Eating Disorders Have Become a Problem Facing Societ - Essay Example

Meshal Dous Theory Paper: Eating Disorders It is very apparent that eating disorders have become a problem facing society. The image promoted as ideal is difficult for anyone to achieve, and more difficult to maintain. Add to that how many ways this high standard is pushed upon us, it is no wondering so many force themselves into difficult diets or complete starvation. These habits do no good for the body, and even when weight is lost; it is not healthy weight, but atrophy. These common negative self-images are not only popular, but they are promotes. It is common for one’s peers to compel them to eat less, or even throw up after meals. The two articles I researched took two slightly separate approaches. In the first article, a three year program was used for “at risk” individuals. The first year received no unusual treatment, whiles the second and third received progressively intense self-esteem and health education (Yager). In the second article a Health Belief Model (HBM) is chosen. The intervention calls for those important to the individual to explain the consequences of the individual’s actions, hoping for a change. The first article, “A controlled intervention to promote a healthy body image, reduce eating disorder risk and prevent excessive exercise among trainee health education and physical education teachers” by Zali Yager and Jennifer O’Dea focused on the impact of increasing exposure to positive self-image education and its impact on eating disorder risk and excessive exercise. In this study one hundred and seventy health and physical education teachers, who were designated ‘at risk’ for poor body image or eating disorder. In year one the control group was given the regular health education. The second year group, and first intervention year, was given a self-esteem and media literacy education program. In year three, the second intervention group was given self-esteem, media literacy and image dissonance program with computer based activities. (Yager) For the two intervention groups, programs were based on the focused on improving individual health and behavior change by applying the Theory of Planned Behavior, among others such as the Social Cognitive Theory and Social Learning Theory. Intervention group two also used “thin-ideal dissonance programs” that helped to counter the media image. This first program, in its second year and first intervention, focused to promote positive self-imagery through altered teaching approaches (See Table 1) that created a more wholesome and approving mentality. In the second intervention group, year three, these same approaches were used. However, alongside those lessons, they worked on causing dissonance with media images and encouraging the self-image not seen on TV. Group 3, the second intervention, showed the best results, with males and females both showing significant improvements to self-image, along with decrease in dieting practices and harmful exercising and eating habits. (Yager, Table 3) This article’s methods had much strength. It reached a large audience with noticeable improvements. It also was able to specifically target an at-risk group: those in the field of health education, who carry negative self-imagery. It also was strong in its inclusion of a dissonance program designed to fight the source of most self-esteem issues: lofty media ideals. Its weaknesses were, however, a high dropout rate for males, along with an inability to create random sampling. This articles approach did not have many weaknesses, and proved very effective. The results are encouraging, as the implementation is extremely simple and can be adapted to many other programs. The program is not only sustainable, but has been proven by the dissonance training in the third year, that it can be adapted and improved. This program could be extended to reach even younger and more impressionable audiences, such as middle schools and high schools, where the dissonance programs would be particularly needed. The second approach, from McCallum Place, focuses less on educating the individual, and more in helping the sufferer realize their disorder and establishing a helping, healing environment. This approach still uses the HBM or Health Belief Model, because the participants are attempting to make the person aware of his or her disorder, so that they can begin to value good health and work towards that lifestyle. In McCallum’s intervention, there are several steps that the intervention group must take. This structured approach is a strength that works well. In step one, participants open up to the individual and begin honest communication. Participants help the individual understand they are in secure settings and thus will not be alone. The focus is constantly and heavily on encouragement and reliance. This is a great strength because the Department of Mental Health has found a positive environment more than doubles an individual’s odds of recovery. However, the greatest weakness to McCallum’s approach is that it relies on finding a professional overseer for one’s recovery, potentially even finding a rehab center (McCallum Place, itself, being a rehab center.) where the program can become a lifestyle the individual adopts before returning to their old life. This program’s biggest shortcoming is its lack of transferability. This program can only be implemented with a good social support group and a professional resource. This almost removes the ability to transfer to anywhere but another professional institute. However it is also entirely focused on sustainability. The entire system focuses on promoting and learning to lead a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. While these are both tested and validated interventions that have proven effective, if I were to design my own intervention, I would rely on the Health Belief Model. From class notes, we know the principles of the HBM: People will take action if they believe they are susceptible, if they believe the consequences are severe, and they believe their action will reduce the threat. Given these platforms, my preferred approach would be to make the individuals fear the outcome of their particular eating disorder. In a controlled environment, a person suffering from an eating disorder could be shown imagery of what they are doing to themselves, or introduced to individuals who had the same problems, but failed to overcome them. This manner of intervention would lead people to recognize the severity of their condition, and come to terms with it (which fit the first two requirements). After this connection has been made, an individual could be taught proper ways to improve their health, daily things to lead to increased self-image and the ceasing of harmful behaviors. The ideal target audience for this sort of intervention would be youths. Individuals surrounded by peers who pressure them to diet, and lose weight in dangerous, harmful ways. They could be shown the harm they are causing themselves by these behaviors. The Value Expectancy Model that is the center of HBM focuses on the significance outcome as well as the likelihood of an action to reach that outcome. By using these ‘scare tactics’ to show an unhealthy individual the outcome they are headed towards, and then providing them with the information necessary to change that outcome, individuals should show a dramatic shift to try and achieve this outcome This manner of intervention could be easily measured in manners similar to the first, experiment style intervention. One would simply provide the individuals in the program with self-report forms regularly during the duration of the program. This self-reports would allow for quantifying the individual’s mood and behavior change. This does run the risk of tampering, from participants, but it is as minimalized as is possible. Works Cited McCallum, P. (2007). Eating Disorder Interventions: When to Address a Loved One. In McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment Programs. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://www.eatingdisordertreatmentinformation.com/eating-disorder-interventions.html O, Jenni. (2010). Eating Disorder Prevention and Intervention Programs. In School Psychology. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://school- psychology.org/eating-disorder-prevention-and-intervention-programs Yager, Z., & ODea, J. (2010, September 9). A controlled intervention to promote a healthy body image, reduce eating disorder risk and prevent excessive exercise among trainee health education and physical education teachers. In Oxford Journals: Health Education Research. Retrieved November 12, 2012, from http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/07/23/her.cyq036.full Read More

 

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