Discuss how can societal and environmental influences contribute to eating disorders in adolescence?

Environmental and social influences may play an important role in the development of eating disorders during adolescence. The media’s portrayal of unrealistic standards for body size can lead to an unhealthy self-image, and disordered eating behavior. Peer pressure can also have an impact on body image. Adolescents may feel that they need to achieve a particular look or weight to fit in with their peers.

Additionally, culture norms and gender expectations can also contribute to eating disorders among adolescents. Cultural pressures for females, such as the need to stay thin, could cause some adolescents to suffer from eating disorders. Similarly, males may develop muscle dysmorphia due to pressures placed upon them by society that dictate what an “ideal” masculine body should look like.

Environmental factors, such as food insecurity or poverty can increase the likelihood of adolescents developing eating disorders. If they don’t have access to healthy and nutritious food, adolescents will often turn to other unhealthy ways of losing weight.