Eating Disorders Flashcards
When were eating disorders discovered?
The discovery coincided with the general more from the religious to scientific sphere & adolescence
What are some normative features of being female?
Dieting, purging and bingeing
Where are eating disorders rising?
South East Asia and other highly industrialised but non-Western societies
What could be some factors of a rise in eating disorders?
- Tensions between traditional and contemporary gender roles
- Media growth
Explain some reasons why media influences have increased eating disorders?
- 25 separate studies; exposure of media portrayals of slender ideals led to body dissatisfaction
- 200 girls; direct link between media exposure to the thin ideal and eating disorders
- Female form depicted in fashion magazines become thinner and less curvaceous
What percentage of the adult population have anorexia nervosa?
1%
What % of people effected by anorexia nervosa are women?
95%
How many people effected by anorexia nervosa die of starvation?
5 - 15%
How do you diagnose anorexia nervosa?
- Overvaluation of thinness
- Reduction of food intake, avoidance of fatty foods, extensive exercise, self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse
- Co-morbitiy with depression & personality disorders
What is bulimia nervosa?
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating
- Eating large quantities in a short period
- Use of laxatives, vomiting
What are some elements of bulimia nervosa?
- Binge eating occur twice a week, for 3 months
- Impulsivity, sexual maturity, lack of self-control
What are some risk factors of eating disorders?
- Body image distortion and body dissatisfaction
- Cognitive distortion
- Low self-esteem
- Depression, anxiety, personality disorder
What are some cognitive factors of eating disorders?
- Core self-beliefs are negative
- Eating behaviours are a form of dissociation or avoidance of underlying emotional distress channelled into weight concerns
- Perfectionism/cognitive rigidity
What are the cognitive features of binge eating?
- Thoughts reflecting cognitive and emotional avoidance
- Negative believes about weight and shape
- Permissive thoughts
- Thoughts of no control
What are people with eating disorders suggested to not be able to do?
- Have difficulties expressing their emotions
How is anger said to have influenced eating disorders?
As anger is threatening, it is directed away from the self, and directed onto the body, leading to extreme body dissatisfaction
How is emotion said to play a role in eating disorders?
Research suggested that suffers have difficulty in recognising their own and others emotional states
Is there any research that suggest family could have an influence in eating disorders?
- Overprotectiveness and lack of conflict resolution and rigidity
- Anorexic member of the family deflects attention from underlying family conflict
Is there any research that suggest fathers could have an influence in eating disorders?
- More negative recollections of parental rearing behaviours
- 3 core beliefs: abandonment, defectiveness/shame and vulnerability to harm - were found to mediate the influence of aspects of paternal rearing
- Parental rearing behaviours were predicative of eating problems
- Paternal rejection is importnat in eating disorders
Are there any differences in gender of eating disorders?
- Self more attached to appearance for women
- Femininity theory
- Discrepancy theory
What is the role of gender identity in eating disorders?
- Access to power through looks
- Confusion & contradiction relating to female development and maturation
- Conflicting roles and expectations that young women now face in a changing society
What role does sex have in eating disorders?
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Suppressing the adult female body
- Abused anorexics are vulnerable to selectively processing material symbolically related to body image
What can a starving body signify?
A ‘non-body’ that symbolises complete control and a powerful subjectivity
What does the disidentificationfrom the maternal body symbolise?
Freedom from reproductive destiny rather than powerlessness
What % of those with an eating disorder are not in treatment?
90%
What are some treatments for eating disorders?
- Takes place in hospital
- Bulimia: anti-depresssant drugs
- Anorexia: No drugs as of yet
What are some psychological therapy for eating disorders?
- Anorexia: Family therapy
Operant condition can lead to short-term weight gains
Long term not yet achieved, but 70% do get better - Bulimia: Cognitive behaviour therapy: changing through process
