Open Lecture “The Effect of Media on our self-image and Eating Disorders”

The Department of Youth of the Red Cross Paphos in collaboration with the Neapolis University in Cyprus organized on January 15, 2014 a lecture on “The Influence of Media on our self-image and Eating Disorders” with main speaker Dr. Mario Argyrides, Lecturer of Psychology at Neapolis University Pafos and Registered Counselling Psychologist. Among others he mentioned that eating disorders are a major health problem afflicting large numbers of people in our time. Also, negative self-image are very high levels with Cypriots compared to many other countries. This is due to two main factors, on the one side with the identification of the female as a thin-body person and the male as a muscular person and on the other side society by accepting and welcoming weight gain because of life circumstances. This social development has led to the rapid development of negative self-image of the body and to eating disorders of all kinds in the 21^st century. Also new data from research by the University schools of Cyprus where presented. The profits of the event were given for the support of the charitable work of the Youth Section of the Red Cross Paphos, for assistance to those in need.