How does culture affect the development of eating disorders?
Eating disorders occur most often in industrialized cultures where there is an emphasis on thinness, especially if thinness is linked to success. Magazines, television, and other media have created an unrealistic image of the perfect, successful person.
Do social and cultural factors cause eating disorders?
Socio-cultural factors are one of the important variables involved in development of anorexia nervosa. The prevalence of the illness has shown a definite increase in last few decades.
What ethnicity has the highest rate of eating disorders?
Some studies have found that White adults have a higher lifelong prevalence for eating disorders including anorexia nervosa (Udo & Grilo, 2018), bulimia nervosa (Striegel-Moore, Dohm, Kraemer, Taylor, Daniels, Crawford, & Schreiber 2003), and binge eating disorder (Udo & Grilo, 2018) compared to other ethnic groups.
What factors may contribute to higher rates of eating disorders among Westernized cultures?
[10] The increasing globalization and exposure to Western media have been suggested to increase the rate of eating disorders in non-Western countries.
Is anorexia culture-bound?
Anorexia nervosa is presently considered a Western culture-bound syndrome. A cultural focus on dieting and ideals of thinness for women are assumed to be implicated in the disorder.
What is diet culture?
“Diet culture” refers to a set of beliefs that values thinness, appearance, and shape above health & well-being 1,2,3. Additionally, the concept places importance on restricting calories, normalizes negative self-talk, and labels certain foods as “good” and “bad”.
Who is most likely to have an eating disorder?
Most eating disorders are much more common in women and girls than in men and boys. Girls in their teens are most likely to develop an eating disorder, but boys and men are also affected. In fact, one in every four children diagnosed with anorexia nervosa is a boy.
Is anorexia culture bound?
When is an eating disorder most likely to develop?
Young People & Eating Disorders Research shows that eating disorders are most likely to start between the ages of 14 to 25 [1]. Girls in this age range are significantly more likely to struggle with an eating disorder, but adolescent boys are also impacted.
How does culture affect eating disorder treatment?
These cultural experiences are also important in eating disorder treatment, as the cultural perceptions of the body, food, and the relationship one has with both are influenced by culture.
How many cross-cultural studies have been published into eating disorders?
This bibliometric study analyses the profile of cross-cultural studies into eating disorders published from 1970 through to 2011. 1,417 articles were indexed by Medline and PsychInfo from 1970 to 2011. There has been an exponential increase in publications in this field. Four articles were published in 1970–74 and this increased to 427 in 2004–9.
Are eating disorders Western culture-bound syndromes?
As more patients from such backgrounds present for treatment, more research is needed to provide culturally appropriate and acceptable care. Eating disorders were previously thought to be “Western culture-bound syndromes”, with non-Western individuals being considered immune.
Are eating disorders associated with ethnic groups in America?
Cultural beliefs that may have protected ethnic groups against eating disorders may be eroding as adolescents acculturate to mainstream American culture (Pumariega, 1986). The notion that eating disorders are associated with upper socioeconomic status (SES) also has been challenged.