Category: Eating Disorders

Diagnosis

Bulimia nervosa

The patient has been showing the tendency to vomit after every instance of food intake, which is the primary sign of bulimia (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According to the existing definition, the diagnosis of bulimia aligns with the observed symptoms fully (Miller et al., 2021). Therefore, the problem of bulimia is the main issue to be addressed.

Procedural Plan

Managing binge-eating

To ensure that the patient develops healthy eating habits, a schedule for the daily food intake will be provided for K. to follow.

Changing the thinking patterns

K. will need to develop a healthier coping mechanism for managing her anxiety and addressing her emotional needs in a different way than binge eating. Healthy solutions include improving communication with people around K. and introducing a rational problem- and conflict-management technique.

Promoting long-term change

To reduce the threat of relapse in K., the proposed strategy must be based on a long-term framework. Namely, the use of appropriate medications and counseling will be encouraged (Ben-Porath et al., 2020).

Checking progress

It is crucial to keep the process of change continuous, which is why checking on whether K. follows the prescribed strategies will be vital. For this purpose, counseling and visits to a healthcare practitioner will be seen as a part of the treatment plan. As soon as healthy patterns are reinforced and integrated into the patients life, K.s case can be considered resolved.

Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

Bulimia is related to the feeling of lack of control that leads to destructive eating behavior There are often cases of hypokalemia or fluid and electrolyte disturbances (Bulimia Nervosa, 2018). There also can be swollen parotid glands, dental erosion, and scars on the knuckles that are resulted from using fingers to vomit. For the pharmacological treatment of bulimia nervosa, the only approved antidepressant is fluoxetine (Prozac), which is a sort of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (Bulimia nervosa  Diagnosis and treatment  Mayo Clinic, 2018). Other medications will be prescribed based on the presence of physical conditions due to the side effects of the disorder. For example, medications for dental care or stomach issues can be provided.

Additional analysis of the case

There are evidence-based clinical guidelines to follow when dealing with bulimia. The standard criteria that are used to identify bulimia consist of recurrent overeating, regular purging through vomiting, systematic purging behaviors, such as excessive exercising, fasting, and misuse of medication, such as laxatives (Bulimia Nervosa Diagnosis, 2020). Treatment guidelines are offered by various governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, and the German S3 Guideline. There are also other alternative treatment methods that are at the testing and examinations stage.

Follow-up/Referrals

When having the follow-up visit of the patient, the medical professional should further decide the care plan with regard to existing conditions. In most cases, the patient undergoing the cognitive-behavioral treatment is likely to benefit from the program during the period of 1 to 3 years (Hilty, 2021). This suggests that the issue of bulimia should be monitored and controlled for a long time. A professional also can provide additional sessions for the patient if the therapy is going ineffective. Following that, there can be consultations with other medical professionals to make a comprehensive care plan because eating disorder is a complex issue. In addition, there should be the SCOFF Questionnaire and the EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test) tests to determine the risk associated with an eating disorder and discuss the result with the treatment team. For further consultations and engaging other medical workers, the patient should give consent.

Quality

Once similar cases appear during the medical practice, I will try to listen to the patient, as bulimia is a deep psychological issue that can be a result of different events or traumas. I will also focus on their background and social relations, asking questions about how they behave in a community. This is because I assume that communicating about the patients feelings towards their self-image and how they think people view them is critical to help the patient. Moreover, informing a patient about complications and methods of treatment should be provided to ensure the patients education and understanding.

By careful examination of the needs and preferences of the patient, I can then plan the treatment. I also want to engage with family members when dealing with eating disorders. I think that eating disorders are not an individual problem but the group one, as family or friends are also affected. So with the active engagement of the family members/friends and the patient themselves, similar cases of bulimia or any other eating disorder can be treated.

Coding and Billing

• F50.2  Bulimia Nervosa
• F50.81  Binge eating disorder
• F50.82  Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
• F50.89  Other specified eating disorder
• F50.9  Eating disorder, unspecified
• F50  Eating Disorder

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). APA.

Ben-Porath, D., Duthu, F., Luo, T., Gonidakis, F., Compte, E. J., & Wisniewski, L. (2020). Dialectical behavioral therapy: An update and review of the existing treatment models adapted for adults with eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 28(2), 101-121. Web.

Bulimia Nervosa Diagnosis, DSM-5 Criteria, Diagnostic Tests. (2020). Walden Eating Disorders. Web.

Bulimia nervosa  Diagnosis and treatment  Mayo Clinic. (2018). Mayo Clinic. Web.

Hilty, D. M., MD. (2021). Bulimia Nervosa Follow-up: Further Outpatient Care, Deterrence/Prevention, Complications. Medscape. Web.

Miller, A. E., Racine, S. E., & Klonsky, E. D. (2021). Symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have differential relationships to borderline personality disorder symptoms. Eating Disorders, 29(2), 161-174. Web.

Dietary issues are characterized by the change in behavior, physique, and mental state. People tend to think that it is normal if a high school student decides to consume fewer carbs due to body disappointment. Nonetheless, continuous unhealthy dieting can transform into a habit which demonstrates a hazardous eating issue. The average age of starting to have eating problems is around 12-to 13-years, with dietary problem experts revealing an expansion in unhealthy dieting among younger children, some of them being only five or six years old (Silverstein et al., 2019). Anorexia nervosa is a dietary issue where an individual deliberately restricts food admission on a strong motivation for a slender body and a fear of gaining extra kilograms (Mashalpourfard, 2018). An adolescent with anorexia does not keep an ordinary bodyweight. Individuals with bulimia experience repeated scenes of compulsive eating accompanied by vomiting or the utilization of diuretics to remove food from the body.

Fixation on weight influences many youngsters today, particularly young girls. According to the statistics, one out of each seven women is suffering from a dietary problem (Mashalpourfard, 2018). A couple of years ago, it was revealed that more than 30% of young adults accepted they were overweight, while almost 60% were attempting to lose weight (Mashalpourfard, 2018). The diagnosis of anorexia became common in the course of recent years. Anorexia nervosa has the most elevated death rate of any other mental disease. Besides, the individuals who experience the symptoms of anorexia are more likely to commit suicide. Roughly 90% of patients are women in the range of 12 and 25 years old (Mashalpourfard, 2018). Additionally, young male students have self-perception concerns and try to reach an ideal body by dieting or doing impulsive exercise.

An early diagnosis and mediation can diminish the seriousness of the disorder, improve the persons development, state, and personal satisfaction experienced by people with anorexia. Diminishing accentuation on weight and focusing on the harmony between energy intake and yield can be helpful. Setting an example of a healthy parent who does not discuss body shape, calories, fat, or losing pounds is useful. Likewise, reassuring normal eating habits and a realistic view on weight and diet might be a practical approach to prevent the disorder.

In any case, dietary problems like anorexia and bulimia can be hard to recognize during the early phases. A growing number of adolescents appear to be distracted by being obese, which regularly causes them to starve and do strenuous exercises. It is critical to instruct schools and colleges on what to look for and how to perceive the indications of anorexia. It is necessary to reach the psychiatrist in case of detecting the early signs.

Teens should be taught about the importance of healthy eating habits and discouraged from body-shaming others. Family treatment is often an essential part of adequate treatment against anorexia and other dietary issues. It looks at the issues among parents and their children which might lead to the adolescents abnormal eating. Unfortunately, most parents neglect the family factor as a causing effect of the illness (Silverstein et al., 2019). Family treatment can assume a significant part in the treatment by showing guardians and other relatives how to be supportive instead of coercive. Thus, the population needs to encourage family teaching to intervene with anorexia since parents frequently unsupportive of their children with complexes.

