Dianne Neumark-Sztainer: A Summary

There are many challenges for young girls and boys that lead to major issues like problems with self-image and eating disorders. In numerous studies done, it is easy to see that eating disorders do not have to be permanent. The studies done show that there are many ways to help people struggling with this disorder. Although there is always a change of relapse, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are two eating disorders that with time, the desire to get better, and the proper treatment, can be eliminated from a person’s life. Therefore, it is important that on college campuses, there is an organization ran by students for students to help build up self-confidence and decrease the rate of eating disorders.

The fact is, one in three adolescent girls has suffered or is suffering from some form of an eating disorder, from severe dieting or excessive exercise, to actual starvation (Steinhausen, 95), and six out of ten high school girls diet, along with one in four high school boys (Berg, 17). These percentages are ridiculously high, and show that there is definitely a problem in our society.

Eating disorders have become an increasing public health problem once thought to be an affliction amongst young women, now an epidemic across culture and gender boundaries. Anorexia gives rise to serious socio-economic and bio-psychological circumstances of our ever vast, growing society. Awareness of eating disorders have increased but perhaps only in proportion to its advancement of its research and treatment. That which still leaves us in a position for a much greater demand for education and heightened awareness of this perplexing disease.

In Joanna Poppink’s essay entitled “Educational Programs can Help Prevent Eating Disorder,” she writes, “Sometimes parents are afraid that educational materials about eating disorders will stimulate an eating disorder in their teenager. They also fear such material will encourage a teenager with an eating disorder to try new and different methods of acting out the illness” (143). Poppink understands the parental concerns that come with education programs, but she reassures that the knowledge that society obtains from these types of programs will not cause their child to develop an eating disorder (144). Instead, educational programs can help prevent eating disorders by explaining their risks, teaching people how to recognize an eating disorder in someone they know, and discussing different ways on how to begin the treatment of an eating disorder. Also, American society must do everything it can to stop the idea that beauty, popularity, and success come with thinness. In order to start the prevention of eating disorders in teenage girls, the society must first stop promoting women who are unhealthy and under the average BMI. By promoting women of all different sizes and shapes in the media, American society can help girls facing eating disorders become more comfortable in their bodies and help them understand that people have various body sizes to suit their unique

a physiological need as opposed to a physical one. According to the Mirror Mirror Organization (2014), it is a dangerous misconception that the only people suffering from eating disorders are white, middle-class, straight women. However, “the truth is that eating disorders do not discriminate and affect people of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, abilities, socioeconomic status’, gender identities, and sexual orientations” (Mulheim, Farrar, & VanDemark, 2014). Programs aimed to prevent the occurrences of eating disorders are an important part of both primary prevention and healthy childhood development. In the interest of this evidence-based practice proposal project, I will be exploring education regarding eating disorders with an emphasis on school-aged females. This leads to the question: In school-aged females, is there a reduction in the instance of eating disorders in schools where education is provided versus schools who do not educate about eating disorders?

Girls are indoctrinated at a very young age that the well known Barbie doll is how a woman is supposed to look, which includes no fat, but large breasts, and due to that false view of a woman’s body, it is more than likely that young girls today will approach puberty with a negative body image. Although children can develop eating disorders as early as 6 years old, it is typically the teen years where it becomes out of control. Dr. Jonathon Rader says that “more than half of teenaged girls are, or think they should be, on diets. They want to lose all or some of the forty pounds that females naturally gain between 8 and 14. About three percent of these teens go too far, becoming anorexic or bulimic” (Rader). Almost everyone has heard of the terms “anorexic” and “bulimic” whether it was on TV or in a magazine, but not many people know the true facts and dangers that go along with them. They also might not even realize that there are other types of eating disorders that people are dealing with, some of which are not even specified. Exactly what are eating disorders?

In my research, I explored the world of eating disorders. I wanted to see if there was anything specifically encouraging eating disorders and if there was a way to stop it. Eating disorders affect the community greatly because often times, they go unchecked or unrecognized. As a recovered anorexic, I feel it’s very important to address this issue. It’s a very big problem that is often not addressed at all, or is seen as normal, like counting calories. I hoped to find a way to improve the way that eating disorders are viewed and explain to people about what defines an eating disorder, because many people will never know if it is not explicitly explained to them. My study’s purpose is to bring light into the dark world of eating disorders

