Prevalence of Eating Disorders - Research Paper Example

? Eating Disorders Eating disorders are major psychological conditions that mostly affect young adults and teenagers especially teenage girls. Although there may be several types of eating disorders, the major ones include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge eating disorder. These disorders occur due to a mix of several factors including personal, familial and cultural aspects. This paper will evaluate the major causes of these eating disorders, their prevalence in the population, their diagnosis as well as the recommended interventions and treatments. Introduction The American Psychiatric Association indicates that the two main categorized eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). However, there is another categorization of eating disorders not otherwise specified. This category of eating disorders entails patients who do not meet the standard for either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. This is because anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the main diagnostic standards for eating disorders. In this category, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common (Wilson, et al., 2007). Several studies indicate that eating disorders are the major causes of morbidity and death in teenage females and young women. These disorders cause other harsh medical and psychological consequences such as delayed growth, osteoporosis and developmental delay. In addition, patients experiencing severe anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa depict dermatologic symptoms. Early knowledge of dermatologic signs is useful in the early and prompt diagnosis of unseen Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Cutaneous demonstrations are the expression of the health effects of substance abuse, vomiting, starvation, and psychiatric prevalence (Strumia, 2005). Prevalence of Eating Disorders During the last 50 years, the occurrence of AN and BN has augmented noticeably although it is possible to believe that in any case some of the increase is because of enhanced consciousness and reporting of these disorders. Exact approximates of occurrence and prevalence varies wildly, possibly since those who have these disorders are frequently unwilling to disclose their condition (Polivy & Herman, 2002). Eating disorders have a high occurrence in teenagers and young adults, and are 10 times more prevalent in females than in males. Even though they transpire in all ethnic and racial groups, they are more prevalent among Whites in developed countries (Strumia, 2005). In the United States and Western Europe, the standard occurrence of AN in young female is 0.3 percent. In addition, the occurrence of sub threshold AN, described, as one standard short of threshold, is higher: ranging from 0.37 percent to 1.3 percent. Further studies on the occurrence of the disease indicate that the common age of commencement of anorexia nervosa is between 15 and 19 years. On the other hand, the prevalence of BN is very different with 1 percent for women and 0.1 percent for women. These figures correspond to survey in Western Europe and United States. In the case of Binge Eating Disorder, several studies indicate that the occurrence of the disorder is approximately between 5 percent and 8 percent. In addition, population-based studies of BED indicate an equal gender occurrence and perhaps increased risk related to lower socioeconomic status (Berkman, et al., 2006). Causes and Risk Factors of Eating Disorders The commencement and occurrence of eating disorders is due to various diverse aspects. These factors comprise both the cultural and familial aspects as well as personal characteristics. They include involvement in behaviors that endorse thinness, rigid thinking, fear of losing control, a propensity for thoroughness, self-worth, which is overly established by the person’s outlook of their body shape and weight, discontent with body shape, and an engulfing orientation to be thin (Strumia, 2005). A major factor that accelerates and causes the onset of eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa is social-cultural impact. It is evident that eating disorders are not prevalent homogeneously in all cultures continuously. For instance, in cultures where there is abundant food, there is the development of a passion with slimness (Polivy & Herman, 2002). This over concern and orientation towards thinness accelerates much of the behavior evident in anorexia and bulimia. In this regard, a decrease in shape and weight apprehension is vital for success of treatment (Anderson, 2004). Other factors that lead to the onset of eating disorders are familial aspects and eating behaviors. These family features cause the development of the eating disorders as well as their acceleration and development. Several studies concerning family dynamics in eating disorders indicate that some families are aggressive, disturbing, and ignore the emotional requirements of the patient (Polivy & Herman, 2002). In addition, dietary restraint, described as the intention to reduce caloric intake, leads significantly in the onset of eating disorders. In anorexia nervosa, thriving caloric limitation, which is the characteristic of the disorder, causes weight loss. On the other hand, dietary restraint in BN causes binge eating through several physiological and psychological means (Anderson, 2004). Other major factors causing eating disorders ate interpersonal features. These include mockery, mistreatment and trauma. In most cases, there are those who develop eating disorders after