Extended Inquiry Project

Cultural Perfection

Molly Soden

Professor Malcom Campbell

UWRT-1104

December 1, 2017
 Cultural Perfection

The death of Madison Calloway rocked her entire college campus community. No one

had expected it to happen; especially not there. The campus was small, everyone knew everyone.

You couldnt sneeze without someone knowing. So how was it that no one saw this coming?

Madison, a 20-year-old psychology student, was smart, beautiful, and a part of many

organizations around campus. What no one knew was that after two years she had ultimately lost

her battle to anorexia nervosa. Madisons story seems like a tall tale to many of us; something

that happens to those we dont know, a headline in a newspaper, or a myth. But what we dont

realize is that many of the students around us could be suffering from an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are psychological disorders identified by abnormal or disturbed eating

habits which include inadequate or excessive food consumption. According to the National

Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders are characterized by extreme emotions and

behaviors related to weight and body image. Eating disorders do not discriminate; they can affect

people of all races and socioeconomic groups. They can occur in people of any age but are most

commonly seen in teens and young adults most likely because of the hormones and the changes

the body experiences during puberty. Registered dietician and nutritionist Crystal Karges,

explains new college students are at a high risk for developing eating disorders because of the

stress affiliated with the personal and academic changes they are experiencing.

College students are also experiencing increased peer pressure and are much more

sensitive to criticism compared to adults. There is a lack of support system for new students due

to being away from home. Transitions or changes in life that are associated with emotional stress

can also have an effect leading to increased risk of eating disorders. Students are then suppressed

to the pressure of seeking acceptance and approval from their peers which can later lead to low
self-esteem. Fear of social exclusion can add extra stress on students to be, what society sees as,

perfect. The desire to be perfect takes over and many students become obsessed with

working out and dieting. Food becomes their main priority as they seek to gain control over what

is going into their bodies as well as how much is being consumed. The majority of college

students nowadays could say binge eating, and intense calorie counting are becoming more

common on campuses and are almost considered to be normal..

These disorders effect both the physical and emotional health of their victims. There is no

identifiable cause of an eating disorder, but it is believed that they are caused by a combination

of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. According to the National Eating

Disorders Association, some of the psychological risk factors include low self-esteem, feelings

of inadequacy, perfectionism, competitiveness, and a feeling of the need to please. The thought

that value and beauty is based on thinness and outward beauty is an example of how society can

influence the development of an eating disorder.. The medias portrayal of unrealistic body

shapes is also another thing that can increase the risk of an eating disorder. Life events that

involve major changes can also trigger eating disorders if other risk factors are involved.

The three most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and

binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is a serious disorder in eating behavior primarily of

young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized especially by a pathological

fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight

loss (Merriam-Webster). It is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric diseases among

young women. The physical signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are related to starvation,

but the disorder also includes emotional and behavior issues related to an unrealistic perception

of body weight and an extremely strong fear of gaining weight (Hall-Flavin, 2016). The most
common physical symptom of anorexia nervosa is extreme weigh loss due to inadequate food

intake, but there are many other symptoms many people are not aware of. Some physical

symptoms that are not as well-known include abnormal blood counts, insomnia, bluish

discoloration of fingers, hair that thins or breaks or falls out, absence of menstruation, dry or

yellowish skin, irregular heart rhythms and soft, downy hair covering the body.

The behavioral and emotional symptoms common with anorexia nervosa include a

refusal to eat or lying about what has been consumed, denial of hunger, a lack of emotion, social

withdrawal, irritability, and severely restricted food intake. Lynn Crilly is a loving mother who

became a therapist when one of her daughters was victimized by anorexia nervosa. In her book,

Hope with Eating Disorders, she states anorexia is not an illness of the body; it is an illness of

the mind. She continues by explaining the illness cannot be cured by treating the physical

symptoms alone; it is the mind which must be treated.

Several methods are usually necessary in the recovery process for anorexia nervosa.

Medical providers, mental health providers and dieticians commonly work together to help with

an individuals overall health. Hospitalization may be needed for medical complications,

psychiatric emergencies or severe malnourishment. Specialized eating disorder programs present

a more intensive treatment. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, and

meditation are often used to help treat anxiety associated with anorexia nervosa and increase a

sense of well-being. Recovery is impossible without restoring and maintaining a healthy body

weight and learning proper nutrition. Continuous therapy and nutritional education are crucial for

extended recovery.

