The Influence of Beauty Stereotypes on Social Media and Their Impact on Bulimia and Anorexia in Adolescent Women in Colombia

Adolescence is a transitional stage characterized by biological, psychological, and social changes, during which young people explore their identity and develop their self-esteem and self-concept. During this process, beauty stereotypes promoted by the media, such as television and social media, have a significant influence, especially on adolescent girls. These stereotypes, which often promote an ideal of extreme thinness, generate constant pressure to achieve a "perfect body," leading many adolescents to engage in dangerous behaviors, such as extreme dieting or compulsive eating, which can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Today's society highly values thinness, which affects adolescents' self-perception. Acceptance of their body image often depends on comparison with stereotypes imposed by their surroundings and social approval, especially from their partners, friends, family, or social circle. This constant social pressure to conform to beauty standards contributes to low self-esteem and an obsessive concern with physical appearance, affecting adolescent girls' physical and mental health. Therefore, I would like to highlight the sociocultural approach to this issue.