Disasterous Disorders
Americans obsessions with their bodies has become a hot topic lately. From
personal observation and research, I have seen the obsession become more severe. Web
sites dealing with eating disorders are some of the most commonly visited web sites. We
have a problem. The obsessions are becoming too serious, even fatal. Americans today
have become slaves to the diet and fitness industries, resulting in an increased number of
eating disorder cases over the past few years. If Americans are not educated about the
complicated causes and effects of eating disorders then the plague of the 90’s, eating
disorders, is going to continue to kill. The following paragraphs are a start to the
education. They deal with some of the causes but more important some solutions to
eating disorders.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "obsessions are recurring or persistent
thoughts, images, or impulses that, rather than being voluntarily produced, seem to
invade a person's consciousness despite his attempts to ignore, suppress, or control them
(Britannica 1). American's today deal with these thoughts about food, body image,
imperfections, goals, flaws and how to deal with these. The thoughts are obsessive but
they are real and at times, very intense. Sometimes the only way to cope with them, is to
take drastic measures in ones behavior.
Obviously the rise in eating disorders and other obsessive illnesses have been
addressed but why they develop and solutions to stopping them are still a hushed topic.
Educating society about the causes and serious effects of Americas fatal obsessions is the
purpose of this article and hopefully by reading it one will be more aware. Increasing the
knowledge of women and other Americans struggling with the ideas, thoughts and
powerful emotions of negative body image may make them more aware of the traps of
eating disorders they may fall into. By being aware they may be able to conquer the
destroying demons inside of them.
We are constantly reminded of our imperfections through modern propaganda and
this may be a factor in the negative thoughts one may have but how much can one blame
on magazines, billboards and television for problems created with-in our own minds?
Some psychologists believe that repeated exposure to images of thin women in
magazines, TV and the movies is directly linked to the rise in the number of eating
disorders in the US (Shape Magazine, 1995).
Many doctors who treat patients with eating disorders are convinced that these
disorders could be eliminated if "society placed less emphasis on weight, diets and
thinness (Jenish 4). "Eliminated" is a strong and very powerful word. Can society really
be responsible for creating or powerful enough to eliminate eating disorders? Although
the media and society have a great impact on individuals, the trend of weight obsession
and eating disorders is much more complicated than the pressures from society
A current issue that proves society is not the main cause of eating disorders is that
of Miss Universe 1996. After winning the title of "Miss Universe 1996", the crowned
beauty went from 130 pounds at 6 feet tall to 150+ pounds. The media jumped all over
her and claimed she was fat and needed to loose weight. For a 6 foot woman, 150 or
even 170 pounds is by no means fat, yet the media attacked her and her slight weight gain
as if it was a murder. Miss Universe did not fall into societies trap. She fought back and
condemned the media for displaying her as some kind of freak. She did not resort to
losing the weight quick by common eating disorders.
An impressionable 14 year old named Christie was generally happy. She had
friends, a family that loved and supported her, and a great physically fit body due to years
of competitive swimming. In the first years of high school Christie took up modeling. At
first she just learned the basics, how to apply make up, what to wear, how to walk and of
course, etiquette. As she got more serious about modeling, she began to learn how to
look and exactly how to achieve that desired look. Ten years later, Christie is fighting
with the deadly disease of bulimia.
Another more popular woman who fell into this deadly trap is the famous
American pop singer of the seventies, Karen Carpenter. At the time of her death she was
five-foot , four inches and weighed only 108 pounds (Jenish 1). How tragic. These are
just two examples of the effects of weight obsession and they are extreme but there are
many Americans just like Christie and Karen that are still fighting and need help.
In a NEWSWEEK article from 1994, one estimate says that "anorexia (self-
starvation), bulimia (gorging and vomiting), and B.E.D. (binge eating disorder),
characterized by unhappy, uncontrollable eating with-out purging, effect some seven
million American women and one million American men" (Seligmann 1). Other studies
indicate that the incidence of anorexia among girls ages 10 to 19 has increased more than
fivefold since the 1950's (Eckersley 1). Americans are becoming more obsessed with
their bodies and ways to "perfect" them everyday.
In the March 19, 1993 issue of the Jerusalem Post, Nechama Goldman writes an
article titled Fatal Obsession. Tali Weinstein, a private clinical psychologist in
Jerusalem, who is quoted by Goldman says "there are no cultural differences in eating
disorders. It has to do with family dynamics, not with culture" (Goldman Weinstein 1).
Weinstein makes this bold conclusion after 15 years of treating eating disorder both in
Israel and the United States. Okay, so society and culture don't really cause eating
disorders. Then what does?
The goals about weight or body perfection most Americans set for themselves are
virtually unattainable and the constant failure of not attaining their goals is leading
hopelessly obsessed Americans into the depths of despair which could include eating
disorders. Most individuals put enormous pressure on themselves to meet the health
standards set by doctors, for example, weight charts. These are charts to help one get an
idea of healthy height and weight averages, not the bible of weight standards. In fact,
Patricia Long the author of The Great Weight Debate says, "some 85 percent of middle-
aged American women and some 70 percent of middle-aged American men are big
enough to fall outside of the table's upper limits" (Long 1). So what can be done about
this?
Tables have finally been revised. The new tables, published in 1990, have
adjusted the weights according to the DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS.
The tables have a wider range of weights both on the lower and upper ends (Long 2).
Finally most Americans will fit in the average range rather that the heavy range.
Americans don't have to take extremes to fit in the previous unattainable tables ranges.
Control is a power desired by almost everyone. By being in control of their
bodies, Americans feel a desired control over their lives. What they don't know is that
the obsession is controlling them. Weight obsession and eating disorders have enslaved
Americans with diet chains and mental handcuffs. Although there are many cases of
eating disorders for weight loss, there are just as many for obesity, another classified
eating disorder. Many Americans turn to food as a way to cope with the pressures of
perfection and according to some scientists, "many use food to help themselves deal with
emotional problems such as depression, anxiety or low self-esteem" (Gionta 3). What
Americans decide to do with the food once it is inside of them is what has become
classified as eating disorders.
Too many people have traveled and continue to travel the disastrous roads that
Christie and Carpenter traveled. It is sad to see so many people unhappy with themselves
yet it is even worse to see the lack of education to prevent such serious tragedies. Of
course there are always going to be cases of eating disorders and the problem can't just
be solved with one method but something needs to be done.
Psychological issues, personality traits, and learned behavior all contribute to
eating disorders. Some people may also have biochemical imbalances that make them
prone to these diseases. The first step to fighting eating disorders is to determine weather
or not you have a problem by evaluating your behavior about food and self-image. If a
eating disorder personality trait is apparent in your behavior, it may be time to make
some changes. The first thing on the road to recovery is emotional strength.
This can come from a variety of sources but the best would probably be from a
licensed psychologist or counselor. By talking about personal traits, activities, or eating
habits, one may be able to determine what triggers the disorder. A counselor may also be
able to educate clients about the effects of eating disorders. Malnutrition, electrolyte
imbalances, dehydration, irregularities in heartbeat, fatigue, fainting, seizures and even
death are some of the consequences of common eating disorders (Cotton 140).
Psych Net, a frequently visited web site dealing with the issues of eating
disorders, claims there are literally hundreds of thousands of people who use food as a
barrier or defense against having to experience long repressed feelings. Any form of an
eating disorder is a red flag that there is something deeper, on a feeling level, that needs
to be addressed. The disorder itself is not the problem, but merely a symptom" (Psych
Net 4). The Internet is a great place to learn about and research eating disorders as well
as find places to help and people to contact if one struggles with an eating disorder
themselves. The web address for psych net is http://pw1.netcom.com/~two2busy/eat-
1.html and it is a resourceful reference site to visit if one was interested about the facts of
eating disorders.
Many people believe that eating disorders are just about food. They think that all
they have to do is get control of what they eat or stop eating they way they do. It is scary,
but eating disorders are so much deeper than that. No matter how often one attempts to
change their eating habits, diet or stop the compulsion to eat, they will fall short of their
goals until the stop focusing on the food and start dealing with the pain and emotional
aspects (Psych Net 4).
Education is the key to helping prevent eating disorders. Marla Shalom is a social
worker in a high school known for problematic students. She observes the topics they
were trained to deal with. Eating disorders were not included. Shalom says "we were
told about body awareness and to teach students that their bodies are not sex symbols.
We were also told about drugs, but not about anorexia" (Goldman 1). Americans need to
be educated about these disorders in order to prevent them.
Windsor-Essex Bulimia/Anorexia Association is an organization which publishes
a quarterly newsletter that is mailed to 3,500 subscribers (Jenish 3). The resources are
available to educate about eating disorders, they are just not advertised and publicized
enough. Most colleges and all universities have health centers where counseling services
are provided for students use. What most students don't know is that these centers can
help with eating disorders as well. Many campuses have help groups or seminars to
educate young students about the causes and especially the effects of eating disorders.
All one has to do is contact the Student Health department and ask about the programs
and counseling available that deal with eating disorders.
Sometimes it is too late and hospitalization is the only solution for bulimics or
anorexics. The goal of society needs to be education about the serious effects of these
illnesses before they happen. So in other words, the education needs to begin in grade
schools when exercise and eating habits are learned. Physical education and health
courses provided in elementary schools are not doing their job. Although some may say
its not the schools systems responsibility to prevent eating disorders, it is their
responsibility to teach children the importance and benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
If schools would incorporate serious health issues in their curriculum, young
students would be required to learn about the effects of choices they may make in the
future. These courses don't have to deal with just eating disorders or American's
obsession with weight, but they could incorporate the importance of abstinence, not
smoking and the effects of drinking. If the younger generation is taught about these
serious issues then they may not be so many people like Christie is this country.
Education about eating disorders is occurring everywhere, from the Internet to
schools to television programs. Some of the programs on T.V. are very effective but are
they enough. At the end of the programs there is usually a follow up on what happened
to the victim but there is never a hot line number to call if one suffers from an eating
disorder. It would probably be very effective to begin providing a hot line number. After
most programs about eating disorders, one is very touched and emotionally effected.
Therefore, emotions can be expressed while they are still very intense. Americans have a
problem and it is destroying too many young people. We need to educate now and stop
the disastrous disorders.
Bibliography
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