Discourses in Eating Disorders-Obesity

For a long time, eating disorders have been regarded as a syndrome the reflects on the Western culture, as it creates a situation where the foods consumed in the western countries often places notable emphasis on aspects that include weight, shape, and appearance. However, what is clear is that a majority of the people in western countries fail to understand the impacts that eating disorders are having on their health. One of the critical chronic health issues that have been brought out through eating disorders is obesity. Brownell & Walsh (2017), in a study on obesity in the United States, take note of the fact that a third of the American population is overweight or obese with a significant number of these cases being attributed to eating disorders. Specifically, a considerable amount of persons suffering from obesity show signs and symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa, which is commonly referred to as bulimia, is an eating disorder, which is often characterized by what can be described as binge eating. After engaging in binge eating, the persons often show some kind of compensatory behaviour due to the fear that they have developed concerning gaining weight. However, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that a significant number of Americans find themselves exposed to the risk of obesity through such eating disorders. That serves as a clear indication of the need for having to come up with a structured approach through which to evaluate obesity from the perspective of it being considered as an eating disorder. The evaluation will be of value towards highlighting some of the critical factors that are prompting persons towards such eating disorders contributing to the chronic condition.

The Issue 

The issue that has been considered as part of this report is eating disorders with the specific focus being on obesity as an outcome of these disorders. Obesity is a term that is used when describing higher body weight, which is often calculated by determining one’s BMI. Obesity is considered as one of the leading causes of preventable deaths around the world, as it serves as a risk factor for exposure to a wide array of cardio-metabolic illnesses ranging from high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, research on obesity has also sought to highlight an existing link between cases of obesity and poor mental health, taking into account that those considered as being obese often face a high degree of stigma and discrimination. It is from this perspective that obesity is considered as an issue of great concern in public health.

Obesity is considered as a result of eating disorders, as approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with obesity have a disordered eating pattern. In other words, this means that one in every five persons diagnosed with obesity shows signs and symptoms associated with one or more eating disorders. Some of the common eating disorders that have been considered as risk factors for the occurrence of obesity include bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Leme et al. (2018) indicate that persons with BN and BED are three times as likely to suffer from obesity, taking into consideration their disordered eating habits that contribute to weight gain. Consequently, this creates the need for having to come up with a comprehensive understanding of how eating disorders have served as contributing factors to the increasing number of cases of obesity.

Why it Warrants the Discussion 

The main reason why obesity, as an eating disorder, warrants the discussion, as has been suggested, it because several key factors have helped towards pushing the population towards the risks of eating disorders. Müller (2016) takes note of the fact that the media has been on the forefront in creating a stereotype that seeks to equate beauty to a specific body type while attempting to highlight that this serves as a contributor to happiness. The outcome that this has had on the society is that it has created the need for the populations to engage in unhealthy eating patterns in a bid to ensuring that they would achieve the body types that have been brought out through the media. Thus, this creates the need for having to engage in a discussion that would help expose the impacts that such stereotypes are having on society.

On the other hand, the issue warrants a discussion because a significant number of people lack knowledge on how they would manage obesity to achieve best possible outcomes. Lack of information on obesity has been noted as a pivotal contributor to the high number of people facing a risk of obesity from a societal perspective. The challenge has been a significant lack of adequate programs set out on public health that would help in the discussion on obesity. That means that the government is failing in its approach towards ensuring that it creates a relevant platform through which to deal with the underlying effects associated with obesity through the provision of pertinent information.

The issue of obesity can also be quantified as being signed with the view that there exists an urgent need for having to highlight the existing relationship between eating disorders and obesity. In this perspective, what is clear is that there is an urgent need to establish a clear front through which to ensure that the community understands the extent to which eating disorders are contributing to obesity. That is one of the critical aspects that has been ignored in the discussion on obesity, as the researchers have failed to highlight it from the perspective of the issue resulting from eating disorders. Consequently, this warrants the need for having to engage in an in-depth discussion that would focus more on wanting to change the overall structure of public health to ensure that it is viewed from this perspective.

Its Significance to Me 

The issue of obesity is significant to me, as some members of my family have been diagnosed with the chronic health issue; thus, highlighting the need for me to engage in a discussion that would be of value towards educating the community. I tend to believe that the lack of proper education on obesity may have been one of the critical factors that led to the exposure of my family members to obesity. I often find myself engaging in research on obesity with the sole intention being towards highlighting how the society has failed us leading to exposure to adverse health behaviours that pave the way for eating disorders, which are likely contributors to obesity. Consequently, this leads me to the conclusion that I ought to work hard in ensuring that engage others in my immediate social environment as a way of ensuring that I can protect future generations from the health risks of obesity.

Literature Review 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been on the forefront towards highlighting obesity as one of the critical health issues affecting the world today. The organization has indicated that approximately 38.5% of the population, in the world, can be considered as being overweight or obese, which serves as a clear indication of the health risk that it poses. McClelland, Dalton, Kekic, Bartholdy, Campbell, & Schmidt (2016) engage in a discussion focused on trying to get a clear understanding of what contributes to obesity point to the media as one of the critical risk factors. The media has been noted to create a negative stereotype concerning the different body types leading to the negative perception that one is expected to have a specific body type to be accepted and happy.

