Societal Pressures and Eating Disorders

December 01, 2025

Written by Andrew Harris, MS, LCMHC Clinical Director - Center for Eating Disorders

The Definition of Eating Disorder

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions characterized by persistent disturbances in eating behaviors, thoughts, and emotions related to food, weight, and body image.

How Many Types of Eating Disorders Are There?

Eating disorders are categorized into five groups: Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge-Eating Disorder (BED), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)¹. Like other mental health conditions, eating disorders are impacted by various genetic, biological, and environmental factors.

Eating disorders are often ego-syntonic, meaning the disordered thoughts and behaviors feel consistent with, or even an acceptable part of, who a person believes themselves to be. This perspective can make it difficult to see the eating disorder as problematic, as it’s often viewed as beneficial or necessary to manage the stressors of life.

Societal Pressures

Environmental factors, which include societal pressures, are an inevitable part of life. These pressures come from all directions and begin early in life. While not all influences are negative, for someone who is vulnerable to or struggling with an eating disorder, these pressures can have a stronger impact. Some influences also tend to have a greater pull than others. Messages glorifying thinness, hyper-fitness, “clean eating” or appearance comparisons can easily intensify unhealthy thoughts, but other societal pressures may not be as obvious.

Common influences that can contribute to disordered eating include:

• Family and Peers: Studies show that peers and family members can shape dieting behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and even bulimic symptoms as early as adolescence². Comments about weight, appearance, or eating habits, even when subconscious or well-intentioned, can reinforce harmful beliefs. For example, noticing that the “popular” group at school skips lunch, or hearing a casual remark such as: “are you really going to finish all of that?” can subtly influence how someone views food and their body.  
• Hostile Interactions: Weight-related teasing and harassment can significantly increase body dissatisfaction and the risk of developing unhealthy eating patterns. This can happen to anyone at any age. Sometimes the intent is overt, such as mocking someone’s weight or appearance, but other times, the message is more subtle. A joke, an offhand comment, or being excluded from a group photo can still communicate that certain bodies are more acceptable than others, even if that was never the intention.  
• Trauma: Experiencing trauma, whether in childhood or adulthood, can significantly increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. Many individuals use disordered eating behaviors to cope with overwhelming emotions, numb distress, or regain a sense of control. Without trauma-informed treatment, the underlying pain may continue to fuel the eating disorder, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break³.
• Mass Media: Traditional and digital media, including ads, TV shows, magazines, movies, and social media, consistently promote narrow beauty ideals. Over 80% of Americans watch television daily, often for more than three hours. 13–18-year-olds use some form of media, including social media, streaming platforms, and video games, for about 7.5 hours per day⁴. These platforms tend to glorify unrealistic and altered body types, frequently sending the message that we should be dissatisfied with our appearance.  

The Role of Social Media

Social media is widely used and differs from traditional media by allowing users to create and share their own content, while also receiving feedback in the form of likes and comments from others.

The relationship between social media, body image, and eating disorders is complex, but research shows that social media use can contribute to body image concerns. The pursuit of online approval can drive individuals to edit, filter, and scrutinize their own images, yet the validation received almost never feels sufficient. The result is a cycle of comparison and self-criticism that can lead to behaviors that increase the risk of developing or worsening an eating disorder.

For example, someone might see a post from an influencer with no medical credentials saying they won’t rest until they reach 10,000 steps a day. To some, this seems harmless, but to others, it can plant a rigid expectation. Once 10,000 steps becomes routine, they may push for 15,000, then 20,000, ignoring their body’s cues. What began as a seemingly positive goal can quietly evolve into an unhealthy, all-consuming behavior.

Challenging Harmful Messages

While societal and social media pressures can feel inescapable, there are ways to push back. A helpful approach, rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is to “challenge the source” of the messages you encounter, regardless of where they were received:

• Be Mindful: What is the message truly trying to convey?

• Consider the Source: Is this person or platform credible?

• Question Intent: Why was this message said? Will someone profit from it?

• Evaluate Realism: Are the body images natural, or have they been digitally altered?

Eating disorders do not develop in isolation. They are shaped by a complex interplay of genetics and external influences. In a world saturated with messages about appearance, success, and self-worth, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction or health from harm. Recognizing the impact of societal pressures, family interactions, and media messages is a critical step toward prevention and recovery. By challenging harmful narratives, promoting realistic body ideals, and fostering self-compassion, we can begin to shift the cultural conversation from appearance to well-being.

References:

1. Feltner, C., Peat, C., Reddy, S., et al. (2022, March). Screening for eating disorders in adolescents and adults: An evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Evidence Synthesis No. 212). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US). Appendix A, Table 1, Summary of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for eating disorders. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK578994/table/appa.tab1/
2. Quiles Marcos, Y., Quiles Sebastián, M. J., Pamies Aubalat, L., Botella Ausina, J., & Treasure, J. (2013). Peer and family influence in eating disorders: A meta-analysis. European Psychiatry, 28(4), 199–206. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924933812000417
3. National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Eating disorders and trauma. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-and-trauma/
4. Common Sense Media. (2019). The Common Sense census: Media use by tweens and teens (2019 edition). Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/research/report/2019-census-8-to-18-full-report-updated.pdf