Eating disorders develop during adolescence and normally peak within girls at the age of 15-16. Disturbed eating behavior are very dominant within the adolescent woman in our society. The number of adolescent woman struggling with such disorders is upwards of 40%. The most common of these disorders are bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating. There are various factors within our society that influence the development of such disorders. Deleterious eating behaviors are all to common in and the prevalence of them are so high that they are becoming less and less of a rarity. Eating disorders are not precluded by one solitary source but are rather brought on by the many factors that exist within our society. Medias unrealistic portrayal of what a “perfect” body image is, along with early adolescent puberty, are both factors that can both result in the adolescent woman in our county to develop eating disorders. Professional all have different viewpoints on what exactly is to blame for causing such detrimentally harmful eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating in adolescent woman. Young girls in today's society are constantly being bombarded by the onset of media exposure. Often time adolescents struggle with their body image because it does not resemble the ones portrayed in the media. Media uses ultra slim individuals to portray the image of beauty onto society. The images portrayed in beauty magazines send distorted and warped ideas of what an acceptable body image is to influential adolescent woman. (Laurie, Sullivan, Hill & Davies, 2006; 356). The standards of body physic set by the media are unattainable for the many subjectified adolescent woman. A study was done in a variety of Jr... ... middle of paper ... ... abuse will self disclose the onset of abuse with has tendencies to lead to them developing an eating disorder to help them to cope with the exploitation they have endured (Ericsson, Keel, Holland, Selby, Verona, Cougle, Palmer & 2012; 322). A relationship is definitely visible between disordered eating behaviors and sexual/physical abuse. in a an abusuve negative environment. A multitude of behavioral genetic studies have been conducted and have found there to be a strong correlation between genetic components and distorted eating behaviors in adolescent girls. Molecular genetic research has found that these behaviors are roughly 46 to 72 percent heritable. It has been discovered that there is substantial genetic influence on disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating. is present among biologically related individuals (Berrettini, 2004).
Eating Disorders are on a rapid rise in the United States today, they sweep the halls of Junior High School, High Schools, College Campuses and even Elementary Schools. These disorders are often referred to by professionals as the “Deadly Diet,” however you may know them as Anorexia or Bulimia. Eating disorder effect more than 20% of young females and males in today’s society. Ranging in age from thirteen to forty. It is very rare for a child of a young age to not know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder or symptoms that are associated with one. Statistically it has been proven that one out of every five young woman suffer from serious issues dealing with eating and or weight. (Bruch, 25)
There are many forms of eating disorders in the world; however, the two most common disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Anorexia and Bulimia are found mostly in teens and young adult women (Amjad). Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person will starve them self in order to loose weight. (Amjad) Bulimia Nervosa is another common form of an eating disorder. In this case a person will go through periods of binge eating and then self-induce themselves to purge or vomit. (Amjad) Although we know many things about the physical aspects of these disorders, scientists still ponder on why people may develop one or both of these two eating disorders. Through much research, scientists may have found three possible explanations, which are pressure from society and friends, genetic links, or mental health related issues, as well as through pop culture media. There are also treatments available to those that fall victim and for those who want to be anorexic or bulimic there is support website that you give you tips and tricks to help you get started. Most people would say that in order to strive to be what society wants a person to look like, young females, in particular, teenagers and young adults, would starve or use self-induced purging in order to make themselves acceptable. Most people with these two eating disorders usually strive to make everything perfect in their lives. (Anorexia & Bulimia) The victims of these disorders usually get good grades and are highly involved in their community. (Anorexia & Bulimia) Usually they feel like one way to take control of their lives is to control what they eat. (Anorexia &Bulimia) In most cases, anorexics tend to be of normal weight and become withdrawn right before the...
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an disorder that has been most commonly diagnosed in adolescence with the highest at-risk group being women between ages 15 and 22 years old (Hodes, et al., 2000). In the United States, the occurrence of anorexia nervosa is estimated between 0.5% and 2% of the general population, and 0.8 million of the juvenile population (Fisherman, 2006). AN is an illness that has been around for quite some time but has recently become progressively more relevant in society today. This increase could be due to social factors such as the pressure to fit into society’s ideal body image, environmental, psychological, or other social factors may be contributing to the more rapidly development of AN. The exact causes of this disorder are unknown but anorexia has become the third most common chronic illness among adolescents and currently the incidents of AN are increasing in western countries (ANAD, 2014).
Understanding the etiology of an eating disorder is perhaps the most complicated issue surrounding the disease, as teasing apart cause and consequence can be extremely difficult. This problem becomes immediately apparent when examining family factors associated with eating disorders. Research over the past decade has focused largely on identifying family factors that potentially contribute to the development of an eating disorder in an individual, and further refining these characteristics into prototypes for the “anorexic family” or the “bulimic family.” Identifying a pattern of specific family risk factors would be an extremely useful tool in recognizing those vulnerable for developing an eating disorder. While the research has been unable to paint an entirely complete picture of family characteristics, certain traits surface as typical to the eating disordered family. Unfortunately, much of the existing literature on family factors and eating disorders relies upon correlational data, as controlled studies are difficult to conduct within a family setting. Caution must therefore be applied to such findings, as one cannot assume causality; based on strictly correlational studies alone, it cannot be determined whether the family environment caused the eating disorder, or whether the eating disorder led to family dysfunction. Nevertheless, it remains useful to examine any significant factors that emerge from the literature in order to increase understanding about each potential factor influencing the development of eating disorders.
