Social Psychological Eating Disorders - Essay Example

Running Head: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL EATING DISORDERS Social Psychological Eating Disorders Eating Disorders are gradually becoming a major health menace in USA. The paper provides details about eating disorders and attempts to estimate their prevalence through statistics. It focuses on the categories of these disorders and the causes underlying them. It specifically concentrates on the social and cultural causes. It also enumerates the diagnostic techniques and the lines of treatment. Eating Disorders Eating disorders have gained massive relevance during the past few years due to the increasing number of reported cases. They are gradually turning into a major health menace in the United States of America. Eating Disorders mainly affect teenage and adolescent females, nearly 5-7% of the females, at some stage of their lives, have been diagnosed with some form of Eating Disorder in the United States of America. (Milos, 2005) Adolescence is characterized by a number of biological changes, be it physical, hormonal, sexual or psychological. One of the major psychological changes is the sudden concern about one’s appearance. “Feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and ones experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale”(Siegel et al,1988). This concern might cross the normal limits and manifest into what are known as “Eating Disorders”. As the term suggests, Eating Disorders correspond to an abnormal swing in eating behavior. The swing might be towards either extreme i.e. eating in excess or eating close to nothing. These disorders affect both the physical and mental health. The disorders can be categorized into the following- Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. A third category is "eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS), is currently being investigated by medical professionals throughout the world. This category includes the Binge Eating Disorder. As the name suggests, it is a chronic disease wherein an individual consumes excessive amount of food during a short period of time. It can lead to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (American Psychiatric Association,2005). These three ailments together affect nearly 10 million teenagers, a major proportion of them being females. Only 10% of Anorexic patients are male. Most anorexics become so as adolescents, with 76% reporting onset of the disorder between the ages of 11 and 20(National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, 2005).One of the most disturbing facts is that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate among mental ailments; nearly 6% of the patients diagnosed with anorexia die, roughly half of them commit suicide. Anorexia is more common in professions which demand a slim body like modeling, gymnastics, distance running, movies and cheerleading (Garner & Garfinkel, 1980) People suffering from Anorexia Nervosa voluntarily starve themselves in order to be slim. They are driven by the fear of obesity and a flawed body structure. It is characterized by chronic weight loss decreasing the body weight to about 85% of the ideal. Anorexic patients continue dieting even when they are thin by normal standards. They adopt the most extreme methods of losing weight like voluntary abstinence from food, vomiting and excessive exercise. In severe cases the subject might even consume diet pills and diuretics. The patient might also have episodes when they eat excessive food in a short span of time. The most characteristic and obvious symptom of Anorexia is unwarranted weight loss which leads to an abnormal Body Mass Index. Amenorrhea (absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles) in females is another important symptom. Anorexics also show signs like chapped lips, brittle nails, dry skin and weakness. They live in continual denial of the dangerous effects of the disorder. They also become more prone to mental anxiety, a state of depression and low self esteem. Besides that, the patient might withdraw himself or herself from routine social activities. In severe cases, the patient might also show classical symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). A perfect body shape becomes their top priority, and they tend to become rather obsessed with that. Studies have revealed that genetics contribute 50% to the variance of Anorexia Nervosa, while the other half is contributed by psychological and environmental factors. (Klump et al, 2001) Anorexic patients tend to over estimate the levels of their obesity. Certain character traits have been identified with people who are prone to be anorexic. High levels of obsession tendencies, a strong desire for perfectionism, restraint and an ability of fight temptations are some of the characteristic features associated with such people (Wonderlich et al, 2005) Anorexia may also arise as an extension of depression and mental anxiety. . Clinical depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse and one or more personality disorders are the more likely to coexist with anorexia (O’Brien & Vincent, 2003) Social and cultural factors also play a significant role as promoters of anorexia among adolescents. The media projects thinness as the perfect female form. The media’s hype about the “24-36-24” vital statistics dogma deeply influences the young minds. The media has almost created a sense of obesity phobia among the teenage population, especially females. Teenagers who are as such confused and disoriented fall prey to the media’s notion of beauty. The message conveyed by the media is that one needs to be thin in order to be happy. Every fashion magazine cover carries the photograph of emaciated models. A model’s body weight is nearly 23% less than a normal person’s. These models perennially starve themselves and undergo rigorous training and exercise sessions. The teenagers don’t realize that these standards of slimness are unattainable for the normal people. In 1999, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey reported that 58 percent of students in the United States had exercised to lose weight, and 40 percent of students had restricted caloric intake in an attempt to lose weight (Kann et al, 2000). The distinction between normal dieting and disordered eating is based on whether the patient has a distorted body image. Weight loss and dieting products constitute one of the major industries of the USA. The millions of slimming products available in the market are testimony to the fact that there is a huge demand for them. These products are advertised immensely and anorexic