Eating Disorders

1322 Words3 Pages

The rise of clinically diagnosed cases of anorexia nervosa nervosa and bulimia nervosa nervosa are increasing over the decades. According to Barlow,Durand and Stewart(2012), eating disorders are found to be more prevalent among women, specifically between the ages of 12 and 25 years of age. Prior to modern research, researchers saw eating disorders as a Western phenomenon due to the fact that non western countries did not have such a wide variety of food available to them. This perspective is now changing. Individuals in other countries (non-western) have been diagnosed with eating disorders as well, however it is not as frequent as the United States or Canada for example(Barlow et al., 2012). The purpose of the paper is to describe the ways in which eating disorders began in the western world, but were slowly adapted to non western countries. I will be discussing the factors in which cause eating disorders such as biological and psychological issues, how the media and society portrays thinness and the prevalence of eating disorders in other non-westernized countries. To support these claims, I will be using several peer reviewed journal articles that I have found and also the assigned journal article that was given to me. I will begin by defining the medical diagnosis of each eating disorder. When I reference eating disorders in this paper, I am specifically talking about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The following descriptions of each disorder come from the Casebook in Abnormal Psychology- Fourth Edition (Brown & Barlow 2011). According to the DSM- IV- TR, anorexia nervosa is a disorder that individuals become diagnosed with when the person does not want to maintain a good BMI level, has a great fear of gaining ... ... middle of paper ... ...r sample and anxiety disorder sample. Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Psychiatry, 46(2), 118-131. doi:10.1177/0004867411432071 Ferguson, C., Muñoz, M., Winegard, B., & Winegard, B. (2012). The Influence of Heritability, Neuroticism, Maternal Warmth and Media Use on Disordered Eating Behaviors: A Prospective Analysis of Twins. Psychiatric Quarterly, 83(3), 353-360. doi:10.1007/s11126-012-9205-7 Bilukha, O. O., & Utermohlen, V. (2002). Internalization of Western standards of appearance, body dissatisfaction and dieting in urban educated Ukrainian females. European Eating Disorders Review, 10(2), 120-137. doi:10.1002/erv.431 Frederick, D. A., Forbes, G. B., & Berezovskaya, A. (2008). Female Body Dissatisfaction and Perceptions of the Attractive Female Body in Ghana, the Ukraine, and the United States. Psihologijske Teme / Psychological Topics, 17(2), 203-219.