References

Mashalpourfard, M. (2018) Relationship of social anxiety, body image perception and depression with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa in youth. Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health, 20(2): 138-47. Web.

Silverstein, L. S., Haggerty, C., Sams, L., Phillips, C., & Roberts, M. W. (2019). Impact of an oral health education intervention among a group of patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa). Journal of Eating Disorders, 7(1). Web.

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are a common medical condition that can affect anyone. It is a disorder that is caused by various behavioral conditions. Eating disorders cause a disruption in eating and the way food is digested.

Anyone who suffers from eating disorders will often develop unusual behaviors and attitudes that will prevent them from eating properly. Such as distressing thoughts, emotions, and psychological issues.

This can become serious, therefore medical attention is required. Another name for an eating disorder is called anorexia.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

There are different symptoms of eating disorders involved. Some symptoms of eating disorders include:

• Less eating habits
• Mood swings
• Substance abuse
• Binge eating
• Digestion problems
• Body dysmorphia

It is important that individuals who suffer from eating disorders should visit their local GP regularly. The symptoms can occur whenever the individual is trying to develop regular eating habits. In doing so the person may vomit the food back out and have difficulty trying to eat again.

How common are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are becoming common over the years. According to the priory group in the last 40 years, eating disorders have become a national issue in the UAE and in other countries.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, know that you are not alone as there are many people who are suffering from the same medical condition as you.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that cause great distress to a person and can lead to short-term or long-term difficulties. According to further research Between 1.25 to 3.4 million people within the UAE are affected by eating disorders.

At least 25% of those with an eating disorder are male whereas most eating disorders occur between the ages of 16-40.

Here are five facts about eating disorders. They include:

• A serious medical condition that shouldn’t be taken lightly
• Eating disorders are life-threatening and can cause harm to the body
• A person who suffers from an eating disorder can recover.
• It will take time for individuals who suffer from eating disorders to overcome it
• Both women and men can suffer from eating disorders.

Eating disorders are a worldwide problem and should be talked about in modern society. It is a sensitive topic and should be dealt with according to health guidelines.

Types of eating disorders

There are different types of eating disorders. Examples of eating disorders are anorexia, Binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and Rumination disorder. It is important to remember that eating disorders can occur through feelings and emotions aside from food.

All the eating disorders listed above can be treated however it can take time for some people more than others as everyone dealing with eating disorders recover at different times.

How do Eating disorders cause Anorexia?

Anorexia is a type of eating disorder that affects the weight of a person. Individuals would feel that they would need to keep their weight as low as possible. This can happen due to individuals becoming insecure about themselves and undergoing the fear of not being able to put on weight. Eating disorders cause dizziness and fainting as well as fatigue and insomnia.

Anorexia involves the starvation of the body and leads to emotional distress. In order for the body to recover it is essential that you eat lots of protein and healthy foods as well as foods that can be swallowed and digested. This will allow your body to get used to your eating habits and break the food down so that it can be taken in.

Who is affected by anorexia?

Anorexia can happen in both males and females. Not eating healthy or not eating at all can affect your diet massively making it harder to gain weight. According to anorexia bulimia care over 1.6 million people suffer from eating disorders that involve anorexia.

Anorexia can happen in both men and women. Recent studies show girls and women are more affected by anorexia than men over the years.

Anorexia first starts to develop in teens at the ages of 16 and 17. However there is not a specific set age that anorexia occurs, it can happen to anyone at any age. The condition is most common in women between the ages of 16 and 40.

Support and Health facilities

Most people who suffer from anorexia are unable to speak out due to fear, nervousness, guilt, and sorrow. People with anorexia may not speak out about the issue as they may feel neglected and ridiculed by others who may not take them seriously.

It is important that you seek medical attention if you suffer from anorexia as soon as possible. As prolonging it can cause serious damage to your mental health. Anorexia should never be taken lightly and therefore needs to be treated with care.

Aside from visiting your local GP, there are many other types of help that can be of assistance. Young people can seek advice and help from community centers, teachers, student support services, universities, family members, friends, and health systems such as walking centers.

These are support systems that have been put into place by the UAE government to resolve all mental health issues that are infecting society.

Health Risks

There are many health risks that pertain to eating disorders. Such examples include self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, and significant weight loss. This is common in women, for men, the risks include exercising profusely and fasting.

There are various health risks that are found in men and women who suffer from anorexia. Hair loss and dehydration are one of the causes of anorexia as they can make a person feel dizzy or lightheaded. Some health risks are short term and some are long term which means recovery is possible but may take some time. People who suffer from eating disorders or anorexia should ensure that the medication they are taking does not worsen their condition if so they should immediately call the emergency helpline on 999 or visit their GP if the aftereffects are not too problematic.

Critical analysis surrounding Tsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, has frequently focused on the portrayal of Nyasha’s eating disorder in relation to Westernised notions of feminism. For instance, Supriya Nair explains: “It is interesting that in a larger context of severe malnutrition, Nyasha suffers from anorexia nervosa and bulimia, disorders generally associated with white, middle-class women.” Readings such as Nair’s recognise that Nyasha’s ‘nervous condition’ originates out of a ‘context of severe malnutrition’, however, they stop there decontextualising her symptoms by diagnosing her in relation to Westernised ideas of medicine. Moreover, by decontextualising Nyasha’s surrounding, critics are failing to understand the politics surrounding food consumption in colonial Rhodes (now Zimbabwe). By focusing on Nyasha’s self-response to food in Nervous Conditions, the self becomes a precursor to understanding how cultural politics of Shona traditions are linked to food consumption. Moreover, Nyasha’s response to food consumption in the novel highlights how the colonised self struggles to negotiate their return to indigenous traditions. For Nyasha, her eating disorder not only becomes the physical embodiment of the internal conflict of Shona and Western values, but the self also finds itself in the liminal space between two conflicting cultures. Therefore, by understanding Nyasha’s relation to food consumption, we not only understand how the colonial self ends up in liminality, we understand them to be a hybrid product of two cultural systems.

Nervous Conditions is primarily a text of development within the confines of the indigenous Shona society. However, throughout the narrative of Nervous Conditions, we see how the mentality of Nyasha’s eating disorder develops in a way which causes the self to split from the individual and become a means for interrogating how the self, readjusts into a society surrounded by starvation and cultural tradition. Nyasha throughout the novel is emphasised to be someone who is “too Anglicised”, suggesting that her education in England makes her a product of the West. However, one way that the Nyasha’s ‘nervous condition’, her eating disorder, can be understood is in how the self-attempts to readjust to the ‘context of severe malnutrition’. In contrast to her cousins who live in what is defined as “squalor”, Nyasha lives in the relative comfort of her father’s mission house. This contrast between the comfort of the mission house and the poverty-stricken homestead destabilises the self. By examining the figure of Ma’ Shingyai who is described as being: “so haggard and gaunt”, Dangarembga highlights how in the context of ‘severe malnutrition’, the self-regresses into a state of self-starvation. Nyasha’s ‘nervous condition’ by the end of the text is one of complete instability, which is illustrated through how Tambu describes her to have “grown skeletal.” This sense of mental regression demonstrates the self’s inability to readjust to notions of food consumption in a society surrounded by constant binary oppositions poverty and wealth, shortage and excess. Moreover, Nyasha’s inability to have a stable relationship with food can be seen through how the cultural context of colonial Rhodesia places emphasis on the lack of food, which destabilises the self in contrast to the comfort of the West. This destabilisation of the self in response to the consumption of food and the surrounding of food-shortage means that the individual, Nyasha, finds themselves in a liminal space in her response to food-shortages in colonial Rhodesia.

