A semiotic understanding of eating disorders: The impact of media portrayal

Through a semiotic analysis, the author explored young women's mental associations with the term eating disorders. This analysis is presented in comparison with a similar survey that examined the term mental disorders. Unlike mental disorders, eating disorders are associated with moral deficits, with an elite sect of society, and were seen to be influenced by media portrayals. Eating disorders are associated with narcissism and perfectionism but were assumed to be common, particularly among female cultural persona. A model is presented, tracing the evolution of the contemporary meaning of the term eating disorder. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of prevention and the development of treatment.