75% Denial

People are bombarded with information that their best will not do. Not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not tall, strong, six pack abs, sharply backside, feet too big or too small. More children are being hit with this false information at a young and suggestible age. Eating disorders have a higher chance of developing in any population because of media access is instant and at our fingertips. “Apprehension, hysterical strokes, memory loss, low blood pressure, heart failure, heart arrhythmia or even perpetual changes in the temporal lobe of the brain, have been causes from eating disorders” (Ileş 2012,p. 2). This disorder affects all financial classes, age, gender, and geographic areas. A person in the rural and poverty area or a child receiving pressure from family to do better, are at risk of developing this disorder. An eating disorder is linked to antisocial behaviors and negative thought processes. “Statistics show that at the beginning of treatment 75% of the individuals deny their need for help under the assumption that nothing is wrong with their condition” (Ileş 2012,p. 6). The thought process of a person with an eating disorder can become in the way of improving themselves. They may fear of becoming obese if they ate a piece of fruit or bread. Avoiding mirrors as well as constantly checking their reflection to criticize themselves is part of this disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy is helpful for this condition. In an article, enhanced CBT was created in a two-part format with both formats having multi-steps in helping the patient. This formatting “focuses on psychopathology and additional maintaining mechanisms” (Fusland, Byrne, Watson, et. al, 2012, p.321). Anorexia and bulimia patients are vast in their thinking from fear of fatness to a strong desire to be thin, that it distorts what is in the mirror and what is the reality. The treatment for these disorders must be diverse as well to help the individuals with this development. Educating the youth of how the media uses computer adjustment and tricks with photography to enhance models they see, should be done. Parents should also be educated in warning signs of developing conditions and should also learn healthy behaviors themselves to become a role model for the kids.

References

Fursland, A., Byrne, S., Watson, H., La Puma, M., Allen, K., & Byrne, S. (2012). Enhanced Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Single Treatment for All Eating Disorders. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90(3), 319–329. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2012.00040.x

Ileş, I. A. (2012). Eating Disorders as a Social Problem. An Impact Analysis on Health Campaign Video. Journal of Media Research, 5(2), 12–32. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ufh&AN=77619878&site=eds-live&scope=site