THE VICTIMS AND THE FACTORS OF EATING DISORDER

-

Why Americans are suffering from eating disorders?

In United States, women stand for the majority of the victims suffering from eating disorders compared with men. As study show there are 20 million of female victim compared with 10 million male victims. The female victims are usually start from a very young age, as 6 years old girls already concern about their own weight and body shape.

As the research found out that there were 40%-60% of elementary school girls are concern about their weight and having body dissatisfaction, they already concerning about becoming too fat, when they are only at the age 6 – 12 years old.

There are many factors that contribute to the increase of the problem.

Psychological factors

-          - Low self – esteem

-         -  Lack of control in life

-         -  Depression, anxiety, anger, stress or loneliness

Interpersonal factors

-        -  Trouble personal relationships

-        -  Difficulty expressing their emotions of feelings

-        -  History of being teased or ridiculed based on body size or weight

-        -  History of physical or sexual abuse

Social factors

-      -    Cultural pressures towards the glorify thinness or muscularity is equal to perfect body.

-       -   Cultural norms that influence people to value the physical appearance thant inner qualities or strengths.

-        -  Narrow definitions of beauty that come with a specific number for women or men weight.

-         - Stress related to racial, ethnic, size or weight-relatedforms of discrimination or prejudice.

Biological factors

-        -  Biochemical / biological causes of eating disorders.

-         - It runs in families, research show significant genetic contribution to eating disorders.

The people who are suffering from eating disorders problem are from different kind of group.  As the time changes, this is no longer a problem belongs to the girls/ female.

The victim can be from males, elderly people, and people from all different races / ethnicity/culture or LGBTQ group or even people from different kind of body size.

When we usually sees the problem belongs to women, however in today’s world men are also fighting the same problem too. Or even the LGBTQ group of people, the reason causing this issue can simply to the acceptance from the society, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety.   Older group of victims are usually trigger by mostly of body dissatisfaction issue. 

BY: Li En

-Contributing factors & prevention, The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). [Online Video] Available at:< http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/diversity> [accessed on 11 November 2013]

-Diversity,  The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). [Online Video] Available at:< http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/diversity> [accessed on 11 November 2013]

-Males and eating disorders, The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). [Online Video] Available at:< http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/males-and-eating-disorders> [accessed on 11 November 2013]

-LGBTQ, The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). [Online Video] Available at:< http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/lgbtq> [accessed on 11 November 2013]

-Older population, The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). [Online Video] Available at:< http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/older-populations> [accessed on 11 November 2013]

*This post is strictly unofficial. For educational purposes only and is based on student opinion and research. Not for any other uses.