zero craze is not only damaging those who are size zeros, but it is damaging our society. When people, especially women and girls see models and celebrities being a size zero, they too strive to be a size zero. One could say that going on a diet to lose weight is your own choice. No one is going to force you to lose weight. However, one does not chose whether or not to have an eating disorder. One may start on an innocent quest to drop a dress size or two; however, it may develop into an eating disorder. An eating disorder is not something you can control; it is a severe psychological disorder with the highest mortality rate of any mental illness (South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 2006).

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Size zero models cause a false perception of normality. It is not anywhere near normal to be a size zero, the equivalent to a UK size 4 or a European size 32. In reality, the normal size for a woman is a UK size 16, 5 full sizes larger than a size zero. Hence, a false perception of normal size is created. This leads to people perceiving themselves as “fat”, when in actual fact they are just average.   Claire Roberts, an experienced counsellor says that “they (models) create a false image of normality and perpetuate the myth that we ...

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