Liminality in postcolonial theory is useful for “describing an ‘in-between’ space in which cultural change may occur […] the colonialised subject may dwell in the liminal space between colonial discourse and the assumption of a new ‘non-colonial’ identity.” Liminality is often related to the splitting of the self. For Nyasha we see this split through her relationship with food; Clare Barker notes that “the notion of rebellion against middle-class values has been frequently acknowledged within empirical research as a factor in the onset of eating disorders.” For Nyasha, her ‘nervous condition’ her eating disorder; is related to her attempts to go against the hierarchy of Shona social traditions. At the dinner table, food becomes a means of testing the agency of the self; which we see through Babamukuru and his relationship with Nyasha. Following Nyasha’s outburst regarding her book, Babamukuru instructs her to eat her silence: “‘Er, Nyasha,’ said Babamukuru to his food, ‘I don’t want to hear you talk to your mother like that.’” This point in the novel is pivotal for the progression of Nyasha’s selfhood. When Babamukuru addresses his food instead of Nyasha directly, it becomes clear that food is where power and agency lie within the novel. Moreover, by addressing his food, Babamukuru essentially enables Nyasha’s rebellion against his authority and Shona institutions of power. Nyasha’s rebellion against Babamukuru’s authority primarily begins through the consumption of food, and we see this following their confrontation when Nyasha: “rose from the table, her food unfinished.” By leaving the table without finishing her food Nyasha not only defies her patriarchal structuring of the indigenous Shona society; she also goes against her father’s authority. This refusal of food, therefore, begins to place the self in a liminal space where the self becomes conflicted between opposition and consumption.

By understanding Nyasha to be in a state of liminality, we, therefore, understand how Nyasha as a colonised subject can also be considered, in her own words a “hybrid.” The idea of “hybridity has been frequently used in post-colonial discourse to mean simply cross-cultural ‘exchange’.” This notion of hybridity can be seen in relation to Nyasha’s attempt to negotiate the hierarchical structuring of Shona society. However, Dangarembga’s depiction of the hybrid self within Nervous Conditions, is one of disruption differing from Bill Ashcroft’s belief that “Most post-colonial writing has concerned itself with the hybridised nature of post-colonial culture as a strength rather than a weakness.” The depiction of the hybrid-self that we see through Nyasha is one that struggles to negotiate her return to the indigenous Shona culture and the traditions that follow. Nyasha, in her return from England, is only selectively re-customised into the Shona traditions. One way that we see this is through her behaviour at the homestead during Christmas in which Tambu describes her as “planting herself in the chair. I thought Nyasha was behaving very badly, in a much less civilised way than she was capable of.” Tambu’s belief here that Nyasha was behaving ‘very badly’ suggests that by sitting in the chair offered by Ma’ Shingyai, Nyasha is failing to recognise the exaggeration of Shona politics being displayed. This failure to recognise Ma’Shingyai’s behaviour suggests that Nyasha’s hybridity “operates within […] conflictual structures.” By operating within the conflictual structures of Westernised Christianity and Shona traditions, Nyasha is further embarrassed by Ma’ Shingyai who comments that Nyasha’s “breasts are already quite large.” The implications of this comment pasted by Ma’ Shingyai further complicates Nyasha’s hybridity, reducing the functionality of the female self to being mainly a wife and child bearer in Shona culture. This reduction of the female self, further fuels Nyasha’s rebellion against her father, who represents both the colonialised subject and indigenous tradition.

Throughout the novel, we see many females trying to negotiate the politics of the body, which is often related to the Shona construction of beauty. The indigenous construction of beauty is argued by Barker to be “in terms of health promotes fatness as a desirable state, […] containing within its meaning the attractiveness of an ability to work the land.” An example of this is Lucia, described as “plump” and able to “cultivate a who acre singe-handed without rest.” The portrayal of Lucia as the Shona ideal of beauty is something of an irony for the self as, throughout the novel, she has a reputation for being a “loose woman.” This tension between beauty and sexual looseness can be read in terms of the splitting of the self from gendered Shona customs. The splitting of the self from tradition can be seen through Nyasha’s self-inflicted vomiting; she explicitly states: “I did it myself. With my toothbrush. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know.” Nyasha’s repeated use of the short sentence form here, implies the instability of the self, suggesting that it is splitting into two parts. However, despite the insistent denial of why she is forcing herself to throw up, the unconscious self appears to be attempting to negotiate a way past and away from Shona politics. If in Western society and Western feminism eating disorders are a means of rebellion against middle-class authority; in Shona culture, Nyasha’s ‘nervous condition’ is a symbol of rebellion against the patriarchal system and its control over politics of the female body and the self. Nyasha’s refusal to consume the food provided by her father causes outrage at the dinner table as Babamukuru outrages: “She is always doing this, challenging me. I am her father. If she doesn’t want to do what I say, I shall stop providing for her …” Babamukuru’s outrage at Nyasha’s refusal to eat suggests that by refusing to nourish her body with the food he provides, Nyasha is undercutting his authority and refusing to be a part of Shona culture. This refusal to respect Babamukuru’s authority not only rejects the Shona recognition of his authority as the male head of the family, but she is also refusing to aspire to the ideal of female beauty, which would ensure a future suitor would provide for her.

Nyasha’s complicated relationship to food and its consumption at surface value may present itself to be a product of Western femininity as many critics have claimed. However, by examining how her relationship with food is coded by her return to colonial Rhodesia and the traditional structures of Shona society, food becomes a means of understanding the extent to which the self can readjust from one system of cultural values to another. For Nyasha, she is essentially a hybrid, a physical embodiment of Shona and Western values at conflict, which can be seen through her eating disorder. Nevertheless, Nyasha’s ‘nervous condition’ serves as a means of understanding how the self attempts to negotiate a return from liminality while maintaining agency in a patriarchal society. For Nyasha, her agency progresses which we see in her refusal to consume food yet, this refusal also causes the self to regress meaning that even at the novel’s conclusion the self is still in liminality.

Eating disorders are more complicated than just unhealthy dietary habits. At their core, they’re attempts to deal with emotional issues and involve distorted, self-critical attitudes about weight, food, and body image. It’s these negative thoughts and feelings that fuel the damaging behaviors. Social media acts as a breeding place for these harsh degrading feelings to flourish whether it is Twitter’s constant ana groups, TikTok’s “what I eat in a day” or YouTube’s “how I lost 30lbs in one week”, the constant societal pressure to be smaller is never-ending. As a 17-year-old girl, the pressure is exhausting and overwhelming but to a 12-year-old, or even a 10-year-old the harm that has on their minds is exhaustive. As social media grows in popularity the more our children are going to be exposed to disordered eating and the more we need to educate before it is too late. Our children are losing their battles to eating disorders out of a lack of education, we need to have more extensive and easily digestible eating disorder content at younger levels.

In order for us to help our younger generations, we first must address our own disordered eating. Studies have shown that if influential adult talks about their own disordered eating habits they can impact how their children view their own eating (Eating Disorders in Young Children). For example, after dinner mom is hungry, mom tells kids she’s hungry, mom refuses to eat a snack because she is fasting for the next day, she read online this helps to lose weight. Harmless or even beneficial some people argue to not eat before bed but to the children what they interpret is “I shouldn’t eat when I’m hungry because that’s what mommy does”. This is a common problem associated with the infamous diet culture. Diet culture “suggests that people are more or less good/moral/worthy based on their body size” (NEDA), this mindset is severely detrimental to developing brains and is found all over the internet. Examples from fellow classmates under the prompt of “personal stories/quotes regarding social media and body image?”: “The reality is a lot of the women displayed on special media are underweight” (Sami, University of Washington student), “Social media has made me so so insecure of myself sometimes” (Anonymous, CHS Senior), “The beauty standard is ridiculous and people need to stop” (Chloe, CHS Senior), “Some days I can’t look in the mirror” (Anonymous, CHS Junior), or the one that aches my heart the most, “Seeing influencers definitely makes it hard to accept my own body sometimes” (Camille, Senior) (Anonymous CHS Students). As social media takes over our day-to-day lives, being our main way to communicate and our most popular form of entertainment it is vital we do not follow blindly in the steps of those on the internet. We can better help our children the more we ourselves are educated too including the different types of eating disorders. It’s very easy to believe eating disorders only look one way but the reality is the majority of people have experienced disordered eating and they all look different.

