Eating Disorders

Independent Study Literature Review and Experience

Introduction

Eating disorders are becoming a serious problem in today’s society. It is estimated that more than five million Americans suffer from an eating disorder of some form (Economos, 1998). Also, younger girls are beginning to become more concerned with their appearances. It has been stated that as many as 44% of adolescent females are trying to lose weight (Serdula, Collins, Williamson, Anda, Pamuk, & Byers, 1993). It has also been found that a majority of women are dissatisfied with their bodies. These women also have feelings of fatness, and a drive to be thin (Garner, 1985; Kirkley & Burge, 1989; Polivy & Herman, 1987). With these figures, it is easy to see why eating disorders have become an immediate problem in Western society.

There are three types of eating disorders defined by the DSM-IV. These include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). There are also two other categories of people who exhibit abnormal eating habits. These are Obese Eaters and Restrained Eaters (Rich, 2000). In the current study, restrained eaters, or eaters who display distorted body image and many distorted eating patterns, were focused on

For many years there has been a misconception that only females have eating disorders. While it is true that eating disorders are primarily focused in female populations, there has been a recent increase in distorted eating behavior in males (Striegel-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986). In fact, only about 18% of males deny having little or no concern about weight (Cash, Winstead, Janda, 1986). However, it is still true that females are ten times more likely to have an eating disorder than males (Thompson, Heinberg, Altabe, & Tantleff-Dunn, 1999).

Media has also had a role in the growing trend of eating disorders. One study allowed subjects to view magazine pictures featuring...