Psychology
September 2011
Half of all girls with normal weight consider themselves as too fat. One out of five teenagers in Germany shows symptoms of an eating disorder. But what exactly are eating disorders? Why do anorexia and bulimia mostly occur among girls, and why during puberty? Which causes are underlying and how can the psychological factor be evaluated in the framing concept of etiology? Anorexics starve off pound after pound, while bulimics try to undo their eating binges with vomiting or other regulatory measures – it appears that they would pay any price to meet the ideal of the attractive, thin woman, including mistreating their body and ignoring the physical and psychological impacts. As if this was not enough, many affected people also suffer from comorbid diseases such as depression, personality disorders or obsessive/compulsive disorders – among others. When searching for causes, a lot of different factors surface. The etiology model is based on biological, familial, socio/cultural and psychological pillars. When comparing anorexia and bulimia, some consonances are diagnosed, but also many differences. Great discipline, control, a need for harmony, fear and introversion are typically found among people with anorexia nervosa, while bulimics are often less controlled and enduring, more impulsive, emotional, short/tempered and extroverted, as well as not being afraid of their own sexuality. When a certain genetic predisposition is given, the psyche can suffer when exposed to certain external stimuli. Bio/psycho/social models are increasingly being consulted as a means of explanation for psychological illnesses. This book gives a comprehensive overview of the complex issue, while also containing a selection of therapeutic approaches and methods of prevention to help sufferers find the courage to conquer their illness.
