“There is no magic wand; there's no pill you take that makes everything great and makes you happy all the time. I'm letting go of those expectations and it's opening me up to moments of transcendent happiness. But I still feel the stress of “Am I skinny enough?” Am I too skinny? Is my body the right shape?" –Anne Hathaway. It seems like every girl's dream is to become a model. Eating disorders affect an increasing number of people, especially young women, in today's modern societies. One study even found that some girls are more afraid of gaining weight than nuclear war or getting cancer The most common types of this disorder are anorexia, bulimia and purging, each of which has a subtle effect on different people this moment, 1% of all American women, our sisters, mothers and daughters, are starving. “I will not eat cakes, cookies or food. I will be thin, thin, pure. I will be pure and empty . Ninety-nine… ninety-five… ninety-two… ninety. Where does it go in the universe?” -Francesca Lia Block. Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder , characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. 90-95% of people who suffer from anorexia are girls and women. It is a major psychiatric diagnosis and is the third most common chronic disease among adolescents. We believe that we must have a certain weight and ideal beauty in America; it's pretty much the top priority for teenagers and college students. Anorexia is mainly caused by low self-esteem, stress and cultural influence. Intense fear of gaining weight, loss of menstrual cycle, denial of food, and excessive exercise are just a few factors... middle of paper... logical, psychological, social, and cultural factors. Many individuals with bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating disorder do not seek help until they reach their thirties or forties, when their eating is deeply entrenched and more difficult to change. Bulimia is often treated more successfully than anorexia, in part because bulimic patients usually want to be treated. Aside from interpersonal issues, such as depression and OCD, eating disorders are highly triggered by television, electronic devices, and in some cases due to influences presented by one's parents or friends. Many are unaware of the harm the media causes to its target audience. Overall, the media has completely taken over our lifestyle and continues to gain more control every day. Eating disorders do not belong to a specific face, race, or shape. Anyone can fall victim to these diseases.