BODY IMAGE, SELF ESTEEM, AND EATING DISORDERS

BODY IMAGE

WHAT IS BODY IMAGE?

Each of us has a mental picture of our own body. This mental image is your BODY IMAGE

Body image includes what you believe about your body, how you see yourself, and how you look to others.

Your body image can be positive or negative.

SELF ESTEEM

How we see ourselves plays an important role in determining our sense of self esteem (our opinions on ourselves)

Self esteem refers to how valued or worthy a person feels

PAIR AND SHARE (2-3 MINUTES)

Create a list of factors that influence body image

When asked to find a partner and create a list of 5-10 factors that influence body image. Be prepared to share 1-2 with the class.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE BODY IMAGE

MEDIA AND ITS EFFECTS ON BODY IMAGE

Take a look around and you will see images of the human body almost anywhere. These images send messages about beauty, desirable body shapes, and sizes. Some of these messages are healthy and positive, while others are unrealistic ideals of how our body should be.

FAMILY INFLUENCES ON BODY IMAGE

Your family influences many aspects of your life, and body image is no exception.

For example, if a family does not place emphasis on their children to follow other people’s ideals of how they are ‘supposed’ to look this will reduce the pressure to look or behave in a certain way

FRIENDS AFFECT HOW WE SEE OURSELVES

like family, friends influence how we view our bodies

Friends affect our body image through words and actions friends who are healthy (practice safe

exercise and eating routines), and are self accepting can have a positive impact on how we view our bodies.

BODY IMAGE CON’T

Body image is dynamic. How we see ourselves changes over time.

Having a positive body image can lead to many successes in life due to the confidence level one portrays

Having a negative body image can lead to more harmful effects on one’s life such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicide.

EATING DISORDERS

WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS

Are serious conditions that affect both PHYSICAL and MENAL health

Manipulation of food in attempt by the individual to attain a sense of self control, achievement, or mood regulation

Negatively impact every aspect of the individual’s life.

Are life threatening illnesses.

TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS

Someone is considered to have an eating disorder when thoughts and behaviours associated with food interfere with one’s daily life.

There are three main types of disorders:

Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa Binge Eating

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Form of self starvation that is characterized by drastic weight loss.

ANOREXIA FACTS Approximately 95% of those affected by anorexia are

female, but males can develop the disorder as well. While anorexia typically begins to manifest itself during

early adolescence, it is also seen in young children and adults.

It is estimated that about one out of every 100 adolescent girls has the disorder. Caucasians are more often affected than people of other racial backgrounds, and anorexia is more common in middle and upper socioeconomic groups.

According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 0.5% to 3.7% of women will suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives.

Many experts consider people for whom thinness is especially desirable, or a professional requirement (such as athletes, models, dancers, and actors), to be at risk for eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.

SIGNS OF ANOREXIA

Dramatic weight loss – Rapid, drastic weight loss with no medical cause.

Feeling fat, despite being underweight – May complain about being overweight in general or just “too fat” in certain places such as the stomach, hips, or thighs.

Fixation on body image – Obsessed with weight, body shape, or clothing size. Frequent weigh-ins and concern over tiny fluctuations in weight.

Harshly critical of appearance – Spends a lot of time in front of the mirror checking for flaws. There’s always something to criticize. They’re never thin enough.

Denies being too thin – Refuses to believe that his or her low body weight is a problem, but may try to conceal it (drinking a lot of water before being weighed, wearing baggy or oversized clothes).

SIGNS OF ANOREXIA

Dieting despite being thin – Follows a severely restricted diet. Eats only certain low-calorie foods. Bans “bad” foods such as carbohydrates and fats.

Obsession with calories, fat grams, and nutrition – Reads food labels, measures and weighs portions, keeps a food diary, reads diet books.

Pretending to eat or lying about eating – Hides, plays with, or throws away food to avoid eating. Makes excuses to get out of meals (“I had a huge lunch” or “My stomach isn’t feeling good.”).

Preoccupation with food – Eats very little, but constantly thinks about food. May cook for others, collect recipes, read food magazines, or make meal plans.