Gutiérrez-Maldonado, Wiederhold, & Riva (2016) indicate that the stereotype created through the media has led to a situation where a majority of the people often find themselves engaging in unhealthy eating as a way of ensuring that they achieve the set body types. Wilksch et al. (2015) agree with the position that has been presented suggesting that a significant percentage of those considered as being obese suffering from a wide array of eating disorders. The challenge in dealing with eating disorders is that they are often characterized by instances where a majority of those engaging in these habits lack an understanding of their impacts. That paves the way for a high possibility, an increased number of persons being exposed to the risk of obesity as an outcome of the disordered eating patterns that have been adopted.

Perpiñá, Segura, & Sánchez-Reales (2017) take note of the fact that a majority of those considered as being obese find themselves experiencing significant challenges in terms of being exposed to stigma and discrimination. The shame and bias surrounding the issue of obesity is driven by the fact that a majority of the obese persons are blamed their health condition. Murakami, Essayli, & Latner (2016) go-ahead to suggest that a majority of these persons often find themselves being exposed to a high possibility of eating disorders in their bid to dealing with obesity as a health issue. It is a common occurrence to see some of these persons taking unhealthy approaches that would allow them to improve on their bodily appearance with the sole focus being towards ensuring that they are accepted. Some of these steps range from extremely low-calorie intake to cutting out healthy needed grains and fat, which are foods that nourish the brain.

Eating Disorders as a Woman’s Disease 

Eichen, Matheson, Appleton-Knapp, & Boutelle (2017) reflect on the fact that one of most significant challenges that have contributed to the issue at hand has been the negative perception held on eating disorders, as they are often described as a woman's disease. The consideration of eating disorders as a woman's disease creates a situation where the overall nature of response towards these disorders is not as swift as may be expected. That serves as a critical challenge, especially in seeking to deal with the underlying effects associated with obesity, which is often a characteristic of these eating disorders. Delaney, Eddy, Hartmann, Becker, Murray, & Thomas (2015) indicate that it has become challenging for health professionals to effectively deal with obesity and eating disorders, as these two are separated due to a negative perception on the occurrence of eating disorders.

Rancourt & McCullough (2015) point to the fact that the issue has been on the fact that there is an evident lack of commitment on the part of the different health stakeholders in seeking to ensure that the relationship between eating disorders and obesity are identified. The main reason why eating disorders have been categorized as a woman’s disease is the fact that the highest number of those diagnosed with these disorders are women. Fernandez-Aranda, Steward, Mallorqui-Bague, Agüera, & Jimenez-Murcia (2017) indicate that this fails to account for the fact that a significant number of those suffering from obesity do not report any notable signs or symptoms that would highlight the fact that they are suffering from eating disorders, which is often the case. The impact that this tends to have on the society is that it creates a dissociated approach towards highlighting how eating disorders may relate to obesity; thus, reducing the overall commitment to dealing with these two health issues.

Food and Diet Industry 

The diet industry, which is a multibillion-dollar industry, has been on the forefront towards encouraging people towards taking up healthy food options as a way of improving their health outcomes. Wilksch et al. (2015) indicate the industry stakeholders have been on the forefront towards ensuring that the populations take up healthy foods as a way of reducing their exposure to health risks such as obesity and eating disorders. However, the options provided do not have any notable impacts on the populations, as a significant number of the people often find themselves gaining the weight back. Leme et al. (2018) attribute this to the fact that the weight management alternatives given fail to account for unhealthy eating patterns, which are as a result of eating disorders, contributing to the high possibility of obesity.

Critical Discourses in Literature on that Issue 

The crucial first discourse in the literature reviewed with regard to the health issue in question, obesity, is that there exists a significant link between eating disorders and obesity. A considerable number of researches indicate that eating disorders can serve as a contributor to obesity, as well as, obese persons often take up eating disorders in a bid to improving on their health. From this perspective, what is clear is that the existing link between eating disorders and obesity is substantive reflecting on the fact that it seeks to project obesity from a different perspective. However, the literature points to the fact that the link between these two health issues has not been substantively validated; thus, creating a challenge for health professionals in their bid to finding viable solutions.

The crucial second discourse that has been brought out through the literature has been on the fact that stigma and discrimination for those considered as being obese is the main contributor to an increase in unhealthy eating patterns among this population. It is a common occurrence for persons, regarded as being overweight, to find themselves being exposed to stigma and discrimination. That is often driven by the fact that these persons are blamed for their current health status; thus, creating the need for them to take up measures that would help reduce or minimize their discrimination. Ultimately, this means that most of these persons end up taking eating disorders that only expose them to further health risks while failing to account the fact that they are likely to face serious health risks in future.

