The Perfect Body
Body image issues are a real problem that a lot people face every day. Many seek to achieve an ideal and unrealistic type of body. Some even go to extreme measures, such as drugs, eating disorders, or even over exercising to reach this ideal body. Of course exercise is undoubtedly important to living a healthy life, but it is more important to know that the perfect body cannot and does not exist. Every person is unique and “healthy” does not necessarily mean stick skinny or big muscles. The idea of a perfect body is the result of over exaggerated media and the all important sports world. Through the influence of sports and media, the desire of an ideal body type has become one of the main concerns in a majority of our population and is severely damaging this majority’s physical and mental health.
As a multibillion dollar business, it is hard to ignore the fact that sports are really important in today’s society (Sissoko). Sports bring people together and for years have been an excellent source of entertainment. Events are full of “moment-by-moment excitement”, filled with the adrenaline that most people just can’t get enough of. With the business of this all important sport’s world, although, comes the controversy of using illegal drugs. To some athletes, not only professional, the need for a better body to perform at greater capacities has become more important than their ethics and morals. Athletes are role models for people of all ages and seeing them throw away everything that is right, for a better game, a win, or for the body that gets them there is part of the problem we face. The male athletes, who seek out instant results, are the ones who have lead to eating disorders and other harmful habits. These athletes’ strive for success and perfection is taking its toll on society. The effects of the drugs they are turning to can be deadly, but it does not seem to matter as long as they reach their goal of perfection. “Although performance- enhancing drugs are generally banned by athletic organizations, it is considered laughably easy to cheat and escape detection in drug screens” (Angier). It is a natural human instinct to continually seek self-improvement, but the pseudo role moles people are looking up to are portraying an image of the acceptability of compromising ethics and health for a body that does not exist without the aid of performance enhancing drugs.
The sport’s world has been shown to create an ideal body that is naturally unreal and unhealthy, but of course there are other factors that have undermined people’s physical and mental health. The media has been society’s example of perfection and acceptance for as long as it has existed. Models such as the celebrities on television and magazines and even children’s toys such as G.I. Joe and Barbie have become what people look to as an example of what they need to aspire to look like. These examples promote to people, especially young impressionable children, that there is a standard they must meet to be successful and accepted. Celebrities are seen as beautiful and successful because of their blonde hair, slim figures, and busty bodies. The truth is, these “celebrities and models are in the business of looking good, and they get a lot of help” (“Celebrity Culture”). Not only do they have around the clock help to keep them in check with their bodies, they are on extreme diets that are harmful to them, and any pictures taken of them are somewhat faked. Images captured of these “perfect people” are retouched and digitally enhanced in some way or another. “Even celebrity snapshots like those in People—the paparazzi shots—are retouched” (“Celebrity Culture”). Proving that even celebrities really do not look the way they are being portrayed by the media. There is nothing wrong with thinking these people are beautiful, the problem is that we are thinking this is the only kind of beauty and body image that is accepted. This kind of thinking is harmful. People are consumed by these images of “perfection” and do as much as they possibly can to try and morph their own bodies into these unrealistic figures.
Many young girls want to look just like their celebrity role models, or their favorite Barbie Doll. The thoughts of needing to be perfect and having that perfect body can result not only in drug use, but eating and body image disorders. “50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight” (Eating Disorder Statistics), and that age range has been dropping every year. Girls as young at eight and nine years old have been admitted into eating disorder rehab facilities for disorders they should not even know about yet These thoughts can become so deep that the girls thinking them can develop body dysmorphic disorder. This is a disease in which the thoughts of being perfect and not currently having the perfect body can consume one’s thoughts to be so severe that it becomes a fact and all the sufferer can think of. It becomes a state of mind that can be simply shaken off, but needs extensive treatment. These people are so deeply convinced that they need to transform into perfection, that they endure self-inflected torturous regimens such as binging and purging food, over exercising, under eating, and being obsessed with eating the perfect diets. These are all examples of disorders that can cause damage to a person’s body, and in several scenarios, can even lead to death. Not only young people suffer with body image issues, “it is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder – seven million women and one million men” (Eating Disorder Statistics). Men can suffer from the same disorders women do, along with bigorexia. Bigorexia is a mental body image disorder that is common among men who feel the need to be big and buff, just like the toy G.I. Joe’s they grew up with, and the successful athlete they see on television.
Our society believes that men are supposed to be “tough-guys” and violent to survive. This expectation then reflects into the products that will sell. “Steroids made it possible for men to look as big as superman, and now we see that standard reflected in our toys for the very young” (Angier). Therefore, creating an endless cycle of unhealthy thoughts, lifestyles, and bodies among many people.
Body image is a severe and realistic issue that millions of people have to deal with everyday. Although the sport’s world and the media’s idealization of the human body play an enormous role in causing these serious physical and mental health issues, ultimately it is up to the people being victimized by these influences to stop them. No matter your body type, it is important to remember that perfection is not necessarily healthy and beauty is as unique as the people who portray it. Everyone has flaws, and it is very likely that people around you are too distraught by their own inadequacies to ever even notice yours. There is no and never will be such a thing as the perfect human body.

Works Cited
Angier, Natalie. "Drugs, Sports, Body Image and G.I. Joe." The New York Times. The New York Times, 22 Dec. 1998. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. .
"Celebrity Culture Promotes Unrealistic Body Images." Celebrity Culture. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.
Dana: The 8 Year Old Anorexic. Dir. Veronica Clifford. Perf. Steven Mackintosh. Channel 4; Dana: The 8 Year Old Anorexic. Channel 4 Television Corporation, 2008. Web. 1 Apr. 2012. .
"Eating Disorder Statistics." DMH: South Carolina Department of Mental Health. South Carolina Department of Mental Health, 2006. Web. 05 Apr. 2012.
Sissoko, Brad M. "Drug Use in Professional Sports." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 5 Apr. 2012.