Body Image

(From Body Wars: Making Peace with Women’s Bodies,
by Margo Maine, Ph.D., Gürze Books, 2000)

· 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner
· 45% of boys and girls in grades 3-6 want to be thinner
· 37% have already dieted
· 6.9% score in the ED range
· 51% of 9-10 year old girls feel better about selves when dieting
· 9% of 9 year old have vomited to lose weight
· 81% of 10 year old are afraid of being fat
· 53% of 13 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies
· 78% of 18 year old girls are unhappy with their bodies
· The #1 wish of girls 11-17 years old is to lose weight

(Taken from: http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/
reports/statistics.html)

From Susan Ice, M.D., Medical Director, The Renfrew Center
· Millions of Americans diagnosed annually
· 90% + are adolescent and young women
· Highest mortality rate of any mental illness -- up to 20%

Eating Disorders: Lifetime Prevalence

· 0.5-3.7% of females suffer from anorexia nervosa
· 1.1-4.2% of females suffer from bulimia nervosa
· 2-5% of males and females suffer from binge eating disorder
· 4.5% females, 0.4% males report bulimia in first year of college Source: APA Work Group on Eating Disorders, 2000

Eating Disorders: Prevalence

· 0.5-1% of adolescents have anorexia nervosa
· 2-3% of adolescents have bulimia nervosa

Eating Disorders: Incidence

· Doubled since 1960s
· Increasing in younger age groups, as young as 7 years
· Occurring increasingly in diverse ethnic and sociocultural groups
· 40-60% of high school girls diet
· 13% of high school girls purge
· 30-40% of junior high girls worry about weight
· 40% of 9-year-old girls have dieted
· 5-year-old girls are concerned about diet
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa - Characteristics

· Emaciated look
· Physically active
· Profound weight loss
· Loss of menses
· Body image distortion
· Fear of weight gain

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa - Medical Complications

· General Health
· Cardiovascular compromise
· Osteoporosis
· Metabolic slowdown
· Multiple organ compromise
· Suicide
· In adolescence
· Growth retardation
· Pubertal delay
· Peak bone mass reduction

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa - Medical Complications of Treatment

· Potential negative body response to food and nutritional supplements
· “Refeeding” could cause medical crises:
· cardiac failure
· electrolyte disturbances

Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa - Characteristics

· Individual “looks normal”
· Bingeing and purging behaviors
· Individual overly concerned about her body
· Secretive

Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa - Medical Complications

· Dehydration
· Heart problems
· Electrolyte disturbances
· Gastrointestinal problems

Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa - Associated Psychiatric Disorders

· Addictions
· Personality disorders
· Depression
· Manic-depression
· Post-traumatic reactions

Eating Disorders: Binge Eating - Characteristics

· More prevalent: ½ of all clients of diet clinics
· Represented across all ages
· Equally represented between sexes
· Associated with problems of obesity
· Cardiovascular
· Diabetes
· Musculoskeletal
· Infectious diseases

Eating Disorders: Risk Factors

· Genetic
· Temperamental
· Familial
· Peer group
· Sociocultural forces promote ideal body image as thin
· Fashion industry
· Media
· Entertainment

Eating Disorders: Treatment

· Early detection and intervention necessary
· Treatment must be as complex as the illness
· Nutritional
· Medical
· Psychiatric
· Psychotherapy with patient, family
· Varied levels of care

Eating Disorders: Recovery

· 1/3 recover after initial episode
· 1/3 fluctuate with recovery and relapse
· 1/3 suffer chronic deterioration
· Multiple re-hospitalizations
· Marginal members of society
· Minimal work capacity
· Limited social relationships

Eating Disorders: Congress’ Role

Authorize funding for and access to comprehensive treatment

· Adopt APA guidelines for medical necessity for eating disorders
· Guarantee patient’s right to privately pay
· End exclusion of eating disorders from mental health insurance policies
· Pass mental health parity legislation

Authorize funding for continued research

· Risk factors
· Treatment outcome studies
· Prevention strategies

Authorize funding for education

· Increase public awareness of signs, symptoms, treatment, long-term consequences
· Improve access to competent providers
· Develop programs for the training of professionals in treating eating disorders

Eating Disorders: The Future

It’s up to each of us.

> REGISTER TO ATTEND
   THE TUNNEL

MORE INFORMATION:

> SEXUAL VIOLENCE

> MENTAL HEALTH/
   SUICIDE

> DISABILITIES

> CLASS/
   HOMELESSNESS

> GLOBALIZATION/
   HUMAN RIGHTS

> BODY IMAGE