Most media portrayals tend to show only the extreme examples of eating disorders whether it be “to the bone”’s anorexia story or “insatiable”’s example of a binge-eating disorder it is often shown that people with eating disorders can only look one way. This being what is enforced into most of our minds it is very easy to gaslight others and ourselves into believing we are not sick enough to really have an eating disorder. This is a very cruel and unfair mindset as by invalidating our own feelings we do not realize we do qualify for eating disorders such as used, (OSFED, known as Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) in previous editions of the DSM, which was developed to encompass individuals who do not meet strict criteria for anorexia or bulimia but still have a significant eating disorder), despite not qualifying for the mainstream titles someone sick with osfed still experiences the long term physical and mental impacts of this ed (NEDA). This mindset is also problematic for experiences such as that of one of our own students, “Everyone assumes I’m fine because I’m not underweight” (Anonymous CHS graduate) (Anonymous CHS Students). This is something not talked about in school nor taught online. A particularly motivating example is the scars that one develops from the purging aspect of bulimia are permanent and have to be seen every day as a constant trigger of those actions. Many schools teach about, drugs, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes, the long-term impact of those actions, and their consequences. As those consequences are permanent so are the consequences of disordered eating behaviors. If our children are not given the proper and accurate information from trusted adults how can we possibly expect them to make informed decisions for themselves? As influential adults in our children’s and community’s lives it is important that we not only educate them on the multiple types of eating disorders, how they can look, and the long-term consequences that come from participating in disordered eating but also educate ourselves as well. “10 million people in the US are suffering from anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa. Millions of others suffer from other types of eating disorders in the US as well” These, numbers too are unfortunately increasing in both boys and younger children, Anorexia being the number one killer for mental illness in the US Our curriculum should be covering more than just what they are and what key signs are if we’d like to keep our kids out of these same statistics (Eating Disorders from The Inside Out by Laura Hill).

If we continue with the same curriculum we are teaching now we will continue to receive quotes like these from our students, “ I just became overly obsessed with becoming really skinny like girls on Pinterest and brandy Melville models. It was mostly in late middle school like 7th-8th grade and early freshman year. I was OBSESSED with counting calories and eating less than 1,000 a day to lose weight. I was also in a sport going to practice multiple times a week. I would eat rice cakes and foods with absolutely no nutritional value. I became the skinniest I ever had and looking bad at pictures I realized it was not healthy at all. I would also feel bad about eating meals that went over my calorie goals and would be too hard on myself over it. It was not good and I didn’t know what I was doing was bad for my body and my mental health” (Emma, CHS Senior) (Anonymous CHS Students). The statement “I didn’t know what I was doing was bad for my body”, is exactly what we should be trying to avoid. As a school district, it is our responsibility to provide our students with the best nutrition education possible for them to make their own educated choices. By informing our students of why participate in eating disorder behavior we can push to avoid symptoms that come with recovery such as, “When a person with an ED is eating they experience high anxiety, disruptive thoughts, and a lot of noise. This noise constantly sounds like nagging about how guilty they should feel for eating and can last for a long time after eating” (Eating Disorders from The Inside Out by Laura Hill). Unfortunately, even after overcoming an eating disorder this nagging guilt constantly slips in at points of weakness. Many people do not understand why someone with a food-restrictive eating disorder doesn’t “just eat”. The guilt is enough to make one not want to eat but another factor we should consider is “the same way someone with diabetes isn’t blamed for their health, someone with an eating disorder has different pathways in their brain and a different build-up” (Eating Disorders from The Inside Out by Laura Hill). As we talk about the genuine effects that drugs have on one’s brain we should also be talking about the impact eating disorders have on someone’s brain because the chemical composition and effect of the amygdala and other key pieces of the brain change. “A person suffering from Anorexia does not get the signal from the brain letting them know they are hungry and therefore are not lying when they say they’re not hungry during meal time. When they eat they do not taste the food which triggers the amygdala to panic which encourages them to stop eating” When our children tell us they are not hungry because of an eating disorder we often think they are pushing to not eat for other reasons but this the reality (Eating Disorders from The Inside Out by Laura Hill). This symptom, unfortunately, is very common and some people recovering from anorexia never regain the sense of being hungry.

An argument heard from many counselors, district offices, and school systems is that if we expose our children to eating disorders too young it will increase the risk that they will develop an eating disorder. While an understood concern I found that 63% of Camas students said they have been diagnosed with an eating disorder or experienced disordered eating. This is more than half of a small group of our students showing that with the lack of eating disorder education we have now 6 out of 10 children will develop disordered eating anyway many of them claiming they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong. With social media’s impact on our children, they are learning more about body checking (“People who are very concerned about their weight and shape can spend a lot of time checking their body and appearance. For example, they may study themselves in the mirror repeatedly, compare their body to other people’s bodies or to images they see in the media, focus in on certain parts of their body, pinch their skin in an effort to detect fat, measure parts of their body using their hands or a tape measure, repeatedly assess the fit of their clothing or weigh themselves frequently”) and body avoidance (“Some people find that they avoid looking at their body altogether, or alternate between periods of body checking and body avoidance. Avoidance might include wearing loose clothing, avoiding looking at themselves in the mirror or when getting changed, avoiding clothes shopping, avoiding close physical contact with others, or avoiding swimming or some sports”) at much younger ages (Centre for Clinical Interventions). By not providing them with accurate information and examples of eating disorders they fall victim to that of body checking and body avoidance portrayed in mainstream media. Body avoidance is particularly unhelpful because the focus on weight and shape is still there. Avoiding things that we fear also tends to make our fears worse. By avoiding looking at themselves, they do not get the chance to find out whether their fears about their weight and look are true or not. This prevents them from developing more balanced ways of thinking (Centre for Clinical Interventions). By not extensively teaching about eating disorders we leave our kids to the hands of social media to discover their symptoms and illness. We are leaving them unprepared for the realities of life and confidence in everyday situations.

You cannot protect or even prevent anyone from an eating disorder but raising awareness of eating disorders and improving curriculum so that our children can make informed decisions about their eating behavior in attempts to catch the illness in an early stage can significantly increase their recovery rate. Also speaking and voting about affordable and accessible treatment for eating disorders can greatly improve recovery rates as well. Many people who need help are afraid to seek it because they are ashamed and embarrassed or simply don’t know where to go to get help. As a district we should be held responsible for the health and wellness of our students, and our own children, it is our responsibility to show them the dangers, and educate them enough about the varieties and severities of eating disorders so that they are prepared with the correct information to better help themselves.

Questions have lingered in the minds of various scholars as to whether beauty pageants are a way of objectifying women. This has triggered extensive examination of the event with respect to various societal norms and notions. Beauty pageants refer to the beauty contest. The competition primarily aims at the judgment and the ranking of the physical attributes of the people who take part. It aims at the determination of an individual personality based on weakness, and strengths, raising self-esteem, gaining confidence, and also proves to the people that it is indeed possible to have beauty as well as the brain. Some of the leading pageants around the world are Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss Universe, and Miss International. This section provides an argumentative examination of whether beauty pageants are a way of objectifying women or not. At the beauty pageants the contestants are broadcasted everywhere on air and the whole world gets to watch. Beauty Pageants have played a huge role in objectifying women, a violation of the rights of women.

