Farenci, 1

Michelle Farenci
MacKinnon
AP Psychology
July 27, 2010

Dangerous Aesthetics

People have been changing their appearance since someone determined what “beauty” was. In

ancient China, women with small feet were highly regarded because it meant that their family was

wealthy enough that they could be carried rather than having to walk. In Malaysia, even to this day,

there are communities where neck stretching is regarded as beautiful and women wrap coils of metal

around their necks, reshaping their collar bones and spines in the pursuit of beauty. Since the medieval

era corsets have been in fashion as a way to gain an hour-glass figure, so women might be more

attractive to men. In Japan, where strength and honor are held in high standards, sumo wrestlers put on

vast amounts of weight in the form of muscle and some fat so they may compete for honor. These

practices are just some of the few that humanity has taken part in as a way to change their appearance,

more specifically, their size. The general size of a person has changed through out the centuries.

Before the advent of major technologies such as in the modern world, food was hard to come by, and so

those carrying a little extra weight were seen as beautiful. Now that food is readily available and easy

to come by, many are overweight, and find the rarer attribute of thinness to be beautiful. Part of the

reason for the extreme change in size in this last century, is that while our lifestyles as humans have

changed, our genetic predispositions have not. Evolution can take hundreds and even thousands of

years. Our bodies have been primed to withstand environments where food is less available and one

must exert much physical labor for food, however, our current lifestyles are quite the opposite. Instead,

food is abundant and more and more occupations are sedentary. Yet, people are still preoccupied with

beauty, however, they must now face the challenge that because they consume more calories than they

will burn, they are invariably carrying more weight, which, aside from standards of beauty, may or may
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not pose serious health risks. For one reason or another, much of the western world is very interested

in losing weight, in other terms, changing their size. A person's size is not fully dictated by genetics,

people can and have been changing their size for centuries.

There are many causes of weight gain, one of the most significant and abundant, is the

environment. Just a few centuries ago, the world was mostly agricultural, with people working hard to

harvest and hunt enough food for themselves and their families. As a result of this, the body became

primed to survive on less food than a person consumes today. Evolution is a very slow process, but our

environment has changed fairly rapidly. Fast food has taken over much of the world, the high-fat, high-

carbohydrate meal options yield a high caloric intake for a cheap price. The problem with this though,

is that much of the world is sedentary, those high calorie meals creating energy reserves in the form of

fat cells that do eventually catch up with a person in the form of being overweight or obese.

Illness is another cause of weight gain, but one that is often out of a person's control.

Significant weight gain is a symptom of several endocrine diseases such as Cushing syndrome, which

is accompanied by high rates of cortisol. Hypothyroidism, a disease in which the thyroid is

underactive, is another case in which significant weight gain is often a sign. While most diseases along

these lines can be treated, most cannot be cured and make it almost impossible for a person to lose

weight.

Often overlooked, drugs can wreak havoc on the hormones and neurochemicals that control

hunger, nutrition intake, and energy storage. Social drugs, such as alcohol, are generally higher in

calories and are often accompanied by food intake. The two components, working with a sedentary

lifestyle, can cause a person to pack on the pounds. Medical drugs, ranging from corticosteroids and

tranquilizers to antidepressants, interact directly with a bodies homeostatic systems. Corticosteroids

deal directly with cortisone which is one of the body's main hormones for dealing with stress, the other

two being glucocorticoid and adrenaline. Prolonged use can cause hypothyroidism as well as a host of
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other afflictions that can cause weight gain. With tranquilizers in use to treat anxiety and even severe

mental illness, however they have the effect of depressing the nervous system in much the way alcohol

does. They enhance the action of receptors that inhibit central nervous system stimulation, and

conversely, inhibit the action of receptors that stimulate the nervous system. The effect on the nervous

system can cause drowsiness in higher doses and a general lack of energy, which may cause a person to

put on weight as a side effect. Antidepressants are used to treat depression mainly in the form of

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Both can have an effect of an

abrupt slowing of a person's metabolism.

Some psychological sources of weight gain have also been found in the last few decades.

Depression and its treatment can cause weight gain. Before treatment a person may experience reduced

energy as far as hyposomnia as well as an unwillingness or lack of desire to go out. Both symptoms

can make getting sufficient physical activity incredibly difficult. Beyond this, the medications

prescribed to treat depression can have adverse affects on brain hormones and the metabolism. Stress

can also cause weight gain. Elevated levels of stress have been shown to cause a rise in cortisol.

Cortisol is secreted to restore homeostasis by raising blood sugar and is also an anti-diuretic. A rise in

blood sugar can cause an increase in appetite, and the properties of an anti-diuretic cause a person to

retain water, which can mean retaining weight. Studies also show that “When people are distressed,

one of the first things that goes is their commitment to long-term goals” (Herman, Polivy). If a

person's long-term goal involves eating healthy, they may indulge in something unhealthy and

prolonged stress could cause a person to routinely eat poorly and result in weight gain.

