Tanorexia: a definition

Apparently we don’t have enough body image disorders already

Tanning mom has been under some pretty tough heat (figuratively and literally) lately after pictures of this over-tanned, brown, leathery-skinned woman surfaced the web. While SNL has done a pretty damn good job at humiliating the women, Tanning Mom has also become an eye-opener for our appearance biased culture helping to expose our dangerous obsessions. 

It’s disturbing the society we live in. We have become so consumed with our appearance that our distorted view on beauty has people resorting to all extremes.

Anorexia of course is an eating disorder developed by people afraid to gain weight and who are often self-conscious of their personal appearance. Hollywood and the media can be thanked for our pressures to maintain a certain body image and appearance.

Tanorexia is another body image disorder (or tanning addiction) developed by people who perceive the color of their skin to be too pale and resort to tanning beds and bronzing lotions. Tanning Mom, The JerseyShore and most of Hollywood for that matter are overwhelmingly “orange” thanks to their artificial tans.

Where has the obsession to look so fake (for lack of a better word) come from? Having a tan from spending a week on the beach is one thing, but Tanning mom is a whole other extreme. The difference between the two however has become a dangerous addiction: Tanorexia.

Like Anorexia, Tanorexia has serious health risks including skin cancer, development of other skin conditions and even development of wrinkles at a younger age (Smith, 2012). For a society so obsessed with appearance, the results of overexposure to sun and tanning beds seems to contradict the desire and objective of achieving a tan or beautiful and youthful skin.

Hopefully Tanning Mom will help expose the results of our beauty hungry, obsessive behaviors for what they really are: dangerous and ridiculous.

Sources:
Chow, A. (May 10, 2012) 'Tanorexic Mom' Banned from NJ Tanning Salons. Reuters.com. Retrieved on May 10, 2012 from
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/tagblogsfindlawcom2012-freeenterprise-idUS76707021520120510

Smith. S.E, (May 3, 2012). What is Tanorexia? Retrieved May 09, 2012 from
                http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-tanorexia.htm