The development of an argument as to whether beauty pageants objectify women depends on various factors. Some of the leading factors today are not similar to the earlier factors that were considered (Ali, 2018). Today, they depend on the traits of an individual, the talent; judges among others. Additional factors considered in the determination of the beauty pageants are the social, emotional, mental, and analytical skills. The social psyche of a person is affected by stereotypes. In the vent, the social psyche of a person is established, and the stigma occurs (Bowers, 2016). This focuses on the factor that, for one to be considered a beauty queen, she should be beautiful and intelligent but encouraging you to not be you.

To a larger degree, beauty pageants have been regarded as a way of objectifying women (Ali, 2018). A factor that is possibly likely to affect the appearance of another person is personality. For this reason, physical appearance is most likely to affect the appearance of an individual. It is true to state that physical appearance is most likely to affect the appearance and personality of a person. Contestants are judged harshly for displaying “modern” attributes, such as bobbed hair, smoking, or wearing makeup. The reason is that physical appearance affects self-esteem, happiness as well and success. The image of the body is based on how an individual reasons and feels. This eventually determines the outward appearance of the body. Sometimes, basing how a person thinks may affect the resulting judgment of the appearance. This eventually determines the image of the body. The image of the body is an outstanding determinant of self-esteem. This is actually how the person thinks and also reasons about himself. Contestants become very shallow and overconfident. They are too hung up on the beauty part. Beauty pageants can make contestants care more about their looks that’s makes them conceited. Also, when contestants lose pageants, they lose their confidence and their whole perspective on pageants. About ninety-seven percent of women have negative body image and eighty percent wish they were thinner. To a significantly greater extent, it would be right to state that beauty pageants are a way of objectifying women.

Beauty pageants are a mark of superiority. Also, they are important in generating the confidence of a woman. It enables them to take care of their body, their heart, and what may primarily alter their beauty. Beauty pageants are affiliated with a variety of negative psychological and other social defects along with inappropriate attention. Women who have participated in beauty pageants in the past were unhappy with their body image, unlike women who haven’t participated in pageants. That is indeed counter-intuitive. However, it is unfortunate that some people consider beauty pageants as competition that is cutthroat. They consider it as a competition that was developed to make rewards for specific appearance and look of the face and personality. The outstanding prestigious beauty pageants are the Latin Times. It was mentioned as the outstanding in the year 2017. The main concern of beauty pageants is the appearance of the beauty as well as the physical appearance that is attractive. The reason is that women usually focus on beauty and attractiveness (Joash, 2019).

An examination of the hidden prospects shows that it would be right to go against the statements that beauty pageants objectify women. Other than considering the appearance of women, the judges also consider issues such as the confidence of an individual, the skills of communication, the presentation as well and the intelligence quotient. In beauty competition, the judgment is sometimes largely based on the physical appearance of an individual. This focuses on ranking and judging the outstanding attributes of the person contesting. However, a variety of contestants use intelligence, talents as well as traits (Machan, et al., 2017). Wearing makeup is also critical in the determination of the self-esteem of a person. Makeup is usually determined by the lipstick effect. A woman who puts on lipstick is confident and can eventually boost by making him feel more increasingly and physically attractive and self-esteem. This is largely dependent on the personality. Screening of the beauty pageants, considering the background of the education and various criteria of eligibility is also considered in the determination of the beauty pageants.

The women who participate in beauty contests are more likely to be affected by low self-esteem. This is majorly the negative side of the competition. The reason is that some require women to be taller or thin. In another situation, they maintain that women should be successful in life (Ali, 2018). Other negative effects of the beauty pageants are the distortions of the image, and poor body image, especially for the adults who took part in the beauty pageants of the children. The child pageants usually call for the ensuring of the diet. Also, the women who participate in beauty pageants are more likely to report disordered eating behaviors. Some of the thin contestants usually rush intending to adopt the disorders of eating. This contributes to the rise in the death rate of young women. It is usually estimated to be almost 12 times the death of young women without eating disorders. This eventually challenges the ideal of beauty. The judges at Beauty pageants give women the feeling that they are not pretty enough, which leads to dieting eating disorders, and cosmetic surgery.

Due to its traditional methods of judging’s women, mental and physical appearance, beauty pageants have greatly contributed to the objectification of women. They are affected mentally and eventually; their health is affected. The problem is that only one girl can be crowned “the most beautiful”. The girls left to go home with the second prize – issues such as depression and eating disorders. It is proven beyond doubt that they are affected by depression, eating disorders as well as the dysfunction of the sex. This usually happens via two main trajectories. Research has also proven that objectification of beauty pageant participants usually occurs through sexual advertisements. This is a common criterion of sexual representation.

Most often, eating disorders tend to go unnoticed by family members until they begin to notice things like rapid weight loss, signs of weakness, not eating during family meal times, etc. When noticed, there are many different approaches families can take to ensure the well-being of the member with the disorder(s). Visiting a nutritionist, or a therapist is one of the first approaches talked about in research. Nutritionists provide clients with ways to ensure they eat the right things for their unique body, by providing a breakdown of foods, meal plans, etc. Therapists also provide clients with one-on-one or family-based support by resolving and creating an action plan to refrain from the eating disorder reappearing. One of the family-based approaches therapists take involves confronting the symptoms with the client once he/she is aware of the disorder, whatever it may be (Gerstein & Pollack, 2016). Confronting the symptoms with clients is basically when therapists will begin asking the individual how they are feeling daily, in terms of mood and physical (any pain in the body, etc.) This helps to break down the root cause, or also work on the current reasons as to why the client has developed the disorder. In addition, when families are aware of the symptoms and causes, it creates room for action to educate family members on the effects of the disorder. Many family members begin re-feeding, creating more mealtimes, and finding and working on ways to make food time enjoyable in the household (Lock and Grange, 2007).

The next step is to help with stigma within and outside the household. If the client has siblings, therapists begin working to get siblings to stop creating stigma; parenting in the household to cause awkwardness or harsh feelings of the individual who is suffering, monitoring the child’s behavior and awarding success, therapists work with parents to ensure they are not force-feeding or overdoing it essentially; you don’t want to force your child to eat vegetables just because they are healthier; it may actually backfire (Balarotto et al. 2016). Also, when parents see their child getting back to “normal” or begin assimilating better into household meal practices, it may by effect create more paranoia for them; this is when therapists and nutritionists will begin evaluating the readiness of the adolescent or child taking control of their own lifestyle meal choices (Gerstein and Pollack, 2016) Also, they look at the ability to maintain their weight or begin encouraging clients to maintain a healthy weight through daily physical activity like sports (Grange et al., 2010). Thus, nutritionists and therapists help family members understand how eating disorders develop, common methods of treatment, and how they can behave supportively toward the family member with the eating disorder (Gerstein and Pollack, 2016). These are some of the methods clients/family members take to ensure clients receive proper help when dealing with an eating disorder(s).

We have to remember not everyone considers family an important factor in their lives. Resistance from family involvement may make it harder for intervention or treatment; it comes down to the individual and varies case by case at the end of the day. Family is vital in research, however, there are many limitations to research; how many people were surveyed, interviewed, when or how they were interviewed etc. This is why we cannot pinpoint exactly how or why eating disorders persist and how they can be resolved. One can assume that eating disorders will only be resolved once society’s unrealistic ideals are diminished which will probably never happen. In summary, families are considered an important factor when we look at the role of family and possible areas of treatment. Wherever possible, family intervention should be monitored, and ways to help clients both physically and psychologically are vital; ensuring the client receives the right amount of time, effort, and support. Furthermore, we live in a society that reinforces the idea that: to be happy and successful we must be thin. Today, you cannot read a magazine, or watch a television show or movie without reproduced images or messages containing and encouraging “thinness”. Whether it be blatantly or subconsciously, the message that is sent across various platforms is that being fat is essentially abnormal or not okay. Thus, eating-disordered behavior may be classified as a defense mechanism or a way to cope with feelings individuals may not be able to express in a society or household where being skinny or fit is admired. Just as individuals with drug addictions depend on their drugs, individuals with eating disorders develop or persist in symptoms to further cope with emotions and feelings that they may or may not necessarily be able to control.

