The Diana Effect provides a compelling case study of how cultural influences can elevate general public and clinical awareness around a particular issue-in this case, the eating disorder
(ED) bulimia nervosa (BN) in the United Kingdom between 1988 and 2000-particularly between
1992 to 1997. Evidence ofthe Diana Effect are witnessed in an unprecedented (and since unrepeated) trifold rise in the rate of reported bulimia incidences in the UK, significantly paralleling the trajectory of Princess Diana's relationship with the public surrounding her personal battle with bulimia. Moreover, the surge in rate of bulimia incidences in the UK peaked in 1996, declining each year following 1997, the year in which Princess Diana died.
By publically sharing her private struggle and recovery process with bulimia nervosa,
Princess Diana provided a personal narrative for a disorder previously reserved primarily to diagnostic deliberations and clinical analysis; she served as a source of support and advocacy for many sufferers who sought help. Particularly in the UK where it was most publicized, Princess
Diana's public presence and advocacy helped to destigmatize bulimia nervosa-effectively serving to advance general understanding and promote seeking medical treatment for the disease.
1 The American Psychiatric Association. "Homosexuality and Sexual Disturbance: Proposed Changes."
(Dec. 1973) Position paper p. 1.
Kump2
II. Bulimia Nervosa: A "problematic" diagnosis
Like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bulimia nervosa (BN) is a relatively new medical diagnosis. While anorexia and bulimia were first introduced as medical terms to the DSM in 1980, anorexia has been referenced throughout British history (as early as 1689 by English physician Rich...
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Anorexia Nervosa may be described directly as an eating disease classified by a deficit in weight, not being able to maintain weight appropriate for one’s height. Anorexia means loss of appetite while Anorexia Nervosa means a lack of appetite from nervous causes. Before the 1970s, most people never heard of Anorexia Nervosa. It was identified and named in the 1870s, before then people lived with this mental illness, not knowing what it was, or that they were even sick. It is a mental disorder, which distorts an individual’s perception of how they look. Looking in the mirror, they may see someone overweight
In light of what is going on in the world today, eating disorders seem farfetched and frivolous. Anorexia Nervosa could be considered a classic example of a serious eating disorder as it is defined as having a fatal a...
Smolak, Linda, Michael P. Levine, and Ruth Striegel-Moore. "Media as Context." The Developmental Psychopathology of Eating Disorders: Implications for Research, Prevention, and Treatment. Mahwah, NJ: L. Erlbaum Associates, 1996. 235-53. Print.
Eating disorders are characterized by gross disturbances in eating behavior and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, eating disorders not otherwise specified(NOS), and binge eating disorder. Also, several researchers have coined the term anorexia athletics.
"The Media." Something Fishy; Website on Eating Disorders. N.p., 2007. Web. 27 Oct 2011. .
Eating disorders are described as an illness involving eating habits that are irregular and an extreme concern with body image or weight. Eating disorders tend to appear during teenage years, but can develop at any age. Although more common in women, eating disorders can affect any age, gender or race. In the United States, over 20 million women and 10 million men are personally affected by eating disorders. There are many different causes of eating disorders such as low self esteem, societal pressures, sexual abuse and the victims perception of food. Eating disorders are unique to the sufferer and often, their perception of themselves is so skewed, they may not be aware they have an eating disorder. Media, for quite some time now, has played a significant part in eating disorders. Magazines with headlines ‘Summer Body’, or ‘Drop LB’s Fast!’ attract the attention of girls who may be insecure with themselves. Television productions such as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or American’s Next Top Model, show airbrushed and photoshopped women who have body types that may be unachievable. Those who are suffering from eating disorders can suffer dangerous consequences, and it is important to seek help.
Today, America is plagued with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Eating Disorders. Each has its own characteristics that distinguish the illness yet there are some similarities that they also share. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. Shockingly, they also report that in the United States, there are as many as 10 million females and 1 million males that are battling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Additionally, another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorders (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org). Typically, psychological factors such as depression and low self-esteem contribute to eating disorders...
Bulimia nervosa is a slightly less serious version of anorexia, but can lead to some of the same horrible results. Bulimia involves an intense concern about weight (which is generally inaccurate) combined with frequent cycles of binge eating followed by purging, through self-induced vomiting, unwarranted use of laxatives, or excessive exercising. Most bulimics are of normal body weight, but they are preoccupied with their weight, feel extreme shame about their abnormal behavior, and often experience significant depression. The occurrence of bulimia has increased in many Western countries over the past few decades. Numbers are difficult to establish due to the shame of reporting incidences to health care providers (Bee and Boyd, 2001).
Long, Phillip W. "Anorexia Nervosa." Internet Mental Health. Jan. 1997. St. Joseph Medical Center. 19 Aug. 1998 .
ANAD. “Eating Disorders Statistics”. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders, Inc., 2013.Web. 18 Nov 2013.
Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3
According to a research, 95 % of those suffering from these eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25, the primary audiences of those Fashion modeling television s...