“Poor Little Rich Kids”
In 1983, American’s were stunned to learn that Karen Carpenter was pronounced dead at a California hospital. At only 32 years old, Carpenter was 5 foot 4 inches and a shocking 108 pounds; her death was caused by cardiac arrest due to a strain placed on her heart by anorexia (Young). Karen Carpenter had suffered from anorexia for most of her life; she was the daughter of a celebrity and she was a “chubby teenager” who was always being watched (Young). Not until she collapsed performing in Las Vegas and was told she was “35 pounds underweight” did she realize she needed help (Young). Something that used to be so uncommon is now a usual scenario in the US; many celebrities have been treated for or watched for eating disorders. While the media flashes the images of emaciated Mary Kate Olson or Lindsey Lohan young teenagers sit at home wishing they could look just like the celebrities. The number of eating disorders diagnosed in the US has been consistently going up over the past few decades-particularly in affluent areas. Why are eating disorders more prevalent in affluent areas in teenagers? I believe that eating disorders are more prevalent among affluent area teenagers because of low self-esteem, pressure by the media to look like the celebrities, increase in diagnosis of psychological disorders, and pressure by high-income parents to be perfect.
In 1983, American’s were stunned to learn that Karen Carpenter was pronounced dead at a California hospital. At only 32 years old, Carpenter was 5 foot 4 inches and a shocking 108 pounds; her death was caused by cardiac arrest due to a strain placed on her heart by anorexia (Young). Karen Carpenter had suffered from anorexia for most of her life; she was the daughter of a celebrity and she was a “chubby teenager” who was always being watched (Young). Not until she collapsed performing in Las Vegas and was told she was “35 pounds underweight” did she realize she needed help (Young). Something that used to be so uncommon is now a usual scenario in the US; many celebrities have been treated for or watched for eating disorders. While the media flashes the images of emaciated Mary Kate Olson or Lindsey Lohan young teenagers sit at home wishing they could look just like the celebrities. The number of eating disorders diagnosed in the US has been consistently going up over the past few decades-particularly in affluent areas. Why are eating disorders more prevalent in affluent areas in teenagers? I believe that eating disorders are more prevalent among affluent area teenagers because of low self-esteem, pressure by the media to look like the celebrities, increase in diagnosis of psychological disorders, and pressure by high-income parents to be perfect.
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