The crucial third discourse that has been discussed within the literature is the fact that media, which tend to propagate negative body image stereotypes, has been a contributor to eating disorders, especially among those considered as being obese. The media has helped in highlighting the fact that specific body types lead to acceptance and happiness when compared to others. That has paved the way for a situation where most of the obese persons often find it easier for them to engage in unhealthy eating patterns in a bid to improving their acceptance. The ultimate outcome this tends to have is that it exposes them to eating disorders, which often tend to have serious health risks on the persons involved.

Critique of Literature and Alternative Ways of Examining the Issue 

The main critique that can be presented with regard to the literature is the fact that although they seek to highlight the existing gap with respect to highlighting the relationship between eating disorders and obesity, they fail to provide solutions to reduce the deficit. The literature only seeks to highlight the importance of having to consider obesity from the perspective of eating disorders but does not emphasize how this can be achieved. Ultimately, this fails to account for their effectiveness with regard to ensuring that they are well-positioned to enhance overall efficiency in dealing with both obesity and eating disorders. An alternative way of examining the issue would seek to focus on trying to highlight obesity as it relates to eating disorders. The examination will attempt to highlight how eating disorders contribute to obesity and how obesity contributes to the existence of eating disorders. In overall, that would be of great value in ensuring that the literature remains effective in the presentation of a discourse touching on obesity and eating disorders.

Solutions to Addressing the Issue 

The leading solution that would be of value in addressing the issue, obesity, would be promoting Health at Every Size (HAES). HAES is considered as a hypothesis that reflects on the fact that although body sizes may differ, the central aspect of focus would be seeking to ensure that one is healthy. That means that the initial expectation would be focused on providing that every individual understands what would be expected of him or her in a bid to promoting health. That would help in minimizing situations where obese people face stigma and discrimination from the perspective that they are considered as being unhealthy. The solution will also seek to avoid the idea of using the BMI standard as a determinant of one’s health, as this only seeks to create a challenge for those that do not meet the expected BMI levels.

Conclusion 

For a long time, eating disorders have been regarded as a syndrome the reflects on the Western culture, as it places notable emphasis on aspects that include weight, shape, and appearance. The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that a significant number of Americans find themselves exposed to the risk of obesity through such eating disorders. Obesity is a term that is used when describing higher body weight, which is often calculated by determining one’s BMI. Obesity is considered as a result of eating disorders, as approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with obesity have a disordered eating pattern. The issue of obesity is significant to me, as some members of my family have been diagnosed with the chronic health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been on the forefront towards highlighting obesity as one of the critical health issues affecting the world today, as it approximates that 38.5% of the population in the world suffer from obesity.

References

Brownell, K. D., & Walsh, B. T. (Eds.). (2017).  Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive handbook . Guilford Publications.

Delaney, C. B., Eddy, K. T., Hartmann, A. S., Becker, A. E., Murray, H. B., & Thomas, J. J. (2015). Pica and rumination behaviour among individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders or obesity. International Journal of Eating Disorders ,  48 (2), 238-248.

Eichen, D. M., Matheson, B. E., Appleton-Knapp, S. L., & Boutelle, K. N. (2017). Neurocognitive treatments for eating disorders and obesity.  Current psychiatry reports ,  19 (9), 62.

Fernandez-Aranda, F., Steward, T., Mallorqui-Bague, N., Agüera, Z., & Jimenez-Murcia, S. (2017). Emotional eating in eating disorders and obesity: Sensorial, hormonal and brain factors involved.  European Psychiatry ,  41 , S36.

Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Wiederhold, B. K., & Riva, G. (2016). Future directions: how virtual reality can further improve the assessment and treatment of eating disorders and obesity.  Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking ,  19 (2), 148-153.

Leme, A. C. B., Thompson, D., Dunker, K. L. L., Nicklas, T., Philippi, S. T., Lopez, T., ... & Baranowski, T. (2018). Obesity and eating disorders in integrative prevention programmes for adolescents: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.  BMJ Open ,  8 (4), e020381.

McClelland, J., Dalton, B., Kekic, M., Bartholdy, S., Campbell, I. C., & Schmidt, U. (2016). A systematic review of temporal discounting in eating disorders and obesity: Behavioural and neuroimaging findings.  Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews ,  71 , 506-528.

Müller, H. L. (2016). Craniopharyngioma and hypothalamic injury: latest insights into consequent eating disorders and obesity.  Current opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity ,  23 (1), 81.

Murakami, J. M., Essayli, J. H., & Latner, J. D. (2016). The relative stigmatization of eating disorders and obesity in males and females.  Appetite ,  102 , 77-82.

Perpiñá, C., Segura, M., & Sánchez-Reales, S. (2017). Cognitive flexibility and decision-making in eating disorders and obesity.  Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity ,  22 (3), 435-444.

Rancourt, D., & McCullough, M. B. (2015). Overlap in eating disorders and obesity in adolescence.  Current diabetes reports ,  15 (10), 78.

Wilksch, S. M., Paxton, S. J., Byrne, S. M., Austin, S. B., McLean, S. A., Thompson, K. M., ... & Wade, T. D. (2015). Prevention across the spectrum: A randomized controlled trial of three programs to reduce risk factors for both eating disorders and obesity.  Psychological Medicine ,  45 (9), 1811-1823.