Beyond simple weight gain, there is the important scale of one's body mass index. This is

roughly the percent of a person's weight that comes from fat. Contrary to popular belief, some body fat

is necessary for a person's survival. The purpose of fat is to act as energy reserves once someone burns

their consumed carbohydrate calories. Fat is also necessary for the absorption of vitamins, nutrients,
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and phytochemicals [from fruits]. The right amount of body fat is especially important in women. So

important in fact, that at the advent of a girl's first menstrual period “It stimulates the first desire for fat

in foods.” (Leibowitz) Estrogen and galanin prime a woman to want to consume fats for the reason

that for a successful pregnancy a woman must have enough energy in reserve for herself as well as the

additional processes that go on until the baby is born. The survival gene is alive and well, giving

woman a desire to consume fats through galanin so that the species may continue. If a woman has a

low percentage of body fat menstrual periods may cease, resulting in a drop in fertility and making

miscarriages far more likely to occur.

Because putting on weight is so easy in current day's society, much of the population is trying to

lose weight. “The dramatic extension of people's lifespan over the past century has had the ironic

effect of bringing to the fore diseases that most people in earlier times did not live long enough to die

from” (Herman, Polivy) Articles that put stress on losing weight as a way to achieve better health can

be found in just about any nutrition, health, or lifestyle magazine. However, one must look at the

statistics of aging and mortality in the last few centuries. In the 1700s one was lucky to live to the age

of 40 if they managed to survive infancy. In our 21st century there are people living into their hundreds,

though few in number, it is not out of the question. This knowledge, paired with the rise of heart-

related diseases, cancers, bone and joint afflictions shows a correlation that most of these diseases start

to appear in a person's late 40s in some cases, and become more prevalent the further one travels down

the age bracket. So, while some health reports may suggest “even as little as five excess pounds may

pose a serious health risk” (Herman, Polivy) weight may have nothing to do with these health risks.

There is not a clear cut case for the correlation between weight gain and risk of certain diseases

commonly encountered while aging, however most of the public at large assumes there is because of

what they read and what is common knowledge: diseases like type-2 diabetes are weight-related.

The most definitive reason for losing weight, and why it preoccupies most people of all ages,
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extending from pre-teens and onward is the pursuit of beauty. In the western world especially the

media exalts being thin, from actors and actresses to some politicians that spend a decent amount of

time before a camera. Because of this many people go on to believe that they cannot be beautiful if

they are fat, adolescent girls are especially prone to issues with body image because during the course

of puberty their body changes very rapidly in ways they cannot necessarily control and may not be

happy with. Around these girls are social pressures that easily push through their changing psychology

and behaviors, down to the songs they hear on the radio. There is a song by the popular icon Lady

GaGa which contains the lyrics “I live to be model-thin”. Women and girls are also pressured when

they go out shopping, the typical size of a mannequin is a women's size 4, and there may be sizes on

the racks that go as small as 00. These numbers can easily preoccupy anyone's mind as they reach for

their size 6 or 8, which are still smaller sizes, and even sizes deemed healthy by many doctors.

As a way to combat the numbers people use dieting as a way to change their size. It involves

strict regimens of monitoring consumption or even fasting in an attempt to drop down to a smaller size,

whether it be in pursuit of health or beauty. While it may sound crazy in such base terms, it is a multi-

billion dollar industry in America alone. In the western world dieting is commonly thought of as being

the “best” and “easiest” way to lose weight, it's even considered generally safe as it is heavily

advertised. From the advertising people think only about the diet as a way to change their size, and

neglect to think of how their lifestyle also affects their lives.

Dieting can also be seen as a form of body modification, and extreme one at that. According to

the popular body modification webzine “BMEzine” body modification is defined as “the intention of

changing one's features or body in the pursuit of beauty and happiness.” One often begins a diet

because they are unhappy with their physical appearance and find themselves not to be beautiful.

Dieting can be seen as extreme body modification rather than simple body modification because of the

procedures and risks it imposes. Other forms of serious body modification are surface piercings,
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silicone implants, ear pointing, and a host of other strange practices. What dieting has in comparison to

these practices is that people go through expensive and painful procedures during all of the

aforementioned practices. Generally, all body modifications pose some kind of health risk, in extreme

modifications, the risks are that much greater. In the case of surface piercings and silicone implants

rejection and infection are incredibly likely. In ear pointing the cartilage can be severely damaged if

not done properly and there is also a risk of infection.

