title: [Eating disorders and mass media].
abstract: During the last 50 years, eating disorders have developed to a complicated and widespread medical  and social issue. The latest research results indicate that eating disorders have a quite complicated and multifactorial etiology. According to the multifactorial etiological model, the impact of mass media can be regarded mainly as a precipitating factor. The literature review showed that mass media have a considerable impact on the development and perpetuation of eating disorders. Mass media contribute to the promotion of the thinness ideal as a way to achieve social approval, recognition and success. Mass media also promote dieting and food deprivation, as a successful way of life or as a socially agreeable practice. Furthermore, the literature review showed that mass media remain the main source of information about eating disorders. Considering the above result, mass media could play a major role in the promotion of prevention practices and early diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: London Center of Management, Cavendish College, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peroutsi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonidakis
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation; D006115:Greece; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012945:Social Values; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology