Heather Strong and John Byl

chapter

3

Examining Body Image and Eating Disorders in Women and Men

Life Experiences

• What are the main threads in the stories?– Heather—a woman’s experience– Tom—a man’s experience

Introduction to Dieting, Weight Preoccupation, and Body Image

• Weight preoccupation—dramatically increased in last 25 years– Diet

• USA– 50 billion dollars a year on dieting

– 50% of 9-10 year old girls claim they would feel better if they lost some weight

– Is self-wroth dependent on body size?

– Do people not come in different sizes?

• A way of taking back control of their lives?

(Continued)

Introduction (continued)

• Dieting and weight loss facts– Restrictive dieters will lose weight– Lost weight makes us feel better—in control– Eventually a weight plateau is reached– Dieters then feel robbed and will be malnourished—causes

mood swings and desire to binge– Diet fails and weight regained—dieter feels even more of a

failure– Metabolic rate slowed down and weight increases more– Eating disorders and poorer health result

(continued)

Introduction (continued)

• Body Image– Defined

• A multidimensional construct• A picture people have in their mind of their own body

– All people have a body image (for some it matters not enough for some it matters too much)

– Can lead to positive or negative life views

Causes of Body Image Concerns for Both Men and Women

• Puberty– Bodies develop and young people are uncomfortable

with the development and associated weight gain

• Peer Pressure– Social groups, especially for girls, often have similar

body image concerns

How to Deal With a Negative Body Image

• Homme’s Turning Points– Accept that bodies come in a variety of shapes and

sizes• Have a more eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 Peter

3:3-4)• Appreciate created uniqueness

– During weight gain periods appreciate the fun of increased physical activity (Puberty, more sedentary work, lowered metabolic rate)

– Know yourself– How do you define beauty for yourself and others?

What are Eating Disorders?

• A key feature is extreme body dissatisfaction• USA statistics for people affected with an eating

disorder– 5-10 million girls and women– 1 million boys and men

• Types—classified in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders– Anorexia Nervosa (AN)– Bulimia Nervosa (BN)– Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)

(continued)

Anorexia Nervosa

• Characterized by:– Refusal to maintain a minimal body weight– An intense fear of gaining weight– Significant disturbance in perception of body shape or size– In females, no menstrual period

• Warning signs– Dramatic weight loss– Preoccupation with weight and food– Refusal to eat certain foods– Anxiety about being fat and attending mealtimes

Bulimia Nervosa

• Characterized by:– Repeated episodes of binge eating followed by

behaviors designed to eliminate food from the body.

• Warning signs:– Eating (or the disappearance) of large amounts of

food– Purging behaviors (making frequent trips to the

bathroom after meals)– Excessively rigid exercise regimens

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified

• Binge-eating Disorder– Characterized by frequent episodes of uncontrolled

overeating– Warning signs

• Eating frequently in large quantities• Feeling out of control and unable to stop eating• Feeling uncomfortably full after eating• Feeling guilty and ashamed of binge eating

(continued)

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (continued)

• Compulsive Exercising (Anorexia Athletica)– Characterized by a misguided attempt to gain a sense

of power, control and self-respect through compulsive exercise

– Warning signs• Exercising beyond requirements for good health

• Fanatical obsession about weight

• Miss work and school and withdraws from relationships to exercise

• Rarely satisfied with athletic achievement(continued)

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (continued)

• Female Athlete Triad Syndrome– Affects 15-62% of female college athletes– A combination of:

• Disordered Eating• Amenorrhea--absence of two menses in a row• Osteoporosis—loss of bone mineral density (can lead to

increased fractures and bone loss is often irreversible)

(continued)

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (continued)

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder– Characterized by:

• Preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance that causes impairment in functioning

– Warnings signs:• Frequent comparison with others• Repeated checking of specific body parts in mirror• Wearing excessive clothing to camouflage perceived flaw

(continued)

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (continued)

• Muscle Dysmorphia– Characterized by a preoccupation of the idea that

one is insufficiently lean or muscular– Warning signs:

• Constant need for affirmation over physical attributes• Compulsive weight lifting or body building routines• May take steroids of other muscle-building drugs to get

bigger.