their peers mock them concerning their shape. In addition, this teasing causes stress, low self-worth, discouraged mood, generalized nervousness and irritability to the involved person that accelerates eating behaviors (Polivy & Herman, 2002). Anderson (2004) adds that negative affect, particularly stress and depression, frequently develops due to eating disorders. This means that there is a correlation between eating disorders and affective disorders. In addition, stress and depression might accelerate the eating disorders as well as interfering with treatment. Conversely, the Eating Disorders could present some cognitive abnormalities, including inaccurate judgments, rigid thinking patterns, and obsessive thoughts. In addition, as a result of these abnormalities there could be cognitive pathology, which may contribute to Eating disorders. The main features of both AN and BN is the use of weight as a basis for self-evaluation contributing to the persistence of Eating Disorders. The driving force behind AN and presently BN is an obsession with becoming thin (Polivy & Herman, 2002). Diagnosis and Treatment of Eating Disorders In diagnosis, binge eating is a crucial measure in Bulimia nervosa while low weight is for Anorexia nervosa. On the other hand, the two disorders share a common criterion of one being over-concerned about body weight and size although the degree and emphasis may differ among the patients of AN and BN. However, during diagnosis, AN takes a preference over BN because the presence of the former impedes the diagnosis of the latter (Palmer, 2003). Among the diagnostic criteria for AN include an intense fear of fatness, disturbed experience of one’s body weight or shape, amenorrhea for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles, and maintaining a body weight at a level less than 85% of normal weight for age and height. For BN, the diagnostic criteria involve recurrent incidents of both compensatory behaviors and binge eating to avoid weight gain from the overeating (Polivy & Herman, 2002). However, the intensity and setting of treatment depend on the severity of the eating disorder. The outpatient basis can manage the patients with mild illness. However, for the medically or psychiatrically unstable patients, the inpatient is vital. The treatment goals comprise attainment and maintenance of a healthy weight, nutritional rehabilitation, management of co-morbid psychiatric illness, prevention of relapse and management of physical complications. It is also important to help to change maladaptive thoughts, educate the patient about proper health and nutrition and elicit cooperation from the patient (Strumia, 2005). The psychologists, psychiatrists, and other therapists with primary care providers help manage the medical care for the less medically compromised cases of Anorexia Nervosa through the outpatient basis. In addition, other approaches include the psychotherapeutic approaches like individual psychotherapy, group therapy and family therapy (Berkman, et al., 2006). The family therapy is the most widely researched treatment for anorexia nervosa. It contributes at least one cell to more than half of all randomized controlled tests (Terence, 2007). A broad medical evaluation is the usual first step in treatment of BN because of the frequency of medical and nutritional complications. Following this is either psychotherapy, delivered individually or in-group format, which forms the cornerstone of BN interventions. Other common approaches include interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (Berkman, et al., 2006). A cognitive model of the systems thought to sustain bulimia nervosa form the basis of theory-driven, manual-based cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, the treatment comprise cognitive, behavioral procedures meant to replace dysfunctional dieting with a regular and flexible pattern of eating, improve motivation for change, prevent relapse, and decrease undue concern with body shape and weight (Wilson, et a.l, 2007). Conclusion Eating disorders are most prevalent in young adults and adolescents, particularly the females since they want to maintain their body shape or reduce weight. It is evident that the causative and risk factors of eating disorders ranges from interpersonal to societal including familial and cultural aspects. These include cultural orientation to reduce weight, family-eating habits, affective behaviors as well as stress due to pressure from peers. The most appropriate management interventions for eating disorders are various therapies including family therapy, cognitive therapy as well as individual psychotherapy. This implies that treatment providers should observe psychological interventions since most triggers and causes of eating disorders are psychological. Although nutritional advice is important, behavioral therapies should tale prominence. References Anderson, D.A. (2004). Assessment of Eating Disorders: Review and Recommendations for Clinical Use. Behavior Modification, 28, 6, 763-782. Berkman, N.D. et al. (2006). Management of Eating Disorders: Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 135. Retrieved from Palmer, B. (2003). Concepts of Eating Disorders. Retrieved from Polivy, J. & Herman, C. P. (2002). Causes of Eating Disorders. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 187-213. Strumia, R. (2005). Dermatologic Signs in Patients with Eating Disorders. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 6, 3, 165-173. Wilson, G. T. et al. (2007). Psychological Treatment of Eating Disorders. American Psychologist, 62, 3, 199-216. Read More