What's so bad about bad self esteem?

I'm reposting this from a blog that is now defunct. It was posted about a year ago.

I was listening to a segment on NPR today titled "51% - The Women's Perspective," in which a group of new-age feminists discussed the problem of negative body image in America and contributing factors. The conversation focused primarily on anorexia and bulimia, punctuated with brief comments about obesity and emotional eating. As usual, the target of this discussion was none other than the usual suspect: American Culture vis-a-vis the media. The conclusion of these forums tends to be the same: we are thin because the media tells us to be thin, and we are fat because we over eat to compensate for our lack of self esteem as a result of those same media images.

This debate was happening even before my formative years, so I wonder why we haven't gotten in right by now. Moreover, I wonder if there is really anything wrong with our body image, and whether the problem stems more from our obsessive nature and inability to moderate. If there is any problem with American Culture, it is that we are more comfortable with extremes than the median. Limiting our food intake is only part of the problem. How much are we limiting the affect we let the media have on us? When do we just say "no" to the Twinkies AND the television, and say yes to a lifestyle dictated not by what we see, but our own personal health situations and feelings about our bodies?

Personally, I do not see a problem with a society that values trimness over adiposity. If one believes that culture is a venue through which we are able to execute biological necessities (among other things), it is understandable that we favor images of thinness. If the fattest among us tend to die younger from excessive weight-induced illnesses, does it not stand to reason that we will value the opposite trend? Close to two-thirds of our nation's population is obese. Programs like "51%" would have you believe that we are a nation of anorexic media-philes, pasting pictures of Calista Flockhart to our refrigerators. I believe that we are a nation too afraid to look in the mirror, that would instead jump to one extreme or another to avoid being responsible, normal human beings.

The solution? If I had one, I would surely write a book like some of the loudmouth women on "51%."