In the modern world, it is of particular concern that the impact of modern media on people of any generation, but in particular on young people. No one disputes that this effect is much more negative than positive. This is confirmed by the existing scientific research and the overall situation in society. There are a lot of waves of violence, unmotivated aggression, the destruction of traditional human values, and so on.

Recently, however, people have begun to argue that mass media could become a catalyst for another problem in society — eating disorders. Numerous photos of skinny girls, photoshopped magazine covers, ideal stars on the red carpet – all this, no matter how hard we try, subconsciously influences both men and women all over the world. However, are social platforms truly responsible for this kind of sociological and clinical problem?

People tend to misunderstand eating disorders as a lifestyle choice, however, in reality, it is a very serious and fatal illness. As the National Institute of Mental Health states, this disorder, in turn, is inherently connected with serious disturbances in eating behavior, and distorted beliefs about nutrition, including extreme concern about weight, figure, body, and food. There are many different kinds of eating disorders with different names, but the result is the same – the possibility of inevitable death. Speaking of eating disorders, it is impossible not to touch the influence of the media. We are seeing a causal relationship between the media and the development of eating disorders everywhere: for example, the recent article by Naomi Wolf or the ban on low-weight models by European governments.

In the book ‘The Beauty Myth’ Naomi presents impressive states and statistics about this ‘killer epidemic’, as she names eating disorders:

magazines such as Vogue and Glamour that once glorified the abnormally thin models on their covers. One of the successful models, Aimee Liu, in her autobiography states that.

Of course, the representation of human bodies in the media is a problem. Photos of thin retouched models and corrected actresses in Photoshop can affect self-perception and expectations of readers/viewers from their own bodies. For some, it becomes a trigger or a major factor in the development of eating disorders. Such images also promote and support fatphobia, discrimination of persons with disabilities, cis-sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination. In the fight for equality, the media is an important institution for analysis, deconstruction, and change. However, is the media delivering the brunt, or is the media only a consequence of the problem?

Firstly, eating disorders remain among the least understood in the world, and excessive attention to the media can be dangerous. Secondly, only those who are personally affected by an eating disorder, those who support a loved one, and those who have knowledge in this area, know that this is a complex phenomenon. But for many others, these causal relationships remain central to their knowledge. And finally, many of the narratives, facts, and realities of eating disorders remain unnoticed.

It is worth remembering the fact that eating disorders are a problem of the mental spectrum. It is impossible to offer a universal scheme for the development of eating disorders in a person. Although the media can be a contributing factor or a trigger, this is not necessarily the only condition, and moreover is not a necessary condition at all.

By focusing solely on the media, we simplify eating disorders to a problem with a single dimension. Worse, the media often reproduces the myth that eating disorders are a choice. After all, if the occurrence of eating disorders was associated exclusively with unrealistic images, it would be enough just to get rid of the influence of the media. Parents could prevent the development of these diseases in children by regulating their access to the media. Continuing this logic, one could come to the conclusion that people can overcome an eating disorder simply by choosing how much food they should eat.

I strongly believe that by Blaming only the media, people refuse to be responsible for their daily activities and the influence that they can have on others. At the same time, many of those who suffered from eating disorders in the past faced harassment and other negative interactions or triggers that initiated their illness. For many, certain topics or phrases continue to be potential triggers of relapse.

Although in reality, it does not happen that a particular person is responsible for the development of the disorder, discussions in the media do not eliminate the need to bear responsibility for their actions, which can reinforce the culture of prejudice and full of prejudices. For example, one can greatly harm comments about someone’s weight or food habits, even by doing so with obviously good intentions. Close attention to someone’s eating habits can also become a trigger.

All in all, the relationship between the media and eating disorders is, of course, valuable, but within a specific context. The steps of some advocates and organizations to support people with eating disorders to create more inclusive and responsible media are commendable. But we should not allow this dialogue to obscure other cases and factors contributing to the development of eating disorders. More importantly, we should not allow it to set the general trend of perception of eating disorders, especially when it erases the real narratives of people who have suffered from this disease.

The way we perceive our bodies can be influenced by internal factors (e.g. mental, emotional, historical, or physical components) or by external facts (culture, the media, or advertising). Body dissatisfaction comes in many forms and is defined in many ways and measured using a variety of techniques. The leading causes of body dissatisfaction are (1) the media as the ‘ideal’ body for men and women is used across all forms of media. Even low exposure can cause, especially women, an individual to feel worse about their bodies. (2) The household can also cause body dissatisfaction through mother-daughter and father-son relationships and fathers who are unsatisfied with their own bodies may communicate this with their daughters and sons. Previous research showed that the majority of people surveyed in Western society would like to lose weight, between 66-75%, with the vast majority of them being women. Gender refers to socially constructed classifications and behaviors that are considered masculine or feminine. In today’s society, men are expected to conform to the muscular ideal body shape. Despite this social pressure, men report less body dissatisfaction and are less likely to be on a weight loss diet. Instead, they are more likely to participate in excessive exercise and possibly dangerous practices such as performance or image-enhancing drugs such as steroids. Women are expected to conform to the thin ideal body shape and are most likely to resort to dieting, although some will smoke, exercise, or have cosmetic surgery. The NHS states that Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health disorder. A person with BDD becomes worried about the way their body looks which affects their ability to function normally. The flaws they see in themselves are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can suffer from BDD but is more common among teenagers and young adults of both genders. Symptoms of BDD include: worrying a lot about a specific feature of your body, spending a lot of time comparing yourself to others, and either looking in the mirror a lot or not at all. People who suffer from BDD tend to struggle with everyday life including at work, their social life, and relationships. It can also lead to depression, self -harm and even suicidal thoughts. In 2018, 0.5% of the population suffered from BDD which is approximately every 5 in 1000 people. The rates of body dysmorphia have risen rapidly over the last few years due to generations becoming more focused on appearances (Dr Mahsa Saleki). The most recent pandemic (COVID-19) has had a huge impact on BDD rates which could be down to an increase in compulsions and anxiety over going back into the ‘real world’. The new work-from-home scheme and Zoom calls also led many individuals to become hyper-aware of their appearances. An eating disorder is also a mental health disorder and is when an individual takes control of food as a way to manage their feelings and situations. Individuals adopt unhealthy eating behaviors of either eating too much or too little or worrying about body weight or shape. Anyone of any age can develop an eating disorder but it is most common among teenagers between 13 and 17. According to B-eat, in 2022 approximately 1.25 million people had an eating disorder with 25% being men. The main eating disorders highlighted were anorexia nervosa (8%), avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (5%), binge eating disorder (22%), and bulimia nervosa (19%). Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the usage of social media has risen rapidly. In January 2022, 58.4% of the world’s population used social with a daily average of 2 hours and 47 minutes. The most commonly used social media platforms were Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Most recent data (2020) concluded that the age group that used social media platforms was aged 25-34 (89%) closely followed by 16-24-year-olds (88%). As new face-editing apps and face-changing apps are developed, it is no surprise that both body dysmorphia and eating disorders are on the rise. There are constantly new filters being created that give people doll-like features by plumping cheeks and lips which can be very damaging and set unrealistic expectations of beauty standards. Influencers advertise their skincare or beauty routines on social media but often use filters in the process which not only sells false advertising but also leads to their viewers having unrealistic expectations of not only the products but also themselves. In this essay, I will be looking at how social media affects the risks, positively and negatively, of body dysmorphia and eating disorders in young people aged between 15-24.

