When you think of eating disorders, the popular notion is to think of anorexia, or bulimia. Binge eating often is overlooked, but it has caused more problems than people think. According to the article 10% of the obese population have BED (binge eating disorder).
BED is an emotion regulation strategy which uses food as a way to manage stress and regulate emotion. Body image issues which are disturbed body image is number one contributor to eating disorder. BED is an eating disorder, though not as widely associated with body image issues.
The study conducted showed that treatment of BED does very little to change a person’s weight has a smaller effect than changing person’s body image issues. They found that the same cognitive-affective components of body image to be the same in BED patients as those affected with bulimia and anorexia. BED is associated with h (a) higher body dissatisfaction
(cognitive-affective component) as well as (b) a greater distortion in the perception of one’s own body dimensions (perceptual component) in relation to
both static and dynamic aspects of body image and (c) stronger body-related avoidance behaviors in obese women.
This article proposes that instead of treating the eating disorder, it would be more useful to treat the cause of the eating disorder, body issues. My problem with this article is the proposed solution. How does a person treat body image issues? Furthermore, what constitutes a body image issue? Is it as simple as not liking a part of your body? A “disturbed body image” is a very vague description. I would posit that it is impossible to treat body image issues, simply because they are inevitable. I cannot imagine a world where every female is completely satisfied with her body. So rather than treating the insecurity, wouldn’t it be more useful to give tools in dealing with insecurities?
The problem is the way people deal with their insecurities. The body image issues will always be there. For everyone. The real problem is the destructive ways in which people deal with their insecurities, whether it is over-controlling their food intake, or avoiding their body image issues by overeating. There needs to be an emphasis on ways to manage this issue rather than “curing” women (or men) or their distorted views.
The study conducted showed that treatment of BED does very little to change a person’s weight has a smaller effect than changing person’s body image issues. They found that the same cognitive-affective components of body image to be the same in BED patients as those affected with bulimia and anorexia. BED is associated with h (a) higher body dissatisfaction
(cognitive-affective component) as well as (b) a greater distortion in the perception of one’s own body dimensions (perceptual component) in relation to
both static and dynamic aspects of body image and (c) stronger body-related avoidance behaviors in obese women.
This article proposes that instead of treating the eating disorder, it would be more useful to treat the cause of the eating disorder, body issues. My problem with this article is the proposed solution. How does a person treat body image issues? Furthermore, what constitutes a body image issue? Is it as simple as not liking a part of your body? A “disturbed body image” is a very vague description. I would posit that it is impossible to treat body image issues, simply because they are inevitable. I cannot imagine a world where every female is completely satisfied with her body. So rather than treating the insecurity, wouldn’t it be more useful to give tools in dealing with insecurities?
The problem is the way people deal with their insecurities. The body image issues will always be there. For everyone. The real problem is the destructive ways in which people deal with their insecurities, whether it is over-controlling their food intake, or avoiding their body image issues by overeating. There needs to be an emphasis on ways to manage this issue rather than “curing” women (or men) or their distorted views.
by Myanh Ta
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