The Weight of Perfection: How Society Shapes Disordered Eating

woman-crying-and-eating

Last Updated:

May 1st, 2025


It is estimated that more than 1.25 million people in the UK suffer from an eating disorder. Factors contributing to disordered eating run deep, from childhood habits and attitudes towards food to how our culture suggests what we should eat to be “beautiful.”

We’ll examine some of the most pervasive influences our society has on our eating habits and how this leads many to disordered eating. We hope to give you insights on easing societal pressures and developing a healthier relationship with the food you eat and your body image.

How are eating disorders defined?

Eating disorders are defined as “behavioural conditions characterised by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviours and attitudes towards food.” Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that have deep ramifications on long-term health and vitality.

Living with an eating disorder creates a progressively distorted view of the sustenance needed for survival. An unnatural perspective on nutrition and energy intake can have catastrophic consequences.

Our understanding and ability to classify eating disorders have evolved in recent years, some of the most prevalent being:

  • Anorexia nervosa: Anorexia nervosa involves extreme dieting and a profound fear of weight gain. Sufferers will regularly self-starve, usually to a dangerous degree of 15% or more of ideal body weight.
  • Bulimia nervosa: People with bulimia usually have a more typical weight (BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9) but engage in the dangerous cycle of binging and purging. A person suffering will episodically binge on large amounts of food, accompanied by strong feelings of the loss of control over their eating. It is common to self-induce vomiting then or use laxatives to “purge” the body.
  • Binge eating disorder: Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder doesn’t involve purging. People with a binge eating disorder are typically obese and eat food in a shorter amount of time compared with others. People with binge eating disorder report feeling disconnected from themselves during a binge, sometimes unable to remember what they’ve eaten afterwards.

What are the social causes of eating disorders?

The causes of eating disorders are complex, multi-dimensional and dependent on the cultural norms a person lives in. One country’s idea of an eating disorder might not be recognised in the eyes of citizens in a foreign land.

Some of the largest influences on the development of eating disorders include:

Social media
Without a doubt, social media has become one of the most impactful forces that influence what we eat, as well as our perception of the “ideal physical body.”

Almost 80% of the UK population uses social media, with an even higher number among adolescents. One study on young people who overuse social media found a link to the development of eating disorders. Indeed, it would be hard to measure social media’s ubiquitous influence through the reach of its invisible tendrils.

As one example, the mid-2000s saw a rising trend of “Thinspiration” dominating the fitness section of social media pages. Pictures of protruding rib cages, cheekbones, and sharper clavicles became a curated collection meant to inspire people about what beauty looks like. This resulted in many younger social media users being diagnosed with anorexia by healthcare professionals.

Other trends in food consumption, such as Mukbang, can encourage a person to overeat. These social media trends rarely show how the meal’s nutritional value, or lack thereof, relates to the body and affects overall health.

Family and peer pressure
Even if we were to bypass the influence of social media on eating disorders, we can still see how family and peer pressure are pertinent contributors to what we eat. We go through childhood generally eating what our parents cook for us. Before we can gain employment and make our own decisions about what we eat, we are essentially at the mercy of what we are served at meal times. Suppose our families consistently eat food low in nutritional value. In that case, it becomes more likely that an eating disorder can develop, which is likely the reason that the average age of the onset of eating disorders is 18 years for anorexia and bulimia, two of the most common eating disorders.

Outside of familial influence, our friends and peers also greatly influence what we eat. Research shows how daily social interactions directly influence unhealthy eating practices in adolescent boys and girls. As much as we might try to tell ourselves that our diet is free of peer pressure, that is simply not the case for many of us.

The link to other mental health issues
Developing an eating disorder often co-occurs with other mental health issues. Research demonstrates that between 55% to 97% of people with an eating disorder also receive a diagnosis of another mood disorder, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and PTSD. Seeing as societal norms can have such a heavy influence on a person’s mental health, we can propose that as a society with recessions and cost-of-living increases, rates of mental health issues and subsequent eating disorders increase accordingly.

woman-thinking-while-eating

How can we prevent the development of disordered eating?

Tackling the rising number of eating disorder diagnoses across the country needs a multifaceted approach. Help and inspiration towards healthier eating habits may spring up from countless sources, such as home life, school, friends, relationships and mass media. While we cannot change the world, or our society at large, we may try taking our own small steps to encourage healthier diets in ourselves and others.

Some steps include:

Learn the balance needed for better nutrition
It is not always easy to find reputable information about what constitutes a healthy diet, especially in a time of so many “fitness influencers” who promise us quick fixes to complex issues. Turn to more trusted sources. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a great resource for learning nutritional values in food. Nourished Kitchen is another great place for finding healthier recipes to bring to the family table.

Suffering from an eating disorder over time may lead you to convince yourself that certain foods are inherently “good or bad,” not giving enough respect to the balance needed for healthy eating. We must recognise that our bodies need diversity in nutrition, as one nutritional deficit can majorly affect the rest of the body.

Cutting back on media consumption
It is very clear that social media continues to exert greater influence on perceived “body ideals.” If you find yourself having incessantly negative mental judgments about your body, it can be beneficial to set limits on how often you look at social media. Consider how algorithms may be working, catering precisely to the pages you engage with and bombarding you with content that reinforces negative self-perception. Set a time limit for how often you load social media pages and journal your feelings after a few days of change. Images on “body ideal” pages are edited for hours before posting, so disengaging with these posts can give you a more realistic understanding of how the average person looks.
Speaking with a therapist
Speaking with a professional therapist may help you contextualise your feelings towards food. Even if you aren’t sure whether you have an eating disorder, having recurring thoughts about your diet, body shape, weight, or appearance can take a toll. Therapists specialising in eating disorder treatment provide a healthy outlet when your thoughts feel unmanageable. They help you work your way out of compulsions and harmful thoughts, guiding you towards a healthier outlook on eating.

Where can I find help if I have an eating disorder?

If you or a loved one is struggling with disordered eating, we understand how difficult it can feel to find help. Getting support at the right time can be the difference between a return to healthy eating and years of malnutrition.

At Banbury Lodge, we understand the complexities of eating disorders and the steps you can take to recover. We help you to develop a healthier relationship with food and yourself. Our expert team guides you into a more mindful approach to nutrition, helping you gain control over eating behaviours and improving your self-image.

Through continued therapy and support, you can reclaim control and lead a more fulfilling life filled with energy and newfound sustenance.

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