Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Researchers study eating disorders to try to understand the disorders and their many complexities. "Eating disorders are complicated psychiatric illnesses in which food is used to deal with unsettling emotions and difficult life issues" (Michel & Willard, 2003, p. 2). To help those with eating disorders, one must understand the causes, effects and treatments associated with the disorders. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating are three common eating disorders found in society today. "No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders. However, all socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural groups are at risk" (Matthews, 2001, p.3). Eating disorders are difficult to diagnose but can be deadly if left untreated.

Background

The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness (n.d.) observes,

Eating disorders affect five to ten million Americans adolescent girls and women and approximately one million American boys and men. In addition, approximately 70 million individuals in the world struggle with this disorder. In a single person's lifetime, approximately 450,000 individuals will die because of this terrifying disease. Eating disorders know no race, age, class or gender. They can happen to anyone. Eating disorders have been present in children as young as three years old and in adults as old as ninety. However, typical age of onset is anywhere from 12-18 years of age.

Eating disorders often develop in adolescence because it is a time of numerous changes including sexual, physical, and emotional ones. Rachel Bryant-Waugh and Bryan Lask (2004) conclude that with adolescent changes, weight fluctuations often occur and many individuals may not feel ready to handle the differences (p.38). The inability to deal with change during this time often leads to anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive overeating.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (2003) states, "People with anorexia starve themselves, avoid high-calorie foods and exercise constantly." The person suffering from anorexia is abnormally sensitive about being fat or has a massive fear of becoming fat. Low self esteem and a constant need for acceptance commonly is seen in anorexics. Michel and Willard (2003) contend the most prevalent characteristic with this disorder is reduced calorie intake. The initial need to lose just a few pounds is somewhere forgotten and the cycle of the disorder takes over. Anorexics will often starve themselves to just 60 or 70 pounds. This starvation and reduced calorie intake is also compounded by excessive exercise and the use of diet pills or laxatives (pp. 5-6). Anorexics will deny hunger and make excuses to avoid eating or will often hide food they claim to have eaten. "Most people who diet stop when their goal is reached. Anorexics will not stop dieting" (Kirkpatrick and Caldwell, 2001, p. 21).

Bulimia is an eating disorder that differs from anorexia in that sufferers continually binge and then purge themselves afterwards. Most often, large amounts of food are eaten very rapidly and the consumption takes place secretly (Levine and Maine, 2004). Sufferers of bulimia binge and purge for various reasons. For some, binging and purging occurs to let out feelings of anger, depression, stress or anxiety. For others the binge/purge syndrome occurs in response to overwhelming hunger brought on by dieting. Once the bulimic sees they can eat more food than they even want and not gain weight, they become a victim of the cycle of binging and purging (Michel and Willard, 2003, p. 13).

In many ways, compulsive overeating resembles bulimia, but the compulsive overeater tends not to purge. Most compulsive overeaters have tried many diets without success. They avoid social and physical activities because of embarrassment about weight and size. Matthews (2001) asserts compulsive overeaters, like bulimics, use food to cope with emotional distress. Body weight varies in compulsive overeaters from normal body weight to severe obesity (p. 78).

Causes

Experts in the field of psychiatry try to develop theories, sometimes called theoretical models, to explain why a disorder occurs. These models help researchers better understand the disorder, gain insight into who might be at risk to develop a disorder, and examine what might reduce the risk. In the case of eating disorders, research has centered on three major theoretical models: the psychodynamic, the sociocultural and the biological (Simon-Kumar, 2001). The psychodynamic model suggests that some abnormality in childhood that is psychologically based leads one to develop bizarre eating behaviors to mask, control, or repress situations (Michel & Willard, 2003, p. 32). Another aspect of the psychodynamic theory suggests that dysfunctional family interaction is the cause of the disorder. The sociocultural model attributes the development of eating disorders to the pressures of our culture and society on young women (Simon-Kumar, 2001). The media and society as a whole puts such great emphasis on thinness that some young people experience anxiety related to it. Michel and Willard (2003) note peer approval and appearances are great concerns during adolescence. Many girls fall into abnormal eating behaviors in a misguided effort to attain some unrealistic weight (p. 36). The biological model focuses mainly on brain chemicals ranging from an imbalance of hormones to the malfunction of serotonin in the brain (Simon-Kumar 2001). Many researchers tend to combine the three models to form a combination theory. They believe that when various aspects of each theory are put together, this progressively triggers the development of an eating disorder.

From these theories, researchers have been able to determine certain individual traits that may serve to predispose or increase the chance of one developing an eating disorder. In relation to the theoretical models, these predisposing traits or factors include individual characteristics and sociocultural factors. Kirkpatrick and Caldwell (2001) state, "Quite consistently, low self esteem emerges as a powerful (sometimes overwhelming) perception among those with eating disorders" (p. 100). Sufferers have a very poor opinion of who they are or how they look, so they try to change their appearance. This is easily manifested through an eating disorder. Those with eating disorders try to please others and win their praise because they are not able to praise themselves. Another individual trait that serves to predispose one to an eating disorder is the need for perfection. This is especially true with regards to looks and achievement. Sufferers of eating disorders try harder and harder to reach their goals. When goals are