Based off of our survey, 70.8% of our community have struggled with their relationship with food. Further discussions with our consultant, Ms. Pierce, we analyzed different causes for strained relationships with food. Some of which could be psychological, environmental, cultural, religious, etc. Discussing more extensively with some of our community members and even on our podcast, in the second episode, we dive further into social expectations of our bodies which then impacts our eating habits and patterns.

This question followed with a shocking 83.3% of the community affirming their struggles with their body image. To tie it back to the first question, we really looked at the different social expectations of our bodies, men, women, children, and adults. Women were expected, now, to be skinny (a high contrast with previous generations where it was said that a woman who had more body seemed more healthy and to be regularly fed), while men were expected to be muscular. We went around asking person-to-person their thoughts on beauty standards now and many referred to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo where they've been seen to be very skinny in their latest interviews. Many have said that those portrayals of celebrities have shown to people who watch their content that "we should also be working those those body 'goals'".

Many studies have shown that mental health is impacted by differing self esteems, body images, etc. After a discussion with Ms. Pierce, we learned that there are many psychological ties between one's physical appearance and their mental health. We delved further into appearance validation and how some may strive off of compliments on their body.

Considering the responses to our previous questions, we found the response to this question to be unsurprising. Interviewing some more people in person, we learned that people have exhibited skipped meals, reduced meals, excessive exercise, and even fasting as a result of their distorted self body image.

With our demographic mostly being high school students, the answers from this question posed to be a little concerning when we first reviewed the results of the survey. Around 58.3% responded that they don't currently experience these issues and don't face these views, meaning that if most of these responses came from our school, they experienced these behaviors and beliefs when they were younger, some may have even experienced as early as elementary school. 

The responses to this question were also a little bit shocking when we first reviewed the survey. We expected for more people to not have sought help. with social and cultural expectations, we presumed that most people did not feel comfortable reaching out for help or guidance. The responses clearly proved us wrong and we are happy it proved us wrong because it shows that more people have others they can rely on.