Eating Disorders and Obesity

Eating disorders and obesity make up two of the most frequently battled clinical disorders and have morbidity and mortality rates that are currently among the highest of any psychological or health-related conditions. Although eating disorders and obesity are often seen as two different issues, they actually share many connections. Eating disorders, obesity, and other weight-related disorders can overlap as individuals move from unhealthy dieting to obesity. It [Page 210]is not uncommon for an individual with eating issues to suffer from more than one eating disorder and/or to flip from one to another in varying degrees of severity. An individual can move from anorexia to bulimia to binge-eating disorder. People suffering from binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. Research suggests unhealthy dieting rituals as a result of the media's role along with outside influences may be contributing to eating disorders and obesity. People suffering from eating disorders may show signs of body image distortion or body dysmorphic disorder.

Body Image Dissatisfaction and Unhealthy Dieting Practices

Body image dissatisfaction and unhealthy dieting practices may be at the helm of the development of eating disorders and obesity. It is suggested through some historical and cultural evidence that social and cultural contexts are contributors to risk for eating disorders as a result of the cultural valuation of thinness internalized in some individuals. In some vulnerable individuals, this thin internalized ideal leads to body weight dissatisfaction, and potentially, the development of full fledge eating disorders. Investigators posit many eating and weight issues start with individuals who are unhappy with their bodies and turn to unhealthy weight-loss strategies such as smoking cigarettes, using nonprescription drugs, skipping meals, fasting, and other dysfunctional rituals.

Body image disorder and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) may play a role in eating disorders. Body image is defined as an internal view of one's own appearance. Overestimating certain parts of the body such as the waist or thighs when compared to unbiased measurements is often used as a tool to indicate body image disturbance such as dislike, disparaged, or unacceptable. As related to eating disorders, disordered image abnormality is one of the essential diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. There is often an over concern with weight or body shape. Although the criteria for people suffering from binge-eating disorder do not include the criteria of abnormality of body image, symptoms of significant negative body image are present.

BDD is similar to body image disorder; however, it is an extreme dislike, disparaged, or unacceptable body image. The individual is obsessively focused on the disliked body feature. This focus interferes with everyday function of life. Certainly, the general population wishes to change some part of their body, but to those suffering from BDD, their body is unspeakably hideous, yet to onlookers, it is considered normal. It is difficult to interact with others or to function normally due to a tremendous fear of ridicule and humiliation as a result of their appearance. Throughout the day every day, both body image disorder and BDD people invest continuous thoughts about their body, compulsive mirror checking or mirror avoidance, while asking others for assurance.

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