For many years social media has portrayed unrealistic beauty standards and has thus had a negative influence on many people how they view themselves. Social media provides its viewers with endless posts of the ‘perfect’ lifestyle and ‘perfect’ people. This is achieved through editing photos and using filters to achieve this image of false perfection. For example, Instagram has numerous filters which alter an individual’s appearance. By seeing that someone has used a filter or has edited their photo and as a result has received a lot of attention, it may encourage viewers to alter their appearances too. Social media can be very dangerous for young people who are vulnerable to suffering from insecurity and depression. Both genders in this age bracket, are still learning about their anatomy and who they are as individuals. This combined with pressures from social media telling them that they need to be thin, curvy, muscular, and attractive can be very overwhelming. Hendrickse et al. (2017) argue that social media platforms like Instagram can harm young adults, particularly women, concerning their body satisfaction and how likely they are to compare themselves to others. The factors of body perception that were analyzed had a profound link to BDD symptoms and a positive correlation was found between the usage of Instagram and the rate of BDD symptoms. Factors such as body shame and body surveillance are also linked to body image. Those who are more likely to keep track of their body are also more likely to be affected by content that is focused on or related to appearances. Erikson studied the usage of Instagram in participants aged 18-22, both male and female, and its influence on BDD. Erikson concluded that as the rate of Instagram activity increased so did their chances of developing symptoms of BDD. The most commonly reported areas of ‘concern’ were either the stomach or waist and the face or specific facial features (i.e., noses, eyes, lips, etc). The Kardashian-Jenner family is arguably one of the most worldwide known celebrities and their followers mainly consist of female young adults. Kylie Jenner was only 16 years old when she had her first shot filler. In 2019, approximately 18.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. on young people. Facelifts, eyelid surgeries, and buttocks augmentation rates also became increasingly popular in America (2019). Of these procedures, roughly 1 million were carried out on patients aged between 13 to 29. Evidence pointed out that the reason for this increase was due to social media and the need to be ‘perfect’ for selfies. With BDD, social media can trigger obsessive thoughts on appearance. However, it is important to note that social media doesn’t necessarily cause body dysmorphia but that it does contribute to it.

On the positive side, social media can be very influential in helping individuals build their self-confidence and self-esteem, especially for those who have poor body image. Over the last few years, the movement of body positivity has rapidly increased across social media platforms. This content generally displays non-sexualized and filter-free pictures of people with different bodies, in terms of characteristics such as body shape and size, physical ability, skin color, and gender identity. In a recent study by Manning and Mulgrew (2022), Australian women aged between 18-30 were asked to view Instagram content of diverse women. These women reported higher body confidence and happier moods after seeing a variety of these posts. They also found that the presence of body-positive posts with captions made the women feel better, suggesting that messages that reinforce the body-positive movement are more likely to reduce the risks of young women becoming symptomatic of BDD. Another study by Belle et al. 2019 found that boys view social media more positively and stated that it gave them a motivational influence on their body image. Grogan and Richards, 2002, argue that boys are more protected from exposure to aesthetic body ideals because they favor body functionality over aesthetics.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that eating disorders are a very complex condition and that food-related disorders are a result of people attempting to cope with overwhelming feelings and painful emotions by controlling food. Image-driven social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok present followers with endless posts of photos, and videos that portray very unrealistic ideas of beauty, body shape, weight, diet, and weight loss. It’s common that the people or companies that post this content always display feelings of happiness and show a lot of success from this happiness. Emotional and mental health problems such as impulsive behaviors or depression, OCD, self-doubt, or low self-esteem are considered to be underlying causes of disorders that are food-related. Therefore seeing unrealistic social media posts can trigger disordered eating habits like over-exercising or binge eating. The National Institute of Health published a study in 2007 which investigated 1765 participants aged between 19 and 32 years old to measure the rates of social media use and eating concerns. Results showed a strong association between eating concerns and social media use. A connection between appearance and fitness-focused Instagram content has been found in the risks of eating disorders (Cohen et al.,2017). Of those who have social media accounts, just over half (54%) use them to explore and share food experiences, and just under half (42%) use them to seek guidance on food. Haines and Neumark-Sztainer (2006) argue that these statistics suggest a possible correlation between social networking site content and vulnerability to eating disorders. On Instagram over 100 million posts are tagged ‘health’, 57.8 million are tagged ‘eat clean’, and 44.5 million in ‘clean eating’. Orthorexia is a form of eating disorder where someone develops an excessive preoccupation with healthy eating. A survey carried out on 680 social media users who followed healthy food accounts, aged 18-32, found that 49% of these individuals met the criteria for orthorexia (Turner and Lefevre, 2017). It is important to note that social media platforms do not directly cause eating disorders, but they are responsible for amplifying them. There has been a rapid increase in young adults using social media as tools to find quick-fix solutions, which are delivered from misguided and often dangerous advice from influencers and other peers. The majority of social media platforms rely on algorithms that filter content based on user preferences and likes. For example, with TikTok, if a user likes a video of someone making a healthy recipe that is considered to help in weight loss then these videos are more likely to reappear on their feed. This regular exposure has the potential to trigger or worsen disordered eating habits and behaviors.

With social media increasing over the last few years, a lot of individuals have used it as a platform to express their feelings and issues and to offer help and tips to others going through the same thing. People who have openly discussed mental health issues on Twitter have expressed that they have found this useful in seeking support and hearing about the experiences of others (Berry et al.2017). Naslund et al. 2017 conducted a survey on social media users with suffered from mental health issues and found that sharing personal experiences and ways of coping with mental illness was the main reason for being on social media. This shows insight into how social media can potentially facilitate an informal peer support network. Another feature of modern social media platforms is that they have been trying to reduce and remove the amount of triggering content. Many platforms, particularly TikTok, have now started to place warning signs over posts that do not necessarily exceed the community guidelines, but that could potentially trigger individuals. Chelsea M. Keonengold, communications manager at the National Eating Disorders Association, states that social media has the potential to be used for good. As well as being used to raise awareness, it can also facilitate a comfortable and confiding space for people suffering from eating disorders. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram allow other users to leave comments, which can also help those suffering from eating disorders or even help to prevent them. Comment sections can now be filtered so that any form of ‘hate comment’ can be removed before the viewer can see it. In 2012 Instagram made some terms unsearchable to reduce the risk of its users seeing shocking images and posts that promote the ideology of eating disorders being a lifestyle choice instead of a mental illness. A spokesman of Instagram stated, ‘We do not tolerate content that encourages eating disorders and we use powerful tools and technologies – including in-app reporting and machine learning- to help identify it and remove it.’

To conclude, social media may not directly cause BDD and eating disorders but it can amplify the risks of developing the symptoms. Individually, it is almost impossible to control what ends up on people’s feeds but social media platforms can create algorithms that detect possibly harmful content and can remove them before other users view them. From previous research, girls aged 18-30 are more likely to be triggered by social media posts. However, male response rates from studies have been significantly low so it is harder to determine if these results are accurate. With today’s society becoming more body-positive, it is allowing people to be more accepting of who they are and others across social media. Despite this, the majority of posts are still filtered and photoshopped creating a false image of what they look like. This false imagery can negatively impact other users and make them feel like they aren’t ‘sexy’ enough or don’t have the ‘right’ body size and shape, leading to disordered eating habits.

