Eating Disorders and Western Culture

Many people are unaware of the background of eating disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and they usually develop in childhood before the age of 20 (Ross-Flanigan 1). Women as well as men can develop an eating disorder; it is just more likely for a woman to develop one. Eating disorders are usually developed in adolescent or childhood years when a person is influenced the most. Also “Eating disorders are psychological conditions that involve overeating, voluntary starvation, or both. Anorexia nervosa, anorexic bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known types of eating disorders” (Ross-Flanigan 1). Many people assume that an eating disorder is when a person staves themselves; they do not realize that it can involve overeating as well. Some eating disorders also involve purging, but not all. People with an eating disorder fear gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. They do not lack an appetite (Ross-Flanigan 1). These people are

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.

On average, women are more likely to experience an eating disorder. Although, men are not eliminated from eating disorders. Eating disorders pertain to a patient who is unsatisfied with one’s current body image. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders. These two eating disorders are similar in ways that are characterized by low self esteem, body dysmorphia, and signs of depression. However, anorexia, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa should not be confused. Anorexia is the

Throughout cultures, mental disorders vary immensely. In some cultures, certain disorders are considered taboo and not even recognized, in other cultures, the treatment of certain disorders varies, but the biggest thing that is different, is how certain disorders effect certain cultures and races less or more than others. This is something that happens in many disorders, but is always interesting to see why this happens. Does this happen because of media, because of society, or another reason? Numerous studies have been done to see how the prevalence of eating disorders varies among different ethnic groups. Although it is most commonly perceived that Western Europeans and North Americans suffer the most from eating disorders , however body disapproval is not just a problem among European culture, it is a problem among other cultures, specifically Hispanic women who are living as an ethnic minority in America.

The article that I read this week is called, “Eating Disorders: Culture and Eating Disorders.” This article is about eating disorders such as, anemia and bulimia, and how they affect different cultures. In America, eating disorders are a thing because people are so worried about body image and want to be skinny, but in Hong Kong and India it’s used for religious purposes. In a lot of other cultures eating disorders are very rare or are unheard of. A researcher named Bemporael believes that eating disorders have been around before the 19th century. They think the situation grew bigger in a time where there were a lot of wealthy people. I think it’s very hard to tell when eating disorders have started and when it became such a huge

In the United States of America 20 million women, and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. There are three types of eating disorders, Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating. Eating disorders can be life-threatening conditions that can affect a person’s physical health, and emotional. Something that serious has people wondering what exactly is causing these people to risk their health on it?

Although eating disorders have been known since the early 70s, they have become such a major health issue in today’s generation. There are three different types of eating disorders, Anorexia nervosa which is the act of self-starvation, Bulimia Nervosa which is a binge and purge process where one would eat an abnormal amount of food in one sitting the throw it back up or using laxatives to rid the body of food. Lastly there is Binge eating which is the hardest to detect because those who binge eat still look decently healthy they usually workout a lot, but when they are alone they consume large amounts of food. This disease can be found in men and women of all ages.

Historically, through an array of cultures worldwide, individuals have transformed their appearances in order to conform to the beauty ideal of relevant culture. Those that are apart of the Pa Dong Tribe, which reside among the boarder of Thailand, practice the elongating of the neck through the use of brass rings. African and Amazonian tribes consider beauty through the stretching of their lips that is achieved using large lip plates. Tribes in Africa strive to achieve a larger body weight by eating over 15,000 calories a day in order to be more desirable partners as well as to gain a higher status. Similarly, in westernized countries individuals suffer from eating disorders and malnourishment in order to maintain a thinner body shape. Individuals are influenced heavily by culture and social backgrounds on beliefs and perceptions about body image, as well as contributing to the beauty standards that one should strive to maintain and achieve. As these culturally responsible body alternation trends continue to be practiced, they are shown to have a direct role in the rise of eating disorders, as well as body misconception.

Men with anorexia sometimes display other psychological problems. While affected women tend to be more perfectionistic and displeased with their body. Children and adolescents who suffer from anorexia are at risk for a slow growth and development.“Anorexia tends to affect the middle and upper socioeconomic classes and Caucasians more often than less advantaged classes and ethnic minorities in the United States” (Stockwell, 1990). “People with anorexia lean towards compulsive behaviors, obsession with food, and or addiction characteristics in efforts to overly control their food intake and weight” (Harries, 1992). According to ANAD, statistics show that “0.9% of American women suffer from anorexia in their lifetime.1 in 5 anorexia deaths is by suicide”. (Carney, 2009)

There is a commonly held view in the general population that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. However, eating disorders are a group of serious conditions in which a person is preoccupied with food and weight that they often cannot focus on anything else. Amongst all the eating disorder the main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, which are all psychological illnesses. The disorders vary between eating extremely small amounts of food, to not eating at all, or to severely overeating. Each of these eating disorders can cause serious physical and psychological problems, and at their most severe, can even be life-threatening (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Eating disorders, a range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits is a growing problem. The three most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa. Eating disorders currently affect 25 million Americans. (allianceforeatingdisordes.com) Children under 12 who were hospitalized for an eating disorder increased by 119% between 1999 and 2006 (Fox News). While males are affected by eating disorders, 75% of people affected are female. One group of the population that is largely affected are teenage girls.

Though eating disorders are inextricably linked to genetics, the environment also largely determines them. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and most recently Binge eating are three central types of eating disorders cited in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Eating Disorders (DSM-5, 2015). The prevalence of eating disorders is fundamentally a result of Western cultures construction of thinness as an ideal form of beauty. Eating disorders are often discounted as a myth of white privilege. Those in developing countries suffer from malnourishment; so the notion that people willingly restrict their diet is inconceivable to them. However, developing an eating disorder is simply one way of dealing with an issue (actually avoiding) that may

Eating Disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. For women ages 15-24 the mortality rate for anorexia is twelve times higher than any other cause of death (“11 Facts”). An eating disorder is a psychological disorder that involves abnormal or disturbed eating behaviors, such as anorexia nervosa. “They are so common in the U.S. that 1 or 2 out of every 100 children struggle with an eating disorder” (Kidshealth).

The United States has a high incidence of obesity, anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Obesity also known as overweight is having excessive body mass above the normal weight for the child’s age and sex. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia is an emotional disorder characterized by body imagines and the fear of gaining weight. However, people who are anorexia refused to eat in order to control their weight. On the other hand, people who are bulimia consume a large amount of food within a short of period of time. Then they begin to purge, fast or exercise right away because they feel shameful or guilt for eating an abundance of food. Overall, there are cultural influences that contribute to eating-related disorders in teenagers.

The reason Anorexia and all eating disorders in general are important to study is because they are a significant part of society. Eating disorders also hold the title of the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Therefore, more people are dying of ED’s each day. The main cause of these deaths is not only from malnutrition, but suicide. Eating disorder are long lasting and more than often result in death. More effective methods of treatment and recovery need to be discovered and practiced in order to reduce these numbers.