Susan Bordo The Globalization Of Eating Disorder Summary
1193 Words | 3 Pages
“The Globalization of Eating Disorders.” The McGraw-Hill Reader. Muller, Gilbert H. 12th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2014. 639-642. Print.
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Family Dysfunction and Anorexia: Is there a correlation?
1225 Words | 3 Pages
Each year millions of people in the United States develop serious and often fatal eating disorders. More than ninety percent of those are adolescent and young women. The consequences of eating disorders are often severe--one in ten end in death from either starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. Due to the recent awareness of this topic, much time and money has been attributed to eating disorders. Many measures have been taken to discover leading causes and eventual treatment for those suffering from anorexia. (http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource ...er.html#Causes of Eating Disorders) )
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An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa
1876 Words | 4 Pages
Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3
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Eating Disorders
2394 Words | 5 Pages
Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? Most of us have come to appreciate ourselves for who we are. While other’s struggle to achieve the perfect body. They strive to be what is depicted in fashion magazines and movies. The never ending obsession to be the perfect size zero. This inevitably can lead to eating disorders. Eating disorders can cause someone to have an unhealthy image of themselves and food is the enemy. In a national survey at the Mclean Hospital in Massachusetts it was estimated that over 9 million people suffer with eating disorders. They can struggle with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders states that most of these diseases start before the age of twenty. Another growing problem in the United States is obesity. Over 60 million Americans suffer from this disease, this according to the American Obesity Association (gale opposing viewpoints: eating disorders 2010).
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Socio-Cultural Influences on Eating Disorders
1068 Words | 3 Pages
“The attention-grabbing pictures of various high-flying supermodels and actors on different magazine covers and advertisements go a long way in influencing our choices” (Bagley). The media is highly affective to everyone, although they promote an improper image of living. Research proved says those with low self-esteem are most influenced by media. Media is not the only culprit behind eating disorders. However, that does not mean that they have no part in eating disorders. Media is omnipresent and challenging it can halt the constant pressure on people to be perfect (Bagley). Socio-cultural influences, like the false images of thin women have been researched to distort eating and cause un-satisfaction of an individual’s body. However, it is clear that, although virtually all women are exposed to these socio-cultural influences, only a very small proportion develop clinical eating disorders (Mazzeo and Bulik). Every article believes that socio-culture have an impact on eating disorders. Although, researchers believe that is not the only reason, and the easiest statement to make. Eating disorders are far more complicated than it just being blamed on the media. Bagley, Mazzeo and Bulik all state that media play a role in the development but are not the main reason to developing an eating disorder. In all of the research done thus far media is a part of eating disorders, but not the only culprit.
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Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder
1323 Words | 3 Pages
Eating disorders are described as an illness involving eating habits that are irregular and an extreme concern with body image or weight. Eating disorders tend to appear during teenage years, but can develop at any age. Although more common in women, eating disorders can affect any age, gender or race. In the United States, over 20 million women and 10 million men are personally affected by eating disorders. There are many different causes of eating disorders such as low self esteem, societal pressures, sexual abuse and the victims perception of food. Eating disorders are unique to the sufferer and often, their perception of themselves is so skewed, they may not be aware they have an eating disorder. Media, for quite some time now, has played a significant part in eating disorders. Magazines with headlines ‘Summer Body’, or ‘Drop LB’s Fast!’ attract the attention of girls who may be insecure with themselves. Television productions such as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or American’s Next Top Model, show airbrushed and photoshopped women who have body types that may be unachievable. Those who are suffering from eating disorders can suffer dangerous consequences, and it is important to seek help.
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Pros And Cons Of Bulimia Nervosa
572 Words | 2 Pages
After reading the articles of Bulimia Nervosa: Friend or Foe? The Pros and Cons of Bulimia Nervosa (Serpell & Treasure, 2002) and Anorexia Nervosa: Friend or Foe? (Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale and Sullivan, 1999) many thoughts came to my mind. On both articles, the authors propose that eating disorders like the ones mentioned before, are a challenge to treat because the perception that the patients have in regards the disorder, are not all negative. There are some traits about the disorder that are perceived as positive by the patients.
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Eating Disorders
408 Words | 1 Pages
An eating disorder is a serious health condition involving extremely unhealthy dietary habits. There are a number of accepted eating disorder treatments that depend on the symptoms and severity of the illness. The most effective treatments involve both psychological as well as physical issues with the ultimate goal being a healthy dietary lifestyle. The team approach to treatment involves professionals with experience in eating disorders that usually includes a medical provider, mental health workers, registered dieticians and case managers. These individuals work together in hopes of avoiding a life threatening situation.
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Anorexia Nervosa Summary
369 Words | 1 Pages
The video published by the Pilsen Wellness Center features a medical student named Ms. Nehazia Shah who defines and describes two of the most well-known and majorly disruptive eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Ms. Shah characterizes individuals with anorexia as being extremely fearful of gaining weight, unwilling to eat to maintain a normal weight, and extremely critical of and insecure about their body weight and shape. She also delineates the two sub-types of the disorder: restriction type and binge/purge type. Bulimia nervosa is then defined, and those with this condition eat great quantities of food in regular binges and then induce themselves to vomit to “get rid of” it, and they will often abuse laxatives. Unlike anorexics, who are below 85% of the normal weight, bulimics are typically normal weight or overweight. Women are more susceptible for either disorder than men, especially when they have low self-esteem; anorexia is more common with those with higher socioeconomic status, while bulimia is more common in those with mood disorders. Finally,
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Comparing the Similarities and Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia
1014 Words | 3 Pages
Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are described as psychological eating disorders (Keel and Levitt, 1). They are both characterized by an over-evaluation of weight. Despite being primarily an eating disorder, the manifestations of bulimia and anorexia are different. They both present a very conspicuous example of dangerous psychological disorders, as according to the South Carolina Department of Health, “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (Eating Order Statistics, 1). While Bulimia and anorexia are both psychological disorders primarily prevalent in women, anorexia tends to have different diagnostic complexities, symptoms and physiological effects as compared to bulimia.
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A Summary Of Eating Disorders
1110 Words | 3 Pages
An eating disorder is a psychological disorder that is characterized by a fixation on weight gain, which can cause abnormal eating habits. This disorder affects both the physical and psychosocial functioning of an individual. There are several types of eating disorders including, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized but the intense fear of gaining weight, which leads to an obsession with weight gain. An individual with this disorder often partakes in behaviors that prevent weight gain such as limiting the intake of food. There are two types of anorexia nervosa; binge eating/ purging type and the restricting type. An individual with diagnosis with the binge eating/ purging
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Compare And Contrast Anorexia And Bulimia
759 Words | 2 Pages
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been around for decades, affecting young and old, women and men. In today’s society, many are more concern about perfection and appearance instead of their happiness and health. Anorexia and bulimia are both dangerous eating disorders that can affect the digestive system and likely lead to death. In a society where perfection is a necessity, many young women will risk their health to look like their favorite celebrity or model. According to Oxford Dictionaries, anorexia nervosa is defined as an “emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat.”
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Free Essay on Eating Disorder - Eating Disorders
651 Words | 2 Pages
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources says that eating disorders "are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem." Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia "refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height" and "weighs 85 percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height." A person diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese (Anred.com).
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Starving For Perfection
1847 Words | 4 Pages
In today’s society, where physical characteristics are used to measure beauty and success, people are willing to push their bodies to extremes to achieve physical perfection. As an overweight woman, I may be considered a failure of society’s beauty test. However, my high self-esteem and acceptance of my body allows me to not be disturbed by what, to some, may seem as a sign of failure. Unfortunately, there are people whose desire to be accepted by society causes them to develop eating disorders. The two most common are called anorexia and bulimia (WebMD.Com Eating 1). The Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, association (ANRED), states “Anorexia and bulimia affect primarily people in their teens and twenties, but clinicians report both disorders in children as young as six and individuals as old as seventy-six” (ANRED Statistics 1). Anorexia and bulimia are both serious eating disorders with differences and similarities in their symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatments and prognosis.
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Self Image
955 Words | 2 Pages
Eating disorders are not as simple as they may seem. They are complex conditions that begin from a variety of potential causes, Although they may begin with a preoccupation of food and weight, they often are about more than just food. Today’s has set exceeding amounts of unattainable standards of what beauty should appear to be. The idea of what a perfect body is has driven ordinary people to regard their image with dissatisfaction. This extreme dissatisfaction has led individual's to extreme thoughts and behaviours, such as mental health issues and eating disorders, by attempting to reach such unattainable goals. Anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorders are two very severe eating disorders that have become exceedingly large issues in today’s society due to a variety of reasons such as families, cultures and the largest and increasing on of all media, theses influences are greatly impacting individuals in their everyday life biased on their self image.
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Eating Disorders

Susan Bordo The Globalization Of Eating Disorder Summary

Family Dysfunction and Anorexia: Is there a correlation?

An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa