Earing Disorder and Asian American Women - Essay Example

Eating disorders have been documented to be one of the most lethal psychiatric conditions that affect a considerable portion of the world’s population. Eating disorders (ED) are of three categories, which include Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Conventional postulates attribute eating disorders to middle class individuals, adolescent females, and Caucasians. With regard to the context of this paper, research studies established that there is an equal prevalence of eating disorders among Asian American women and girls.

This paper seeks to discuss eating disorders and body image concerns in Asian American women. The diagnosis for eating disorders varies and is determined by the factors such as cultural background, gender, ethnicity, traditions, and philosophy. Recent research established that the prevalence of eating disorders in Asian American women and girls has similar ratings with other conventional groups. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM V/5), the diagnosis of ED had to be changed.

This was due to criticism for a lack of clinical utility, diagnostic instability, and over-inclusiveness of the residual category of ED not otherwise specified (EDNOS) (Ekeroth, Clinton, Norring, & Birgegard, 2013). According to Ekeroth et al. (2013), DSM-5 seeks to use a more scientifically valid and clinically relevant system of classifying ED. To limit and better define EDNOS, DSM-5 lowers the threshold for both BN and AN, and establishes BED as a unique condition with a separate diagnosis.

The relevance of these changes is supported by research evidence leading to the conclusion that there will be a decrease in EDNOS. The most common cause of eating disorders in Asian American women and girls is the perception that to be positively regarded in terms of being beautiful in America, one has to satisfy the Caucasian ideal (Cummins & Lehman, 2007). According to Cummins and Lehman (2007), negative body image is of grave concern and importance with regard to eating disorders in Asian American women and girls.

Negative body image is attributed to an increase in the risk of developing eating disturbances, an aspect that is supported by numerous research studies correlating personal appearance to ED. According to Cummins and Lehman (2007), Asian American women and girls are faced with the dilemma of acculturation to the American way of life, which comes into conflict with the Asian norms. Asian culture and traditions dictate that women and girls in general should possess petite body shapes and sizes, and a deviation from this is met with ridicule and stigmatization.

The struggle to stick with the Asian ideal and, at the same time, achieve the American Caucasian ideal, combined with the diverse American culture, causes ED in some segments of the female Asian American population. The Department of Mental Health (DMH) in America and the DSM-5 both possess classifications of ED, with each category qualifying for a distinct diagnostic criterion. EDs in Asian American women satisfactorily correspond to these diagnostic criteria, which supports the need to have a separate tool of diagnosis.

This tool should take into account both cultural and socio-environmental factors when conducting diagnosis and treatment of ED in Asian American women and girls. The DSM-4 had the multi-axial assessment model for its entire