Kai Clarke
Washington High School
May 11th, 2025
Imagine a 14-year-old girl scrolling through her phone, bombarded by images of impossibly thin models and the newest diet trends. She sees people praising these influencers’ “discipline” in the comments, and soon enough, she starts comparing herself to those around her. In Japan, a country often perceived as one that prioritizes physical health and appearance, this is a common reality for many young people. In fact, the World Health Organization stated that Japan had the highest life expectancy in the world in 2016 (WHO, 2015). Despite this image of a perfect, healthy country, the number of people developing eating disorders in Japan has been increasing at an alarming rate. This disturbing occurrence is mainly due to the following three reasons: the idealization of thinness, low self-esteem, and the glorification of self-reliance.
One major cause of the rise in eating disorders is Japan’s idealization of thinness. With the widespread use of social media, photos of unnaturally thin models and unhealthy diets have become accessible for everyone on the internet. Influencers on social media have also been promoting the idea of thinness by posting videos about how to become thin in the most absurd ways and talking down about their already thin appearance. In addition, body-shaming comments have become a common occurrence, further normalizing the unnatural beauty standards. Consequently, these unrealistic ideals have become ingrained in today’s Japanese society. Some may go as far as to say that social media has ruined our perception of beauty. Young women are especially vulnerable in this kind of environment, as they are brought up thinking that their worth is determined solely by their appearance and weight. Naturally, this then leads to young girls thinking that “skinny equals beautiful,” and developing an unhealthy relationship with self-image and food at a young age.
Low self-esteem amongst Japanese people is another key contributor to the surge of eating disorders. A survey conducted in 2024 showed that Japanese people consistently rank lower compared to other countries in categories such as self-satisfaction and the belief that they have positive qualities (Children and Families Agency, 2024). This may be due to the Japanese culture of valuing fitting in, making it hard for people to feel good about their true selves. As a result, more people will compare themselves to others and develop negative thoughts about themselves. Therefore, Japanese people with low self-esteem are more likely to feel dissatisfied with their appearance (Pelc et al., 2023), making them more vulnerable to developing eating disorders. This endless cycle of self-criticism creates a harmful environment where self-worth becomes directly tied to external features.
The third reason is the deep-rooted glorification of self-reliance in Japanese culture. Due to the Japanese culture of self-reliance and avoiding causing inconvenience for others, Japanese people often find it difficult to ask for help. A study by a group of researchers at Nagoya University found that Japanese people “place great importance on harmony in interpersonal relationships with others” (Nagoya University Points Out Cultural Background: Japanese People Have Low Sympathy and Empathy and Are Less Likely to Ask for Help, 2025); therefore, they actively avoid actions that might break that harmony. Even if, deep down, they understand that what they are going through isn’t normal and requires professional help, the shame of breaking the harmony that comes with asking for help prevents them from going through with it. Moreover, this indicates that countless cases of eating disorders in Japan could have been prevented if more had asked for professional support.
Indeed, the idealization of being thin, low self-esteem, and the deeply-rooted culture of self-reliance are the main three causes for the increase in the number of people developing eating disorders in Japan. Naturally, reshaping the way an entire population views themselves will be a challenge; however, if achieved, it could lead to a future where people can live their lives freely and without ever feeling the need to obsess over their appearance, a future where people can enjoy food without the constant anxiety of feeling “out of control.”
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References
Children and Families Agency. (2024, June 20). 我が国と諸外国のこどもと若者の意識に関する調査 （令和５年度）. Children and Families Agency.
Nagoya University Points Out Cultural Background: Japanese People Have Low Sympathy and Empathy and Are Less Likely to Ask for Help. (2025, January 5). University Journal Online.
Pelc, A., Winiarska, M., Polak-Szczybyło, E., Gudula, J., & Stępień, A. E. (2023, March 25). Low self-esteem and life satisfaction as a significant risk factor for eating disorders among adolescents. Nutrients, 15(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071603
WHO. (2015, November 12). World health statistics 2016. World Health Organization. Retrieved May 6, 2025.