The Contribution of Social, Cultural, and Family Environment to the Development of Eating Disorders

Can We Better Understand Eating Disorders, Namely Anorexia Nervosa, Through A Biomedical Model Or By Socio-cultural Analysis?

In the essay “The Globalization of Eating Disorders” by Susan Bordo speaks about eating disorders. In society today appearance is a huge factor. Even though appearance has always been a major thing but now day’s people take it to the extreme when trying to have a certain body image. Now day’s people think beauty is whatever is on the outside, instead of the inside and the outside. Most people go on crazy strict diets, surgery and some go through starvation in order to become a certain body size. Eating disorders are becoming more in effect now and not just in the United States , but happens to be going worldwide and not only with just the women, but now with men as well. Within the essay Bordo’s explains about how the body image, media, and culture influence the standard of the beauty leads to eating disorder. Another factor is family that causes someone to form an eating disorder. Those four factors are the main key roles that play apart on how eating disorders are being used.

It has been found that eating disorders are most common in the western and industrialized culture where food is abundant. This is because these individuals attach a lot of importance to their physical appearance and are willing to do anything to get the dream figure. An eating disorder is not just watching what one eats and exercising on a daily basis but is rather an illness that causes serious disturbances in eating behaviour, such as great and harmful cutback of the consumption of food as well as feelings of serious anxiety about their body shape or mass. They would start to stop themselves to go out anywhere just so that they could work out and burn all of the calories of a meal or snack that they had scoffed earlier. Two of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The regular description of a patient with either disease would be a youthful white female, with an upper social standing in a predictably socially competitive environment.

Thesis Statement: It is important to understand eating disorders and the types of eating disorders to overcome them and seek the proper treatment.

In today's society, there is much attention being given to the subject of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia; unfortunately it is because these disorders seem to be becoming more and more common. The question that remains is whether eating disorders such as these are simply personal problems of the individuals, or if they have become a social problem that needs to be addressed more aggressively. Having grown up in this society, I see this issue as a definite social problem. To say that these increasingly common eating disorders are personal problems, implies that the causes of them are personal as well, which I believe is not the case. A social problem is something that goes against society's goals and values; it would seem

eating disorder behaviors have changed. These behaviors have been evident throughout history however, they were not diagnosed as eating disorder., Bulimic behaviors were routinely practiced in in ancient Greek cultures, spiritual fasting was also recorded in the Middle ages (Marky, 2004). Anorexia Nervosa was not recognized by the medical community as an actual medical disorder until 1970, with Bulimia Nervosa not being recognized until 1979 (Miller, 1999.) Prior to this eating disorders were not recognized in culture, and it is culture that establishes eating disorder behaviors abnormal. Today’s culture does recognize eating disorders as the most deadly form of mental illness however, culture also contributes to the stigma against eating

With children as early as age 7 showing dissatisfaction with their body, and as young as 9 starting dieting, eating disorders are a serious issue in our society. Taking a look at perceptions, behaviors, and medical issues associated with the disorders of anorexia and bulimia, scholars have tried to categorize and find answers to the problems which certain adolescents suffer. In this paper I focused on the two major eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.

An eating disorder has complex origins. Although most people think that an obsession with weight and appearance leads to this deadly disease, this is merely the surface issue. Along with the ultimate need for control, other causes can be genetic factors, parental influence, behavioral influence, environmental influence, and biochemistry. Many studies have found that eating disorders run in families. Almost always, it is the closely related females in the family who are affected. Some researchers believe that negative parental influence can come from both the maternal and paternal sides. Mothers often comment on their daughters' appearance, whether on their physical shape or on their ability to dress well. So often simple motherly love turns into a psychological desire for their daughters to be what they were not. Studies have found that these

In longing to reach the norm many people fall victim to these detrimental illnesses. Sadly, women are more subject to these eating disorders than men, the number of men suffering from eating disorders is on the rise. Our culture puts pressure on each of its inhabitants to attain this ideal body type that is unrealistic for most people. The images that pollute television and magazines make us all feel inadequate if we don't meet the credentials of slenderness; therefore, continuing the role of our society in the development of eating disorders.

This article focuses on eating disorders, but most importantly on the top ones that society are more familiar with which are anorexia and bulimia. It addresses cultural aspects that help influence these two eating disorders. The article defines the disorders so people can have an actual intellectual definition, instead of what people most commonly think they are. Also it talks about eating disorders in relation with the consumerist society and the standards that are being established with body-management (POPA 162).

Many researchers have found that genetics are linked to eating disorders. Studies have shown that genetics are responsible for 56% of the onset of bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating (Johnson and Bulik). The Eating Disorder Review said that a person is four times more likely to become bulimic and twelve times more likely to become anorexic if he or she has a sister or mother who suffers from an eating disorder (Kittleson 44). Studies of identical twins have also

Western society not only glorifies thinness but also creates a climate of prejudice against overweight people (Comer, 2015). According to research, as many as half of the families of people with eating disorders, like bulimia nervosa have a long history of emphasizing thinness, physical appearance, and dieting (Comer, 2015). It is stated that abnormal interactions and forms of communication within a family may also set the stage for an eating disorder (Comer, 2015). Researchers believe that an enmeshed family pattern often leads to eating disorders (Comer, 2015). In an enmeshed family, the members are overinvolved in each other’s affairs and over concerned with the details of each other’s lives (Comer, 2015). Parents are too involved in the lives of their children, allowing little room for individuality and independence (Comer,

The debate between the roles of nature and nurture in human development is one of the oldest arguments in the field of anthropology (Sincero, 2012). Villines (2014) argues in his article that this debate should be retired altogether, since it is impossible to neatly separate the nature from nurture. This essay aims to critically evaluate the relationship between biological natures and nurture which specifically focusing on culture with respect to a controversial topic of eating disorder; anorexia nervosa. People suffering from anorexia nervosa often being associated with excessive food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain and obsession of having a slender figure which recent research has shown that personality trait, media influence, culture and genetics factors all contributing to its prevalence (National Institute of Mental Health, 2001; Joy, 2006). As of now, we know that both nature and nurture are the contribution factors to the development of anorexia nervosa, but what is yet to discover is whether eating disorder developed majorly because of nature or due to nurture. Therefore, in order to critically assess and find a solid answer to this matter, the first part of the essay will examine the aspect of nature, in particular the coding of genes in us humans which might contribute to the development and continuance of anorexia nervosa. The second part of the essay will then focus on the discussion that culture on the other hand also plays an important

Eating disorders tend to run in families and female relatives are the most often to be affected. Some recent studies from researchers found that mothers who are too concerned about their children’s weight and appearance, it may put them at increased risk of developing an eating disorder. (Hoffman). Ultimately, genetic research may prove to be the key to unlocking our understanding of environmental risk factors for eating disorders (Mazzeo and Bulik). Multiple studies have been undertaken to that show possible genetic likeliness toward developing eating disorders as a result of inheritance (News Medical).

Eating disorders are extremely harmful and rising in prevalence. . The two most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. In this essay, I will compare and contrast these two disorders. This essay will also assess the symptoms, causes, health affects and the most prevalent characteristics of people diagnosed with these two eating disorders.