Anorexia Nervosa: Body Image and Internalization Issues Among People from Different Ethnic Groups

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Description: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a distorted body image. The individual is severely underweight and thinks they are fat or has a fear of becoming fat (Comer, 2013). There are two types of anorexia. The first type is restricting-type anorexia. The individual restricts food intake to a dangerous degree. The second type is binge-eating/purging type anorexia. The individual purposely regurgitates after eating uses laxatives and/or diuretics (Comer, 2013). Females compose 90-95% of people suffering from anorexia nervosa (Comer, 2013). The typical age that an individual acquires anorexia nervosa is between 14 and 18 years old. However, it is possible to occur at any age (Comer, 2013). Patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa include 0.5 to 3.5 percent of the populace, however many more individuals may show symptoms (Comer, 2013). It is common for people to acquire anorexia nervosa after a diet or after a stressful event (Comer, 2013). To be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, an individual must have a significantly low body weight due to food restriction as well as an unjustifiably acute fear weight gain. The patient must also possess a warped perception of their body, place a high value on weight or shape, or are in denial about their unhealthy condition (Comer, 2013). Many suffering from anorexia nervosa spend time thinking and reading about food (Comer, 2013). Anorexic patients tend to severely overestimate body size and have beliefs that support abstaining from ingesting food due to maladaptive thinking patterns (Comer, 2013). Sleep disruption conditions occur with Anorexia Nervosa (Comer, 2013). Perfectionism is one tendency an individual has before becoming anorexic (Comer, 2013). History: Anore... ... middle of paper ... ...reliability and factor similarity of the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance questionnaire-3 (sataq-3) among four ethnic groups. Journal of Eating Disorders, 1(14), doi: 10.1186/2050-2974-1-14 Henderson, K., & Spettigue, W. (2004). Eating disorders and the role of the media. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 13(1), Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2533817/ (2012, May 01). Karen Carpenter [Web Photo]. Retrieved from https://singingthesonginmyheart.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/karen-carpenter1.jpg (P2) Soh, N., & Walter, G. (2013). Publications on cross-cultural aspects of eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders , 1(4), doi: 10.1186/2050-2974-1-4 Worsnop, R. L. (1992, December 18). Eating disorders . CQ Researcher, 2, 1097-1120. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

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