The Relationship Between Bullying, Weight Shaming, and Eating Disorders
We live in a world where too many people like to bring others down in order to feel good about themselves through hurtful words and actions. Bullying can occur at home, school, online, or with peers. It is an ongoing issue that needs to being solved. However, if not addressed, bullying at any age can result in major consequences, including the development of eating disorders.
by: Amanda Nussbaum
Everyone has heard the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” While people may believe that words do not hurt, this is far from true. Hurtful comments and remarks, which is a type of bullying, can have a long and significant impact on someone. Bullying is a growing issue in which more vulnerable people are threatened or intimidated by others. Someone who is bullied may develop mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression or an eating disorder. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, up to 65% of people with eating disorders believe bullying was a contributing factor to their development of the disorder. Bullying often occurs during school years, but can also take place in social, home or work settings.
A common form of bullying among children, adolescence and young adults is weight-related bullying (also referred to as weight shaming), which occurs when negative words and actions are directed at someone’s body size or weight. They made be called names, have rumors spread about them, be excluded, insulted, or even physically hurt. Research has shown that those who are either in larger bodies have a greater chance of being bullied than those who are not.
Over 80% of school-aged children have encountered weight-related bullying during physical activities. In addition, 30% of girls and 24% of boys in middle school have been bullied because of their size. By the time students are in high school, 63% of females and 58% of males who have larger bodies have been teased about their appearance. Other studies show that children who are bullied are almost twice as likely to show signs of anorexia and bulimia than those who are not.
Bullying and weight shaming do not stop at school or in public. Cyberbullying is very common online. The victims of cyberbullying often receive malicious online comments about their size, appearance, or other features, usually from someone hiding their online identity. This bullying can be even more hurtful than “traditional” bullying because posts, comments, photos, and videos may be uploaded anonymously for anyone and everyone to see.
Cyberbullying can cause people to take extreme measures to control or change their body. They may begin to diet, not eat, or over-exercise as a way to cope with the bullying or try and stop it altogether. Others may throw up after eating or abuse laxatives or diuretics to lose weight. Some people may show signs of binge eating disorder and eat large amounts of food at once to handle the hurtful words and their emotions. These behaviors may result in people associating their weight and appearance with their self-worth, which, in turn, can worsen their self-esteem and increase the likelihood of them developing eating disorder behaviors. Some people may also turn to disordered behaviors as a way to “fit in”, in an attempt to stop the bullying.
It is important to be supportive of victims of bullying. Although many people may be reluctant or embarrassed to open up to someone, family members, teachers, and other authority figures should be attentive of and recognize the different signs of weight shaming and bullying. They may then notice behavioral and physical changes in the person they suspect is being bullied. Adults should also set a good example by not talking poorly about their appearance, checking on a child’s social media usage, and listening and focusing on attributes that are not related to looks. If the person being bullied is not comfortable talking to someone they know, they can work with a therapist to address how bullying is affecting their mental health and body image. Bullying is not a “trend”. It has no positive outcomes and should never be tolerated. Remember, hurtful comments can have major consequences and affect someone for years.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. We offer a variety of virtual programs and services, including our Adolescent program, Body Image group, and a Food and Mood group, which may be beneficial to clients who experience bullying.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Intern, Amanda Nussbaum.
Amanda is a recent graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She enjoys being creative, writing, and editing videos, and is passionate about health, wellness, and lifestyle. Throughout college, Amanda volunteered with the Girls on the Run organization, which helps young girls develop a positive self-esteem. She also mentored a young girl through Ramapo College’s chapter of Big Brother, Big Sister. Amanda’s involvement in these organizations helped her realize that she wants to work for a company that has an impact on others, while still being creative with marketing. In the future, Amanda hopes to work in the marketing or communications department of an organization that focuses on teenagers and young adults, and their health and self-confidence. She enjoys contributing to the BALANCE blog!