young models are projected as the embodiment of a beautiful and desirable girl. Besides the media’s projections, adolescents are also influenced by peer pressure. Anyone who does not follow these notions is jeered upon by the high school crowds. In order to avoid the embarrassment and humiliation, they resort to voluntary starvation and adopt unhealthy food habits. It is but common for adolescents to live in awe of the celebrities. But the iconic stature that these celebrities have achieved seems to be negatively affecting the teenage population. The celebrities often display unattainable standards of slimness that makes the public feel incredibly inadequate and dissatisfied. In a bid to emulate their famous celebrities, the general public becomes victim to these eating disorders. Besides these factors, psychologists believe that negative family influences can also lead to eating disorders among children and adolescents. It is theorized that poor parenting by both mothers and fathers can be a possible cause. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that young girls who ate 3 - 4 meals per week with their families were about half as likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors as girls who ate family meals less often. Children of parents, who are either alcoholic or have a history of drug abuse, are also likely to be affected by these disorders. As mentioned earlier, Anorexia can be a dangerous ailment with about 6% of the cases resulting in death, nearly half of them by way of suicide. It can also lead to Osteoporosis, slow heart rate i.e. Bradycardia, and reduced immune response of the body. The second major kind of eating disorder, Bulimia Nervosa also stems from nearly the same causes. It is marked by repeated cycles of binge eating i.e. uncontrolled spells of overeating, followed by feelings of guilt, remorse, shame and self loathing for having consumed extra quantity of food. Patients then try to compensate for that by rash dieting, excessive exercise, enemas, consumption of laxatives and diuretics and induced vomiting .They often famish themselves for sometimes before they start binge eating again. Studies have proven that nearly 75% of the people affected by Bulimia use self induced vomiting to remove undigested food from their body. They usually use ipecac syrups, diuretics, laxatives or enemas for this purpose. This kind of Bulimia is classified as the Purging Type of Bulimia. (Fairburn, 1995) The other kind of Bulimia, the Non Purging Type is seen in 6-8% of the subjects. These people use excessive exercise or severe fasting to lose weight immediately after an episode of binge eating (Barlow et al, 2004). Like Anorexia, the onset of Bulimia usually begins in the adolescent years (13-20 years). The major cause of Bulimia is psychological. A sheer sense of lack of control leads to stress, which might lead to Bulimia. Bulimia can be more difficult to diagnose than Anorexia because its symptoms are not very visible. Bulimics might look perfectly healthy. These recurring episodes can cause long lasting potential damage to the body. Self induced vomiting leads to erosion of tooth enamel by the gastric acids present in undigested food, leading to a condition known as Perimolysis. These acids can also cause swollen salivary glands and irritation of the esophagus. Besides that, it can lead to peptic ulcers, and dehydration. Bulimia can also cause electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even death. Studies have also proved that females with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at great risk of being affected by these disorders. Up to one third of women with type 1 diabetes may have eating disorders, and these women are at especially high risk of micro vascular and metabolic complications (Walsh et al, 2000). These disorders can be hard to detect because they necessarily do not have an absolute form. The line differentiating healthy concern about one’s weight and otherwise is somewhat ambiguous. The most characteristic presentation is excessive weight loss. Reduction in body weight to 85% of the normal is the characteristic symptom of Anorexia. An intense fear of gaining weight and refusal to have a proper diet are other visible signs. Psychological symptoms, though hard to detect, are very important. If closely observed, the obsessive tendencies and a low self esteem can be observed in Anorexic patients. In milder cases, the subjects might complaint of s fatigue, dizziness, or lack of energy. Once detected, these disorders can be treated appropriately. The first line of treatment usually aims at the recovery of normal and healthy body weight. The patient’s diet is carefully planned, ensuring that he or she gets a balanced and nutritional diet. External vitamin supplements may also be administered. Psychotherapy can prove to be extremely helpful in the treatment of these disorders. It leads to restoration of weight, return of menses among female patients, and improved psychological and social functioning when compared to simple support or education programs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the highly recommended therapies, wherein efforts are made to change the unhealthy attitude towards food. In addition to professional therapy, Anorexia patients need immense family support. Even once detected and treated there is always a chance of a relapse. Thus, prevention becomes all the more important. Parents must take the initiative to talk to their teenage children and inculcate in them a healthy sense of being. Parents also need to teach their children the value of healthy eating. While an attractive and slim body might be a tempting prospect, one must not be ready to endanger their basic well being in order to achieve that. References American Psychiatric Association (2005). Let’s Talk Facts About Eating Disorders. Retrieved Sep 18, 2008 from http://www.healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-EatingDisorders.pdf Barlow, H. et al (2004). Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Claifornia: Thomson Wadsworth Fairburn, C. (1995). Overcoming Binge Eating, Guilford Garner, D, Garfinkel, P (1980). Socio-cultural Factors in the Development of Anorexia Nervosa. Psychol Med, 10 (4), 647-56. Kann, L. et al (2000). Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States. MMWR CDC Surveill Summ 2000;49:1-96 Klump, L. et al (2001). The evolving genetic foundations of eating disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am, 24 (2), 215-25. Milos, G. et al (2005). Instability of eating disorder diagnoses: prospective study. 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