Breanna Rueckert

English 2010
April 18, 2016
Research Paper
Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are defined as, any range of psychological

disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits
(Definition of Eating Disorders). Throughout the United States, 20
million women, and 10 million men, suffer from one of the many types
of eating disorders (Jacobi and Fittig, 2010). Medical professionals have
categorized eating disorders into a few main types including; Anorexia
Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, and Other Specified
Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). Eating disorders are a real,
complex psychological disorder, that is not just a fad or phase in
someones life. They can cause life-long emotional and psychological
consequences, if they are not treated immediately and properly. I
believe that every individual in the United States needs to be properly
educated on the facts, symptoms, and treatments for eating disorders.

According to research led by Dr. Smolak from the Cleveland

Clinic, studies show that by an average age of 6 years old, girls in the
United States start to express concerns about their weight or body
image (Smolak, 2011). Anorexia Nervosa is the most common eating

disorder throughout young women in the United States. Women in the

United States are already held to a high social standard, and eating
disorders are often related to the process of fitting into that standard.
In a study conducted by a panel of doctors from the Mayo Clinic, they
studied the rates of eating disorders in adolescents ranging from 13-18
years old in the United States. They found that eating disorders among
adolescents was often associated with function impairment and
suicidality (Swanson et al, 2011). In this study, the majority of the
subjects reported some contact with medical service providers.
However, only a minority had specifically talked to a professional about
their eating disorder and weight problems. They also found that
mortality rates in eating disorders is growing with the mortality rate in
Anorexia at 4%, Bulimia at 3.9%, and OSFED at 5.2% (Swanson et al,
2011). These numbers continue to grow each year in the United States,
when doctors are saying they are doing everything they can to improve
these statistics. I believe if the education about the severity of eating
disorders were more present in current curriculum, these statistics
would decrease. In summary, this study proves that eating disorders
are heavily linked to comorbidity, and the age and gender gap in
eating disorders is rapidly closing. Given the age of early onset,
prevention and education on eating disorders is not only important, but
also crucial.

Although is no way to pinpoint a specific factor that contributes

to all eating disorders, there have been many studies conducted to
narrow down the possibilities. The categories are: biological,
psychological, social and interpersonal (Jacobi and Fittig, 2010).
Researchers are still studying what kinds of biochemical and biological
issues could be the cause of an eating disorder, but they have found
that in some cases, the chemicals in the brain that controls hunger and
appetite have been imbalanced. Some psychological factors that have
been discovered are low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and feelings
of inadequacy, stress, and loneliness. The social category is the most
common in todays world, because these are outside pressures from
the media, friends, and family. Society has a very specific image of how
men or women are supposed to look, and it puts huge amounts of
unnecessary pressure on him or her. Interpersonal contributors include:
trouble with personal relationships, history of being critiqued on body
image or weight, trouble expressing emotions, etc (Jacobi and Fittig,
2010). These are huge factors that can lead to a very serious and lifethreatening eating disorder. Many people deny the fact that eating
disorders are mental illnesses, but this research proves that there can
be biological imbalances in your body, that can cause these diseases. If
you, or any one you know is experiencing any of these factors, it is
necessary to seek professional medial attention, before it goes beyond
your control.

There are many people who will defend eating disorders, calling
them a lifestyle rather than a disease. One blogger, who has suffered
from anorexia nervosa for over 8 years, runs a blog, which encourages
women with eating disorders to embrace their lifestyle, rather than
seek medical attention (Rainey, 2014). She claims that she provides
tips and information to help those suffering with anorexia, to lose their
desired weight. The blogger states, Ive been anorexic for 10 years
and I know this is the way I want to live.Although she is a first hand
victim to one of these horrible diseases, doctors have quickly
responded to her blog, because of the danger it could put these
readers lives in. Doctors argue that her blog could turn eating disorders
into an aspirational state of living (Rainey, 2014). Like I mentioned
above, if the education of eating disorders was more present in school
curriculum, I believe that these individuals being affected by this
disease, would be more aware of their diagnosis. Individuals affected
should feel comfortable and educated enough to seek medical
attention, rather than spending time reading blogs of those who
support eating disorders. This disease is life threatening, and needs to
be taken seriously, especially by those who have symptoms or
possibility of developing an eating disorder.

Although eating disorders continue to be present in the United

States, there are many people who are researching different
prevention programs, and their success rates. The Mental Health
Intervention Spectrum classified prevention programs into categories,
based on their methods, goals, and audiences (Smolak, 2011). The first
of the programs is Universal Prevention. This program aims to prevent
the development of eating disorders in large groups, with varying
degrees of risk to disease. Action for this prevention method is on a
large scale, such as changing policy or taking legal action. The second
is Selective Prevention. This program is intended to prevent individuals
who are at higher risk to developing this disease, based on
psychological, biological, and sociological factors. The last program is
the Indicated/Targeted Prevention. This method targets those who are
at high risk to developing the disease, based on warning signs or clear
risk factors. Although the subject does not yet have the eating
disorder, this method aims to stop the development of the disease by
targeting the individual, rather than curriculum, or policy (Smolak,
2011). These prevention programs should be available to anyone
suffering from an eating disorder. I personally have hardly heard of
programs willing to help eating disorder victims, so they should be
promoted more often, whether it is on TV, or other public places.
According to statistics, prevention programs have been proven to
significantly increase the prevention rate of eating disorders. According

to the doctors involved in this study, these prevention programs, alter

knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with eating disorders
and disordered eating (Smolak, 2011). I believe that early education,
detection, and prevention, can change the young minds that are being
affected by eating disorders in the United States.

Works Cited

"Definition of Eating Disorders." Eating Disorder: Definition of Eating

Disorder in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Web. 24
Apr. 2016.

Jacobi, C. & Fittig, E. (2010). Psychological Risk Factors for Eating

Disorders. In Agras, W.S. (Ed.) Oxford Handbook of Eating
Disorders. Oxford University press: N.Y.

Rainey, Sarah. "'Anorexia Is a Lifestyle, Not a Disease': An Investigation

into Harrowing Online Forums Promoting Extreme Dieting." An
Investigation into Harrowing Online Forums Promoting Eating
Disorders. National Post, 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Smolak, L. (2011). Body Image Development in Childhood. In T. Cash &

L. Smolak (Eds.), Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice,
and Prevention (2nd ed.) New York:Guilford.

Swanson, S., Crow, S., Le Grange, D., Swendsen, J., Merikangas, K.

(2011). Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders in
Adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, Online Article, E1E10.