Extreme thinness impacts youth body image and mental health

Experts warn that constant exposure to images of extreme thinness, particularly from media figures, negatively impacts the self-perception of adolescents. Psychiatrist Mireille Coelho of the Brazilian Association of Eating Disorders (Astral) notes that young people are highly vulnerable to influential figures. The normalization of extremely low body weight can act as a trigger for those already ill and may predispose others to developing eating disorders.

Psychologists highlight that the continuous exposure to such imagery creates a phenomenon of dysfunctional comparison. The goal of treatment is to help individuals admire public figures for their contributions rather than adopting them as a standard for self-image.

From a psychoanalytic perspective, extreme thinness is viewed as a complex phenomenon involving the intersection of the body, subjectivity, and social ties. It is often associated with anorexia nervosa and can be understood as a form of communication, a defense mechanism, or an attempt at psychic regulation in response to trauma or environmental failures. In contemporary culture, where thinness is often idealized as a symbol of discipline and virtue, clinical practice views food refusal as an expression of deep psychological suffering.