Sociocultural Factors in the Development of Eating Disorders - Dissertation Example

Exploring the development of eating disorders, both on an individual and societal level is also important in such a study, and thus this paper will discuss how Westernization and eating disorder prevalence exhibit a positive correlation in the literature. Body image dissatisfaction is also an important factor in the development of eating disorders and as such information has been gathered from different cultures to illustrate the link, again providing more evidence for a sociological basis for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder development in individuals.
A brief description of the eating disorders discussed below is necessary to explain some of the behaviors and influences described.
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is identified in an individual who refuses to maintain healthy body weight and has an excessive fear of weight gain (Barker, 2003, p.98). AN is associated with, more so than with other eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, and a distorted self-image (Rosen, Reiter & Orosan, 1995, p.78). The AN Patients can also display behaviors associated with BN such as purging, but are diagnostically anorexic due to maintaining a weight below 85% of what is considered healthy and three consecutive months of amenorrhea (Polivy, & Herman, 2002, p.188). The average age of onset for AN is 17 (Barker, 2003, p98) although studies show this is becoming lower with time (Favaro et al., 2009).
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by food restriction, as in AN, interspersed with short periods of overeating (also known as binge eating) that results in feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, or panic. These periods of overeating are often followed by purging mechanisms such as purposeful vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise (Barker, 2003, p.102). BN can also be distinguished from AN because it is positively correlated with impulsivity which is expressed in some patients by ‘sexual promiscuity, suicide attempts, drug abuse, and stealing or shoplifting’ (Polivy, & Herman, 2002, p.189). The average age of onset for BN is 18 (Barker, 2003, p.101), later than in AN sufferers.