Bulimia nervosa is a mental disorder associated with binge eating and then self-induced

vomiting or purging. It is most commonly characterized by the consumption of abnormally large

amounts of food in a short amount of time quickly followed by drastic actions to prevent weight

gain. Bulimia can be broken down into two different subparts. The purging type involves the

use of vomiting, or the use of laxatives or diuretics in an effort to get rid of the calories ingested.

The non-purging type is associated with fasting, strictly dieting, and excessive and extreme

periods of exercising.

Bulimia nervosa really focuses on body shape; it is not just about the food consumption.

The need to purge stems from the desire to rid the body of the calories consumed. Many people

struggling with bulimia tend to eat in secret. It is a constant struggle between wanting to lose

weight and the overwhelming urge to binge eat. Victims often feel out of control during binges

and make efforts to try to rid themselves of these feelings. Because of this, victims of bulimia

nervosa often struggle with impulsive behaviors and/or substance abuse. A few risk factors of

bulimia include poor body image, low self-esteem, stressful life changes, and history of trauma

or abuse. Physical symptoms of bulimia may include enlarged glands in neck or under the

jawline, lacerations in the mouth or throat from repeated vomiting, and chronic dehydration. It

can often lead to infertility. The imbalance of electrolytes in the body due to purging can lead to

cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and in severe cases, even death.

It is important to recognize bulimia early on to and to seek help quickly. Treatment

involves psychotherapy and sometimes antidepressants. Treatment often involves a team

approach including a mental health provider, your primary care doctor, a dietician, the patients

family as well as the patient. Severe cases may require hospitalization; however, bulimia is often

able to be treated out of the hospital. Treatment focuses on breaking the binge cycle and

restoring normal eating behaviors as well as restoring the health of the patient. Binging and

purging may reoccur during high stress levels after recovery.

 Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. today. It is

recognized by episodes of uncontrollably eating large quantities of food in a short amount of

time. Unlike bulimia, victims of binge-eating disorder do not take unhealthy measures in order to

compensate for the food they consumed. People suffering with binge-eating disorder often

experience feelings of shame, distress, or guilt after a binge, but they are unlikely to physically

do anything to purge themselves of these feelings.

Signs of binge-eating disorders may include eating quickly, eating until uncomfortably

full, eating while not hungry, and/or eating alone in secret. People struggling with binge-eating

are often overweight or obese. Risk factors of developing binge-eating disorders include family

history, psychological issues, and dieting. Binge-eating disorder can possibly lead to social

isolation, obesity, and medical implications associated with obesity. It can also be linked to other

mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.

Treatment is used to reduce binges and, if necessary, lose weight. Psychotherapy helps to

address negative feelings and emotions associated with binge-eating disorder and to help regain

control over eating behaviors. Medication and weight-loss programs are implemented in extreme

cases if it will benefit the health of the patient.

Side effects of any eating disorder can be physically or mentally damaging and can

sometimes be deadly. Eating disorders can lead to heart and kidney problems. They are usually

accompanied by another mental disorder such as an anxiety disorder, substance abuse or

depression. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest suicide rates among mental health disorders.

Someone struggling with an eating disorder is also very likely to develop symptoms of another

eating disorder further into their disease. It is also likely that a patient will relapse with either the

same eating disorder or another in their lifetime.

 After Madisons death, many people wondered whether it could have been prevented.

The earlier an eating disorder is identified and treated, the better the chance of recovery.

Treatment for eating disorders includes medical care, nutritional guidance, therapy, and

sometimes medications. Treatment plans vary by person and disease; however, in any case,

recognizing an eating disorder in the early stages and seeking treatment is very important.

Because of the pressures college students are succumbed to it is important that they understand

what an eating disorder is, are able to recognize warning signs and understand how serious they

are. Knowing and understanding these things can mean the difference between life or death.
 Works Cited

"About Bulimia: Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Articles For Treatment Help." Eating Disorder

Hope. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

Eating Disorders Among College Students. Walden Center. N.p.,n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017

Karges, Crystal , and Jacquelyn Ekern. Eating disorders can be triggered by beginning college.

Eating Disorder Hope. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2017.

Crilly, Lynn. Hope with eating disorders: a self-Help guide for parents, carers and friends of

sufferers. Hay House, 2012.

Mayo Clinic Staff Print. "Treatment." Mayo Clinic. N.p., 29 Jan. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

"Overview and Statistics." National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

Risk Factors. National Eating Disorders Association, N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2017.

"Types & Symptoms of Eating Disorders." National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d.

Web. 06 Apr. 2017.What are Eating Disorders? National Eating Disorders Association,

N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2017.