Determining Who is at Risk

• Risk factors contributing to Anorexia Nervosa– Mean age is 17– Perfectionist– Low self-esteem– Preoccupation with thinness– Dieter– Over-concern for body weight and appearance– Participation in sports that emphasize thinness—

figure skating, gymnastics, rowing…

(continued)

Determining Who is at Risk (continued)

• Risk factors contributing to Bulimia Nervosa– Unsuccessful dieters– Strong need for social approval– Conflict avoidance– Inability to identify and assert personal needs– Inadequate coping skills– High distress levels– Parental over protectiveness

(continued)

Determining Who is at Risk (continued)

• Risk factors contributing to Binge Eating Disorder– Harmful dieting practices such as avoidance of certain foods or

restricting food intake to a low amount– Low self-esteem– Problems with assertiveness– Perfectionism– High anxiety levels– All-or-nothing thinking

(continued)

Determining Who is at Risk (continued)

• Risk factors contributing to Female Athlete Triad– Dieting at an early age– Unsupervised dieting– Reaching menarche too soon emotionally– Choosing a sport to participate in before body

matures and sport incompatible with body type

How Prevalent are Eating Disorders?

• Numbers:– 10% of females– 1% of males—but a number that is climbing

• Who:– Typical onset between ages of 13-18– Average age is 17– Post-secondary students as a way of dealing with

stress and image– No difference between Christian and non-Christian

post-secondary institutions

What Causes Eating Disorders?

• Socio-cultural influences (Moriarty)– North American culture values thinness– Glorification of youth– Changing roles of women and men in society– A fitness crazed culture– Media

• Look at more TV and look at more fashion magazines = more inclination to eating disorder (continued)

What Causes Eating Disorders? (continued)

• Media– Actors on TV where 32% were underweight and 5%

overweight = society where 5% are underweight and 25% are larger.

– Exposure to thin media images = greater body dissatisfaction in women

– Male images demonstrate V chest and show bare chest = vulnerable males (who are more prone to visual) become more depressed when viewing these images

– Dove challenging media by using “real women” in their ads

(continued)

What Causes Eating Disorders? (continued)

• Psychological influences– Depression

• 30-50% of eating disorder sufferers• Counseling and medications can help

– Perfectionism• Setting high and unrealistic expectations• 74% of folks with eating disorders spend three hours a day

on obsessional food and weight thoughts; 42% spend eight hours per day on these thoughts—no surprise that these folks struggle to get work done

– Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction feed each other. (continued)

What Causes Eating Disorders? (continued)

• Biological influences– Higher risk in families where someone suffers from

an eating disorder• Family influences

– Genetics

– Praising thinness

– Or overly-protective or overly critical and intimidating

– Models modeling weight concerns

– Mothers with an eating disorder often feed children irregularly, use food as a reward and punishment, and express concern about their daughter’s weight.

Differences Between Men and Women

• Differences– Women want thinness and Men want leanness or

muscle– Men prefer a women heavier than women find

attractive, and women prefer a man less muscular than a man finds attractive

• Similarities– Both genders try and control out of control feelings

through the control of food and their bodies– Both try to find acceptance through their body

What God Wants us to Believe and Why

• God created people very good (Genesis 1:26)

• God wishes for a truth that sets people free (John 8:32)—do not be deceived otherwise (1 Corinthians 11:3-4) and become imprisoned (Titus 3:3)

• God is love (1 John 3:2)• Our bodies are God’s temples (1

Corinthians 3:16)

Recovery From an Eating Disorder

• A long-term custom tailored process begun by an evaluation by a physician or trained counselor

• Process involves at least:– Maintaining a near normal weight– Return of menstrual periods– Eating a well-balanced diet with variety of foods– Reducing irrational fears about some foods– Help dealing with emotions

• A spiritual quest (continued)

Recovery From an Eating Disorder (continued)

• Treatment options for eating disorders include:– Hospitalization– Medications– Dental work– Individual and family and peer counseling– Nutrition counseling– Connecting with support groups