Rowland (1970) searched for a relationship between birth order and anorexia nervosa. In his study, he found that those with anorexia nervosa were overwhelmingly the eldest children; however, his study just fell short of statistical significance. Crisp (1977) and Crisp et al. (1980) tried to duplicate his findings but failed to support Rowland. On the contrary, the two studies found an excess of later born siblings and the development of eating disorders. Findings for birth rank and anorexia have thus far proven to be inconsistent and more studies need to be conducted to determine the relevance of birth rank and anorexia.
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.
The stage of adolescence contains major changes which can bring stress, confusion, and anxiety. Feelings of self-consciousness, low self esteem and comparison with peers start occurring during this time. Along with the physical changes there is also hormonal and brain changes that affect the adolescent physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. During this time a person can feel tremendous pressure to find their place in the world among a great deal of confusion (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Body image concerns and peer pressure are heightened during the period of adolescence, and are potential risk factors in the development of an eating disorder. While eating disorders can affects males and females of all ages, the average age of onset for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and disordered eating takes place during adolescence. These disorders are often a coping mechanism for people to attempt to gain control of their situation when they feel helpless among other aspects of life (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Eating disorders in children and teens can lead to a number of serious physical problems and even death (Kam, n.d.).
1. Some young adolescent girls, more so than boys, are dealing with eating disorders such as Bulimia and Anorexia (Papalia, et al., 1998).
Although eating disorders stem from several different factors, including psychological, emotional, social, and biological, there is usually one major source that influence people to develop an eating disorder. Those in an abusive, low-income household tend to have a higher risk for developing an eating disorder than those in a higher-income household. Biological factors of eating disorders can often come from parents with a history of eating disorders or whose parents are attempting to raise children while battling an eating disorder. Though in most cases, the children of parents with an eating d...
A number of studies show that sexual abuse, trauma, and even bullying can bring you to eating disorders. (“Case”) Such a genetic make-up is a time bomb for distorted thinking about body image. Then the person will dislike there body image and will stop eating.(“Case”) Laura was diagnosed with anorexia as a teen. She only was 65 recovered by 20, relapsed at 48.and then recovered again. Laura has an identical twin. Her sister never had anorexia and is in fact obese. (“Case”) Where two women share exactly the same genes but only one gets anorexia? Same genetic makeup, different life experiences. (“Case”) There is TV, Magazine articles, and unfortunate high-profile deaths to put eating disorders on most high level. Whenever you open a magazine all you see is models and lots of skinny people, some of aware hung people want to be like that model or skinny person just because they think they look good or maybe there will feel good about them self’s. (“Eller”)
Johnson, Craig, and Cynthia Bulik. "Genetics Play a Significant Role in Eating Disorders." Eating Disorders. Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Brave New World: The Role of Genetics in the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders." www.wpic.pitt.edu/research/pfanbn/genetics.html. 2002. 36-40. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.
The overwhelming idea of thinness is probably the most predominant and pressuring standard. Tiggeman, Marika writes, “This is not surprising when current societal standards for beauty inordinately emphasize the desirability of thinness, an ideal accepted by most women but impossible for many to achieve.” (1) In another study it is noted that unhealthy attitudes are the norm in term of female body image, “Widespread body dissatisfaction among women and girls, particularly with body shape and weight has been well documented in many studies, so much so that weight has been aptly described as ‘a normative discontent’”. (79) Particularly in adolescent and prepubescent girls are the effects of poor self-image jarring, as the increased level of dis...
Eating disorders are a growing problem in teenagers of today. According to an Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) study, eighty-six percent of eating disorder victims report their problem before the age of twenty. The two main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
The mass media plays a large role in shaping a teenage and adolescent girl’s body image. By pushing an ideal body type that is uncommon and untrue to life, girls strive, and struggle to obtain this image. When the mass media only shows one type of body as desirable, they are alienating every girl who does not fit into that category. Pushing these ideal bodies onto teenage girls at an important developmental time in their lives can be detrimental to their bodies and their self worth. By showing what a girl should look like, the mass media is damaging the body images of young girls, and unless awareness is raised, could become more and more adverse on young women today and tomorrow.
However, it is evident that the media usually presents and sexualizes women who are “young, fit and beautiful” hence probably creating self esteem issues more than confidence especially in younger women who are religious towards the media’s expectations. This stereotype of being a desired body shape only forces women to meet unattainable perfect physical standards (Gill 2015). The media bombards the youth with gender representations and the types of bodies that are deemed to be attractive. Many teenagers all around the world are desperate to lose weight to be “beautiful”.