Introduction
Anorexia is an eating disorder in which people have a severe restriction for eating; as (English Oxford Living Dictionaries, 2018) states ‘Anorexia- Lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition).’ This is because they have a fear of becoming obese, this fear is so intense that they continue to behave this way even when they are crucially underweight. The average calorie intake for someone with Anorexia Nervosa is around 1,000 per day; however, to maintain a ‘healthy’ weight an adult woman should consume between 1,500 calories to 2,000 calories per day (Martain, et al., 2013). Many people with this eating disorder over exercise and will most likely seen pacing backwards and forwards after consuming a meal.
This eating disorder ‘Can occur from as early as seven years old.’ (Martain, et al., 2013:514) There is only a small percentage of adolescent and young women affected; however, men between the ages of eight years to fourteen years has risen to 25%. With the people affected by this disorder it is alarming to see that (Martain, et al., 2013:516) ‘About one anorexic patient in 30 dies of the disorder.’ In 1997 Frederickson and Roberts developed a theory known as the ‘self-objectification’ A summary of this theory is ‘Western cultures regard female bodies to be viewed and evaluated.’ (Martain, et al., 2013). This looks very closely at the impact culture has on people’s views of weight. Many psychologists back this theory but they also explore the ideas of biological, cognitive and sociocultural explanations.
Do cultural norms effect people’s eating habits?
If cultural norms were reduced, then women would begin to compare their bodies with more realistic peers. But in the society, we live in today cultural norms are more prominent therefore people are more than likely to pick impractical models and celebrities to compare with. The way in which women are portrayed through social media is also a big problem for people who suffer from this disorder as they can find constant flaws with their own body. MP Caroline Nokes went into schools and talked to students between twelve years old to thirteen-year olds and (Roxby, 2014) states in her interview with Nokes ‘images in the media can be altered, enhanced and improved to create something far from realistic.’ Social media is its own world and the culturation theory claims that the more we are exposed to this material then this becomes our ‘norm’ and believe that what we see is natural and real.
Our biological needs which are stated by (Martain, et al., 2013:500) ‘to survive we need air, water, various vitamins and minerals.’ With the restriction of food going into their bodies they have a high chance of getting osteoporosis which is a bone condition. Having osteoporosis makes it easier for your bones to break as they become weaker over certain periods of time. It also reduces their blood level of a chemical called tryptophan which is needed for nitrogen balance in adults and helps children to grow (Gotter, 2018). Some psychologists also believe that this disorder can be hereditary and caused by abnormalities from the parent who may have had the disorder themselves.
How does Anorexia effect people’s health?
Anorexia strains our bodies in various ways due to the lack of food intake.
- People with Anorexia have problems with their bones and muscles. They become more lethargic and weaker.
- Anorexia can cause problems with fertility.
- As they are more lethargic, they also have a less of a sex drive.
- Anorexia causes problems with the heart and blood vessels- including poor circulation, irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure, heart valve disease, heart failure and swelling in the hands, feet and face (Oedema).
- Anorexia also effects the brain and nervous system making seizures more common, also difficulty with concentration and memory.
- Anorexia can cause problems with the bowls and kidney.
- People with Anorexia more likely have weaker immune systems making it harder for them to fight off other illnesses.
- Anaemia is also common in people with Anorexia due to the lack of iron in their blood.
Psychologists believe that there are many ways in which people who have Anorexia can get help to regain control over their eating and how to gain a healthy weight again.
How can people safely begin to eat “normally” again?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) investigates the way that people view food and helps them to recognise how self-deflating patterns can undermine the successes of eating healthy and gaining weight (Clinic, 2016). It also helps the person to regain control over their feelings towards food and coping mechanisms when self-deflating thoughts come to their minds. They also help to build up a food diary which monitors what types of food you are eating, what times you eat, how you feel when eating a meal and if you are doing anything at the time you are eating (Clinic, 2016).
Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM) this consists of a minimum of 20 weekly sessions with a therapist who will help the person to understand what the triggers are for Anorexia. They will also teach the individual the importance of the correct nutrition’s and will set goals of weight gain and help you to meet the goals set (NHS, 2018).
Adolescent-focused psychotherapy is specifically for teenagers who have anorexia. This type of therapy can last for as long as eighteen months and it helps the teenager to understand what is causing them to be anorexic. Introducing presenters that can be put in place to stop them from being anorexic and understand the effects of what under eating does to their bodies. It also gives them help on how to cope with the fears they have about gaining weight and educates them on what they need to do to be healthy.
References
Clinic, C., 2016. The Psychology of Eating. [Online] Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10681-the-psychology-of-eating [Accessed 17/12/2018].
English Oxford Living Dictionaries, 2018. Anorexia. [Online] Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/smelt [Accessed 19/11/2018].
Gotter, A., 2018. What is Tryptophan. [Online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/tryptophan [Accessed 22/11/2018].
Gross, R., 2015. Psychology, The Science of Mind and Behaviour. 7th ed. London: Hodder Education.
Neil Martain, G., Carlson, N. R. & Buskist, W., 2013. Psychology. 7th ed. Harlow: Pearson.
NHS, 2018. Treatment. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anorexia/treatment/ [Accessed 17/12/2018].
Roxby, P., 2014. Does Social Media impact on Body Image. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-29569473 [Accessed 22/11/2018].
Waller, G., Cordery, H., Corstorphine, E., Hinrichsen, H., Lawson, R., Mountford, V., & Russell, K. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for the eating disorders: A comprehensive treatment guide. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Everyday Counts 