Eating disorders can have an effect on an individual's social, cognitive, and physical development.
Social Development
Research has shown that the influence of society and culture is putting young females at risk for development an eating disorder. Some social development factors that can influence an eating disorder are social transition (migration and urbanization), peer pressure (social comparison and teasing), and exposure to Western media. British researchers have zeroed in on the combination of two of these factors in the onset of eating disorders: media influences and social comparison. Girls between 14 and 17 years of age were found to show correlation between increased body consciousness and the worshipping of a celebrity whose figure they admired. The media has a strong influence on how adolescent girls view themselves and others. One study has shown that idealized images in the media may negatively affect the body image of young women when they show some signs of vulnerability, such as appearance anxiety or body shame. Exposure to attractive but average weighing models appears to weaken the relationship (Vandereycken, 2006).
Cognitive Development
One of the most important development tasks of adolescence is the establishment of a sense of personal identity and a sense of self-worth. Taking responsibility for one’s self and others, the ability to exhibit self-control over behavior, and the changing on one’s child-parent relationship from one of dependency to one of mutuality are all autonomous functions. The ability to achieve autonomy has been seen as being problematic for individuals suffering from an eating disorder. Individuals with eating disorders have been characterized as being over-protective, over concerned, and over ambitious. Because of this, they cannot achieve psychological growth in the areas of self-expression and autonomy. The development of an eating disorder among adolescents displaying these cognitive deficits can be seen as being a type of maladaptive coping response to the need to self-control and autonomy. As a result, individuals with an eating disorder see out a method to establish independence through self-control, such as the rigid dietary practices observed in restrictive anorexics or the impulsive behaviors of bulimics. Furthermore, patients with eating disorders have reported that they feel depressed after binging because they have lost their sense of control. Vomiting and purging behaviors experienced after a binge episode may be an attempt for the patients to decrease anxiety and regain control. It may be plausible that disordered eating patterns can serve as a coping mechanism as a means to attain a sense of autonomy and internal control. Furthermore, individuals with eating disorders display perfectionistic attitudes, another indication of the rigid strategies that are used to maintain a sense of control (Lena,Fiocco, Leyenaar, 2004).
Physical Development
According to a Canadian survey, approximately one in three girls ages 10 to 14 year old have been reported to restrict her food intake. This desire for thinness displayed in young girls can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors at a critical time when good nutrition is necessary for healthy physical development. A psychologist from Kenyon College, Linda Smolak, says that unrealistic expectations about what a body should look like not only lead to bad eating habits, but they’re emotionally damaging as well. “Studies routinely find that about 40% of elementary school girls and 25% of elementary school boys are dissatisfied with their bodies,” she says. These self-conscious children, report frequent feelings of depression, insecurity, and anxiety, just like their adult counterparts with negative body images. These children as also more prone to eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. In order to counter these unrealistic views of young children, it is necessary for parents and teachers to step in. Experts say that it is never too early to monitor information children are exposed to in the media, and to establish realistic and healthy expectations (Morris, 2005).
Social Development
Research has shown that the influence of society and culture is putting young females at risk for development an eating disorder. Some social development factors that can influence an eating disorder are social transition (migration and urbanization), peer pressure (social comparison and teasing), and exposure to Western media. British researchers have zeroed in on the combination of two of these factors in the onset of eating disorders: media influences and social comparison. Girls between 14 and 17 years of age were found to show correlation between increased body consciousness and the worshipping of a celebrity whose figure they admired. The media has a strong influence on how adolescent girls view themselves and others. One study has shown that idealized images in the media may negatively affect the body image of young women when they show some signs of vulnerability, such as appearance anxiety or body shame. Exposure to attractive but average weighing models appears to weaken the relationship (Vandereycken, 2006).
Cognitive Development
One of the most important development tasks of adolescence is the establishment of a sense of personal identity and a sense of self-worth. Taking responsibility for one’s self and others, the ability to exhibit self-control over behavior, and the changing on one’s child-parent relationship from one of dependency to one of mutuality are all autonomous functions. The ability to achieve autonomy has been seen as being problematic for individuals suffering from an eating disorder. Individuals with eating disorders have been characterized as being over-protective, over concerned, and over ambitious. Because of this, they cannot achieve psychological growth in the areas of self-expression and autonomy. The development of an eating disorder among adolescents displaying these cognitive deficits can be seen as being a type of maladaptive coping response to the need to self-control and autonomy. As a result, individuals with an eating disorder see out a method to establish independence through self-control, such as the rigid dietary practices observed in restrictive anorexics or the impulsive behaviors of bulimics. Furthermore, patients with eating disorders have reported that they feel depressed after binging because they have lost their sense of control. Vomiting and purging behaviors experienced after a binge episode may be an attempt for the patients to decrease anxiety and regain control. It may be plausible that disordered eating patterns can serve as a coping mechanism as a means to attain a sense of autonomy and internal control. Furthermore, individuals with eating disorders display perfectionistic attitudes, another indication of the rigid strategies that are used to maintain a sense of control (Lena,Fiocco, Leyenaar, 2004).
Physical Development
According to a Canadian survey, approximately one in three girls ages 10 to 14 year old have been reported to restrict her food intake. This desire for thinness displayed in young girls can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors at a critical time when good nutrition is necessary for healthy physical development. A psychologist from Kenyon College, Linda Smolak, says that unrealistic expectations about what a body should look like not only lead to bad eating habits, but they’re emotionally damaging as well. “Studies routinely find that about 40% of elementary school girls and 25% of elementary school boys are dissatisfied with their bodies,” she says. These self-conscious children, report frequent feelings of depression, insecurity, and anxiety, just like their adult counterparts with negative body images. These children as also more prone to eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. In order to counter these unrealistic views of young children, it is necessary for parents and teachers to step in. Experts say that it is never too early to monitor information children are exposed to in the media, and to establish realistic and healthy expectations (Morris, 2005).