This being said, dieting also poses serious health risks. Physiologically, it disrupts the normal

neurochemical cycle and can even permanently damage it, causing hunger cues not to be recognized or

given and making overeating much easier to do as the signals are tampered with. To further dishearten

the dieter, the longer one diets it becomes harder to lose weight, not easier. The body interprets dieting

the same way it would interpret a food shortage. Physiologically the body is unaware that one is trying

to diet, and so it assumes the lack of food intake is a threat to survival. In this survival state the body

makes the most of what it's given, absorbing every calorie it possibly can and even causing the person

to be lethargic as a way to conserve energy. Beyond this, psychologically, dieting puts considerable

stress on the dieter, and under stress, one thinks about the short-term rather than the long-term, making

it very easy for a dieter to overeat and “blow” their diet as they lose sight of long-term goals.

Chemically, dieting can cause a decrease in serotonin production, which can have disastrous affects on

mood and state of mind. Serotonin is a neurochemical that not only is responsible for some more

positive mood trends and healthy state of mind, but even in regulating moods.

It is also very easy for a diet to spiral into an eating disorder. Particularly in pre-teens and

adolescents, girls especially are prone to developing anorexia nervosa or bullemia nervosa in their

pursuit to a slimmer physique. In puberty the physiology of a person changes, but so does their

psychology. Puberty is a great switch for hormones like estrogen in girls, and testosterone in boys, to

begin its production in earnest. This plays heavily with the hormones and neurochemicals already at
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work in a person's body.

Anorexia nervosa is a form of controlled starvation that is as much a psychological condition as

it is physiological. It is “a no holds barred attempt to avoid fatness” (Liebowitz) Those suffering from

the disorder lack comfort with their physical appearance, that some believe can be further aggravated

by imbalances in serotonin levels. Low levels of serotonin or levels that swing from one side of the

spectrum to the other cause mood changes so that in the event a person attempts to rid themselves of

the disorder it may be impossible due to their depressed or manic states.

Similarly to anorexia nervosa, bullemia nervosa is a disorder that affects a person both

physiologically and psychologically. Like anorexia, serotonin seems to play heavily into the disorder.

According to Sarah Leibowitz “bullemics have a deficit in brain serotonin. The mechanism for

stopping carbohydrate intake doesn't seem to be there” Once a person starts on the track of bullemia

nervosa, their body readjusts itself as the neurochemical switches change and the body further

facilitates binge eating, which make the victim even more unhappy with themselves and causes them to

forcibly regurgitate or excrete their food.

Most eating disorders, begin as diets and are often associated with a fear of gaining weight.

Eating disorders can have devastating physical affects if the person persists and becomes underweight.

In some cases victims need hospitalization due to anemic episodes, severe constipation, general

weakness and in some cases, organ failure. Treatment is often difficult, especially if the subject is

being treated against their will and can involve further hospitalization. Often medical, psychological,

and nutritional treatment is needed to help a person overcome an eating disorder. Typical

psychological treatment may include cognitive, behavioral, family, or group therapy as ways to attempt

to find and treat the root cause of the disorder.

With the dangers in losing weight through dieting, there are ways to lose weight and change

one's size for whatever reason. Sarah Leibowitz suggests working with the neurochemical cycle. This
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can be done by eating what your body desires at the right times of the day and slowly retuning the

cycle, probably with the help of a physician or nutritionist. Leibowitz furthers that this is possible

because “Neurons are plastic. They change. We can therefor educate the neurons.” In the end, the

neurochemical cycle is dictated by impulses from neurons.

Rather than all-out dieting, portion control and eating properly are ways one can lose weight.

By eating foods that are high in nutrients and minerals necessary for normal functioning instead of

loading up on sugars and fats a person's mood would definitely improve as would their overall health.

Portion control should not be outrageous. If one expends a lot of energy during the day then they

should eat slightly larger portions to restore the nutrients lost. If a person is less active they should not

feel a need to eat as much and thus portions should be slightly smaller. Those concerned with portion

control and eating right should not hesitate to see a nutritionist before considering something as

extreme as dieting.

Physical activity is also an important part of losing weight. Not only is it important in burning

off the calories consumed, but it is important for physical and psychological health. Even light exercise

has been proven to release endorphins which boost a person's overall mood. If a person can't devote

time to going to a gym to work out, simple changes in lifestyle could prove to be just as effective;

taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or going on scenic walks with loved ones.

A person's height and skeletal frame may be genetic, but how a person decides to augment ther

frame is a choice, and as it's been proven since the beginning of humanity, changing one's size as a way

of augmentation is possible. Body modification has been prevalent throughout history, and dieting is

truly just another form, much like piercings and tattoos. One may only have limited control of their

size in some cases, but it is a fairly basic formula. One has primary control, or direct control, on

whether they take action to lose or gain weight by what they put into their bodies or what they abstain

from consuming. One has secondary control, or removed control, of weight gained as a result of
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depression or weight loss as a pathological fear of being fat. One must treat the secondary issue before

regaining the necessary primary control needed to change their size. In some cases though, one has no

control over the size of their body, this is in cases of illness where one can either gain or lose

significant weight as a side effect. The remaining truth is, people can and have been changing their

sizes, it's just a matter of how and why it's done.