In modern times, it is commonly believed that eating disorders are a trend or a lifestyle choice. However, as defined by Ranna Parekh (2017), “eating disorders are actually illnesses in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions”. In fact, these eating disturbances are related to the insufficient or excessive food intake that eventually has a negative effect on human well-being (Jacquelyn Ekern, 2018). According to her claim, three most common types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Also, while those illnesses are able to do harm to both genders of all ages and backgrounds, adolescents seem to be the most at-risk group of people who may suffer from an eating disorder (Eating Disorders Victoria, 2017). Alarmingly, the statistics of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that more than 95% of people with eating disorders aged between 12 and 25. Moreover, the National Institute of Mental Health also claims that about 2.7% of teenagers in 13-18 age group have problems with eating disorders. Thus, this paper, based on secondary data, discusses the causes, effects and several treatments to eating disorders in attempt to give people, especially the youth an in-depth understanding of these mental and physical illnesses.

What causes eating disorders?

Any patient may suffer from an eating disorder which is caused by a complicated combination of factors (Tabitha Farrar, 2014). First of all, genetics seems to be the most significant factor contributing to the risk for eating disorders in adolescents. In fact, a number of research studies have shown that a person who has a family member with an eating disorder is 11 times more likely to get the same illness. In other words, it means that eating disorders can be heritable. Besides, as reported by Kelly Klump (2007), the origin of eating disorders has biological beginnings. She further states that there is also an increasing risk for the development of an eating disorder during puberty. Surprisingly, it is important to note that genetic factors which appear in the puberty process make up almost 50% of this risk. Clearly, her findings emphasize the considerable growth in genetic effects when adolescents reach puberty.

Additionally, according to Lauren Muhlheim (2018), negative body image (the feeling of dissatisfaction with one’s own appearance) is a prominent contributor that leads to eating disorders in teenagers. That is, since many of them attach great importance to their body shape and weight when defining their personal values, they tend to indulge in unhealthy behavior such as dieting with a view to relieve their body dissatisfaction. Worryingly, as reported by the site Stage Of Life (2012), 20% of adolescents are unhappy with their body image as well as 44% of them skip meals as effective method to control or lose weight.

Last but not least, social media also encourages adolescents to engage in disordered eating patterns (Greta Gleissner, 2017). Now more than ever, with the great variety of social media platforms used by this age group, it seems to be quite difficult to avoid the pressures and impacts from social media. It points out that individuals are likely to unceasingly compare their own figures to those of their slim peers, skinny models and celebrities on social media. Therefore, they inevitably become more and more obsessed by the thought of “idea body type”, which directly affects their attitude to food. Furthermore, social media has made it easier for body-shaming and bullying to happen more frequently. These days, body shamers express negative opinion about someone’s appearance via social media platforms. Indeed, that has enormous impact on a young person’s eating habits; for instance, people who experience bullying several times may suddenly skip meals to deal with distress. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, approximately 65% of people who suffer from eating disorders claim that their condition is associated with bullying.

What are the effects of eating disorders?

First and foremost, eating disorders have an adverse impact on the physical health of adolescent patients. According to Crystal Karges (2016), although several physical effects of these illnesses are not likely to apparent immediately, it should be noted that they can emerge later in life as individuals get older and enter adulthood. Also, without sufficient nutrition and calories intake, eating disorder patients may suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to serious damage to their organ systems. As a matter of fact, when the body is not provided with adequate nutrition and necessary calories, it begins to break down its tissues for energy to function normally. Gradually, this can do harm to crucial organs such as making heart and brain become smaller or causing overall muscle loss and bone loss. Apart from that, for adolescents, the health risks even include growth and developmental impairment, both physically and cognitively. Moreover, overweight and obese individuals with eating disorders may get serious long-term health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes (Joseph Goldberg, 2017).

Furthermore, eating disorders not only result in physical health but also psychological abnormalities. As Kelly Morris (2009) stated, adolescents who suffer from these illnesses are more prone to anxiety as well as depression, and those feeling even get worse when the disease develops. Additionally, since eating disorders often occur along with other mental disorders such as depression, there is an increasing risk for self-harmful or self-destructive behaviors in patients; for instance, they may cut or burn themselves to relieve the painful emotions they have experienced. Also, psychological effects include the lack of interest when adolescents make or do things, even their hobbies. This combined with low self-esteem can lead to social isolation and difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships with other people. Even worse, according to Rebecca Berman (2015), eating disorders are commonly accompanied with suicidal attempts or behaviors. In fact, suicide is the most common culprit which causes the death of patients with eating disorders. Moreover, the mortality rate of eating disorder is 12 times higher than that of all causes leading to death in girls and young women aged from 15 to 24, making it the most fatal mental illness (NEDC, 2010).

In addition, eating disorders terribly affect adolescents’ social interactions, which brings more pain and sorrow to their lives. In fact, the impact of these illnesses on relationships eventually turns out to be negative and destructive (Francesca Baker, 2015). Also, she explains that adolescents with eating disorders often concentrate more on their illnesses instead of using their energy to build connection with others; however, most of people enjoy friends who are sociable and energetic rather than those who are obsessive, bad-tempered and mainly care about themselves. Not surprisingly, as individuals may believe that people around them cannot accept their appearance as well as their abnormal eating habits, they gradually become isolated and susceptive to any judgment. They tend to refuse the help from others; therefore, healthy people who try to help may feel their support is futile, not helpful and no longer want to form relationships with individuals with eating disorders.

What are the possible treatments for eating disorders?

Recovery from eating disorders is certainly a challenging process. According to Lauren Muhlheim (2017), eating disorders cannot be completely treated by medications like other mental disorders since medications may have a risk for side effects. Instead, balanced diet and the normalization of patients’ eating habits seem to be more effective. However, she further states that psychiatric medication is able to help the treatment more successful in some cases, especially for those who have problems with depression and anxiety along with eating disorders.

Additionally, a recommended treatment for these illnesses is psychotherapy, which is also known as counseling or talking to psychologists and advisors (Arnold Lieber, 2018). With the help from this kind of therapy, patients gradually learn to cope with the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to negative body image and abnormal eating patterns as well as replace them with healthier ones. Also, a number of mental health professionals suggest psychotherapy can be done in family as they have proved that improving communication among members in family can reduce stress which is associated with eating disorders in teenagers.

Furthermore, he also mentions in-patient treatment, which is recommended if patients’ malnutrition or complications become severe or even fatal. Unlike other therapies, in-patient treatment is more intensive as patient will stay in a live-in facility and receive 24 hour care for a long period of time, often for months. This therapy is considered to be more effective because it helps to promote better mental and physical health.

Last but not least, as reported by Nicole Garber (2015), nutrition therapy is also regarded as a crucial aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan for people with eating disorders. In this type of treatment, nutritionists establish specific meal plans for individuals due to their circumstances and goals. Patients, therefore, can benefit from learning healthy eating habits and maintaining healthy body weight.

Conclusion

This research has shown that eating disorders are severe and serious mental and physical illnesses which not only affect adolescents with these illnesses but also their families, relatives and friends. Whether the patients are influenced by biological elements or sociocultural factors, the impact of eating disorders on their bodies and lives is devastating. Therefore, it is important for family members and peers to support the people with eating disorders by encouraging them to engage in healthy eating habits and seeking appropriate medical attention. Also, adolescents who suffer from eating disorders should learn to care and nurture themselves in order to recover better from these diseases. Besides, they need to enhance self-esteem along with solid self-concept to escape from negative thoughts of their appearances and relationships. A new approach to prevent adolescents from eating disorders would be for the parents to encourage their children to have balanced diet and exercises regularly instead of talking or teasing teenagers about their weight. Obviously, this will take time and a great deal of efforts to overcome eating disorders; however, it is more important to live a healthy life with lots of happiness rather than a life which is full of misery.