Final answer:
American women have shown decreased satisfaction with their body image and a higher incidence of eating disorders in the past 50 years, influenced by cultural ideals and media representations of thinness. White women from Western societies are particularly at risk, with factors including media influence and genetic predispositions playing a role.
Step-by-step explanation:
Over the past 50 years, American women have expressed decreased satisfaction with their physical appearance and have experienced a higher incidence of serious eating disorders. This trend can be attributed to several factors, particularly the cultural and media emphasis on thinness as an ideal of beauty. The white female population from industrialized, Western cultures has been identified as being at the highest risk for eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa. This vulnerability is thought to be due to the prevalent portrayal of the thin ideal in popular media and the fashion industry, leading to body image concerns and related behaviors. However, it's important to note that while social and cultural factors are significant, genetic predispositions may also play a role in the onset of these disorders. Moreover, the increasing obesity rates and widespread problems related to being overweight add another layer of complexity to the population's physical health and perceptions.