Eating Disorders Analysis - Case Study Example

Eating disorders Introduction Eating disorders arise from abnormal eating habits normally associated with either insufficient or excessive food intake leading to distortion of one’s health (Comer, 2012). As the result, this may lead to two major types of diseases: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa gives the illusion that its subject is overweight triggering them to adopt a subtle solution of rejecting food and involving in compulsive exercise. This causes the individuals to lose a lot of weight and eventually causing death. For bulimia nervosa, the individuals eat excessively followed by purging their bodies of the excess calories through exercising or vomiting. Importance of the study In a society where health experts relate body weight to healthy living, studying these eating disorders proves of much value to everyone. A research done by National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that 31.7% of U.S children and teens were either overweight or obese in 2008 (Comer, 2012). Consequently, through this study, one can perceive his susceptibility to eating disorders. National institute of Mental Health asserts that the disorders frequently affect girls and women. However, the study does not remove the other gender from the equation as it states that men and boys can also be equally vulnerable. Intuitively, everybody should pay important attention in tackling eating disorders. Relevance of the study The study is relevant to the society in realizing the major causes of eating disorders and why it is important to find treatment where possible. A person becomes predisposed to eating disorders as the result of the some psychological factors and personality traits. This means that everyone society is in need of knowledge about such specific traits in order to keep track of its healthy living. Further, research results indicate that less than 13% of adolescents with eating disorders receive treatment. This predisposes the society to the need for studying how the registered high statistics of untreated eating disorders have affected the healthy living. As indicated by anorexia subjects have a mortality rate 18 times higher than peers who dont have eating disorders (Comer, 2012). Further, the study is of relevance given that it gives information about the possible treatment for the pervasive eating disorders in the society. It is the work of psychologists to divert patients’ attention from the destructive thoughts of weight to focusing on health. The patient should also maintain a close touch with the psychologist to unveil the psychological matters causing the eating disorders (Comer, 2012). 2. Discussion of research This chapter involves a critical review of two articles to clarify on the continued indomitable eating disorders. For the first article about Big Kids “Behavioral health experts are fighting the childhood obesity epidemic from a variety of angles. Here’s what works.” present various interventions that help in childhood obesity epidemic realized in various parts of the world. The author asserts that the basis for his assertion is consideration of the causes and then looking for which angles to face them (Weir, 2012). In a 60 page article, the authors list four important strategies for eliminating obesity in the society: fit families, healthy communities, environment and psychologist’s actions. For the article, “Bite, chew, savor: Jean Kristeller reconnects people with their hunger and other inner experiences to curb overeating”, Amy Novotney makes use of mindful eating exercise as the basis for eliminating eating disorders occurrence. Reconnecting with one’s hunger becomes of particular importance to help patient in cultivating the awareness about the drivers of eating, such as negative emotions, cravings and impulsivity (Novotney, 2012). In essence, the article focuses on mindless eating as the cause thereby bringing meaning to “bite, chew, savor” as the way to subdue eating disorders. Comparison Both of the texts recognize the need for involvement of families in curbing the eating disorders. For “Big Kids” article, the authors asserts that parents can act as helpful engineers in modifying home environments encompassing healthy practices such as restricting television time and adopting physical activity routine for their children (Weir, 2012). This applies same to the latter article, which also includes parents as playing a vital role in curbing overeating. It advocates for mindful eating by advising the parents restrict the children from watching the television during the eating time. Intuitively, for both articles, the parents play a vital role in the process of curbing eating disorders since they are the most immediate people that can apply interventions meant for their children. Since both of the articles focuses on behavioral treatments, the parents are highly considered as a treatment strategy in changing their children’s habit. The non-involvement of the families in the program may make the program unfruitful because the subject may end up advising their children otherwise. The striking difference between the two, is the attention each seems to pay to the significance of diet along their treatment strategies. While “Amy Novotney” disagrees on the need for diet, Kristein Weir asserts that a healthier diet is part and parcel of reducing the prevalence of the eating disorders. For Novotney, the diet type provided to an individual is not an assurance of treatment and goes on to conclude that not any food should be off-limits (Novotney, 2012). This assertion should be true because diet may be ineffective if the emotions such as impulsivity are not in consideration. For Weir, he asserts that a combination of diet, physical activity and behavioral recommendation is the best way for shedding pounds of weight (Weir, 2012). In this case, Weir gives the most appropriate solution since he combines three strategies which are all proportionally effective. An individual needs to take into account all the relevant activities, which participate in subduing the chances for eating disorders. In comparison to the text, the articles agree that personality traits and behavioral factors are both major contributors to eating disorders. For Novotney, he asserts that the way people eat influence their susceptibility to eating disorders (Novotney, 2012). A person who is fully aware of hunger and satiety has slimmer chances as compared to the person who eats for the sake, mindless of their fullness. This insinuates that savoring food while eating is among the important treatment strategies. For Weir, he asserts that health diet alongside physical activities is intrinsic aspects which people should cultivate as their personality traits (Weir, 2012). Behavioral treatment, such as healthy eating, is important for energy balance in the body; consequently, triggering the patients to subdue their weight to a more healthy one. 3. Conclusion and reflection The critical review of the two articles, alongside the study of eating disorders, give a clear view on what the treatment for eating disorders should entail. Above all the factors listed, parents act as the unifying factor in controlling the effectiveness of the other strategies. The articles agree that the family can act in modifying the environments to encompass healthy practices such as restricting television time and adopting physical activity routine for their children. These allow the children to savor well, the food they eat while also making a healthy environment. Even though the articles disagree on the matter of diet, a patient should consider implementing this aspect alongside the other two interventions, physical activities and behavioral recommendations. The article, “Bite, chew, savor” brought a new perspective in my life. Initially, I thought eating was only a matter of diet regardless of the taste and fullness. It was all about the nutrients obtained from the food without being mindful of hunger or satiety. Further, I also used to eat while watching television or texting since I considered that my body could still utilize the nutrients in the same way. However, Novetney assertion about “mindfulness eating exercise” was far more an adventure to me. From this text, I had to change my view and believe that one should seek for satisfaction in quality and quantity. Adopting this idea enabled me to start enjoying the food while giving the process much attention and avoiding other distractive activities such as television watching. Intuitively, I developed a new understanding that not only does eating a healthy diet maintains one’s weight but it also comprises practicing how to savor the food and feel the fullness. Even though the articles proved significant in providing details about eating disorders, a question about diet still needs a proper clarification. What if an individual maintains a mindfulness eating exercise as described by Novotney but leave healthy diet from the equation? Will he or she maintain weight because he is savoring food or become susceptible to eating disorder because of not considering diet? 4. References Comer, R. J. (2012). Abnormal psychology. Worth Publishers. Novotney, Amy, (2012). Bite, chew, savor: Jean Kristeller Reconnects People with Their Hunger and Other Inner Experiences to Curb Overeating. Monitor on psychology, Vol 43, No. 10. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/11/bite-chew.aspx Weir, Kirsten, (2012). Big Kids: Behavioral Health Experts are Fighting The Childhood Obesity Epidemic From A Variety of Angles. Here’s what works. Monitor on psychology, Vol 43, No. 11. Retrieved from: http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/12/cover-obesity.aspx Read More