“The percentage of children aged 6–12 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012” (cdc.gov). Subsequently, the obesity epidemic has continued to increase over the past few years in the United States. There are many different aspects that have contributed to the obesity epidemic. For example, many people today choose to be convenient instead of eating healthy, which results in the consummation of processed foods. Processed foods have a significant effect on the risk of obesity. With a current society always on the go, adults and children have become more susceptible to junk and fast foods. As a result this has caused an increase in the energy intake which results in storing fat thus gaining weight. In addition, having less to no physical activity is also a contributor to obesity. For example, sixty minutes of physical activity is needed for the prevention of obesity (ncbi.gov). These contributions to obesity results into the many different health risk. With this in mind, I believe as a student, schools have the influence to help prevent young students from childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a condition where a child has unnecessary grossly fat. Many children who are overweight suffer from medical to self-esteem issues. These issues can have a big impact on a child’s educational success. Therefore, there are ways that schools can get involved to help prevent young students of becoming obese and in the process help students

With the help of various studies, data has shown the sociocultural factors that yield the most eating disorders as well as warning signs that a disorder may be developing. For example, eating disorders affect 62 percent of athletes in sports pertaining to aesthetics, such as gymnastics and figure skating (“Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders”). It is imperative that a movement is made to encourage these impressionable individuals to practice intuitive eating and a positive body image, for it has been found that prevention programs can take the attitudes and behaviors that lead to eating disorders and reverse them (NEDA). Intuitive eating is when an individual eats according to their bodies natural schedule; eating when one is hungry, and stopping when one is full. The human body will also crave the nutrients it is in need of. For instance, if the body is deficient of glucose, one might crave the natural sugar found in fruits. Although it takes practice to master, learning to eat intuitively is the healthiest “diet” one can partake

The media’s false portrayal of body image has a great influence on the development of eating disorders. There are three types of eating disorders; anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating. Eating disorders are major issues in today’s society. Instead of people using the media to influence good eating habits, they use it to influence bad eating habits. The numbers of people who have an eating disorder are rising at an alarming rate. It affects not only women, but also men, teens, and young children of all ages. It is not surprising that the number of young children who have an eating disorder is increasing each year. This is an issue that people do not take seriously. The media gets the attention to continue to

Young girls are more easily attained to anorexia and said to be more influenced by an obsession of appearance and thinness. Due to fashion icons, friends and self esteem. Young boys who engage in sports where weight is a main concern and has limits, also may be compelled to restrict food intake to make “the weight.” Eating disorders are a series of emotional and physical addictions. They show conditions of food obsession, weight appearance to where it affects their job, daily routine and relationships. Causes can be mood swings, physical, and mental problems. Aswell, as death(eatingdisorderfoundation,n,p) Eating disorders has affected about 10 million females in the U.S of all ages(eatingdisorderfoundation,n,p). Whether a person restricts food intake, binges, abuses laxatives, excessively exercises or overeats, they often develop a dangerous impulsive and self destructive behavior that leads to psychological damage. THe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published results proving that children under 12 years of age with an eating disorder doubled between 1999 and now. It is an obvious yeary growing issue that must be

Today, more than ever, teenagers and adolescents have many concerns about their weight, shape, size, and body image. Studies have suggested that eating disorders among adolescent girls have increased over the past fifty years. Approximately 1% to 5% of young girls meet the criteria for bulimia nervosa (Johnson, Chandra). Although the media’s emphasis on diet and fitness was designed to help people become healthier, it influences bad eating habits, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders.

In America, many teenagers are suffering with multiple eating disorders. Once they begin to monitor what to eat, they tend to perform many exercise routines followed by the lack of not eating, these situations should be alarming to the parent that something is not right. Thus, what can we do to resolve this situation among teens? Parents should first become informed towards the issue which their child is facing and take action immediately to save their child from the dangerous activities. It is important for them to realize that their child is in great danger once they begin to do any of these tasks. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are psychological problems which mostly affect teenagers and causes them to become conscious about their

Those with eating disorders need to understand their bodily sensations, which impact decision making, body perception, and thought processes. They often experience a disconnect from their body and through mindfulness, movement, and breathing techniques, yoga helps rebuild that connection. The mindful practice of yoga allows students to differentiate between “thoughts” and “bodily sensations”. By learning that a single physical sensation can connect to a variety of behaviors and thoughts, individuals can strengthen a tool critical to eating disorder recovery; choice. Understanding the body and the signals it sends can help patients better understand their options, and ability to choose healthy ones. Additionally, the burden of suffering from an eating disorder, and of the complex recovery process can result in a great amount of stress. Yoga research consistently yields that stress reduction is one of its proven benefits. The goal of yoga is not to avoid suffering or fix problems, but to nourish oneself during suffering, a goal that profoundly relates to the needs of eating disorder patients (Pacanowski, Diers, Crosby & Neumark-Sztainer, 2016).

This author explores the uses of yoga as an additional form of therapy in the treatment of eating disorders in residential and outpatient settings. Yoga is effective in increasing self-awareness, reflection and the ability to self-soothe. Through yoga, the author claims that yoga can be an effective additional method with the formal treatment for eating disorders. Douglass does acknowledge that there are potential misuses with yoga. Therefore, suggestions are provided to illustrate how therapists can support the practice of yoga.