Size 0 is the American equivalent to UK size 4. No matter what clothing size you wear, chances are, you will have heard of the size 0. It was everywhere in the media a few years back, and although it has fallen beneath the surface, it certainly hasn’t been forgotten about for sure. From the size 0 models in the media to Victoria Beckham supporting her tiny waistline, it’s no wonder people these days feel pressured to look a certain way.
Between glamourising size 0 in the news, to brands classing size 16 and above as plus size (and also using models who most definitely aren’t plus size), I’m surprised we, as a society, haven’t acted upon this issue sooner. The number of anorexia cases, which have been reported upon, is 1.6 million people - a statistic which is much higher than I had originally pictured - with the age of 16 and 17 being where the signs first begin to develop. In my eyes, 16 and 17 year olds are still children, but what exactly are the reasons for such early ages developing the illness? One main root cause is the media. Whether it’s social media, or informative media which includes the television, newspapers, magazines and radio. Almost every time you view a media form, it includes a model. Whether they’re discussing a model themselves, or promoting something, it will include a handful of images of the model. They may be in clothing, a bikini or lingerie, honestly anything. However, it’s indeed these images which may be harmful. If something’s explicit or may cause distress, they issue a trigger warning. It may be coming to the point that if they’re featuring a relatively slim woman, they may need to issue a warning also.
But, it’s not only young adolescents who suffer from an eating disorder. Studies have reported that 8% of women suffer from bulimia at some stage of their life. You may be thinking “oh, 8% is less than 10% so we’re fine because it’s single figures”, but no. Even 8% remains too high. No eating disorder is more severe than the other; they’re all destructive in their own way. And if the figures keep increasing, we need to act, and fast.
By all means, there are genuinely people out there who physically cannot put on weight. They are just naturally really slim and struggle gaining weight. But, of course, it’s only human to have to deal with body issues. Perhaps those who are naturally thin WISH for curves, whereas those who have curves despise them and wish they were slimmer. But guess what? Curves or not, the body is one of the most beautiful forms of art we have in modern day. I’m not saying that the size 0 is disgusting, because some people cannot help but be this size, but by glamourising it to the point people become obsessed and develop an illness is a serious case.
The average female in the UK is size 14-16. This is classed as being relatively healthy, which it is in most terms. For an individual to feel pressured by the media to look a certain way makes my blood boil. We shouldn’t feel the need to change how we look just because the media says so. They almost paint a “perfect woman” but of course, no such thing even exists. Don’t let scales, or a clothing size define you.
If you’re naturally a size 0, you’re beautiful. If you’re a size 16, you’re beautiful.