Strange or secretive food rituals – Often refuses to eat around others or in public places. May eat in rigid, ritualistic ways (e.g. cutting food “just so”, chewing food and spitting it out, using a specific plate).

CAUSES OF ANOREXIA Biological causes of anorexia

Research suggests that a genetic predisposition to anorexia may run in families. If a girl/boy has a sibling with anorexia, he/she is 10 to 20 times more likely than the general population to develop anorexia him or herself. Brain chemistry also appears to play a significant role. People with anorexia tend to have high levels of cortisol, the brain hormone most related to stress, and decreased levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, which are associated with feelings of well-being.

CAUSES OF ANOREXIA

Psychological causes of anorexia People with anorexia are often perfectionists

and overachievers. They’re the “good” daughters and sons who do what they’re told, excel in everything they do, and focus on pleasing others. But while anorexics may appear to have it all together on the surface, inside they feel helpless, inadequate, and worthless. They view themselves through a harshly critical lens. If they’re not perfect, they’re a total failure.

CAUSES OF ANOREXIA

Family and social pressures In addition to the cultural pressure to be thin, there

are other family and social pressures that can contribute to anorexia. This includes participation in an activity that demands slenderness, such as ballet, gymnastics, or modeling. It also includes having parents who are overly controlling, put a lot of emphasis on looks, diet themselves, or criticize their children’s bodies and appearance. Stressful life events—such as the onset of puberty, a breakup, or going away to school—can also trigger anorexia

EFFECTS OF ANOREXIA

The severe calorie restriction of anorexia has dire physical effects. When the body doesn’t get the fuel it needs to function normally, it goes into starvation mode. It slows down to conserve energy and turns in on itself for essential nutrients. In essence, the body begins to consume itself. As the self-starvation continues and more body fat is lost, the medical complications pile up

EFFECTS OF ANOREXIA

The first physical signs and effects of anorexia are: Loss of menstrual periods Lack of energy and weakness Feeling cold all the time Dry, yellowish skin Constipation and abdominal pain Restlessness and insomnia Dizziness, fainting, and headaches Growth of fine hair all over the body and face

BULIMIA NERVOSA

Characterized by cycles of binging and purging.

Attempts to regulate feelings and weight-> counterproductive

BULIMIA FACTS During an average binge, a bulimic consumes 3,000 to 5,000

calories in one short hour. After it ends, the person turns to drastic measures to “undo” the binge, such as taking ex-lax, inducing vomiting, or going for a ten-mile run.

There are two types of bulimia, distinguished by the methods the bulimic uses to compensate for the binge eating. In the purging type of bulimia, people physically purge the food from the body by throwing up or using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics. In the nonpurging type of bulimia—which is much less common—bulimics make up for their lack of restraint by fasting, exercising to excess, or going on crash diets.

Women are much more likely than men to develop bulimia; approximately 90% of those with the disorder are female. Younger women are particularly at risk. Bulimia typically begins during the late teens or early twenties, often following a strict period of dieting or a stressful life event.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BULIMIA

Lack of control over eating. Inability to stop eating. Eating until the point of physical discomfort and pain.

Secrecy surrounding eating. Going to the kitchen after everyone else has gone to bed. Going out alone on unexpected food runs. Wanting to eat in privacy.

Eating unusually large amounts of food with no obvious change in weight.

Disappearance of food, numerous empty wrappers or food containers in the garbage, or hidden stashes of junk food.

Alternating between overeating and fasting. Rarely eats normal meals. It’s all-or-nothing when it comes to eating.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BULIMIA

Going to the bathroom after meals – Frequently disappears after meals or takes a trip to the bathroom to throw up. May run the water to disguise sounds of vomiting.

Using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after eating. May also take diet pills to curb appetite or use the sauna to “sweat out” water weight.

Smell of vomit. The bathroom or the person may smell like vomit. They may try to cover up the smell with mouthwash, perfume, air freshener, gum, or mints.

Excessive exercising – Works out strenuously, especially after eating. Typical activities include high-intensity calorie burners such as running or aerobics.

PHYSICAL SIGNS OF BULIMIA

Calluses or scars on the knuckles or hands from sticking fingers down the throat to induce vomiting.

Puffy “chipmunk” cheeks caused by repeated vomiting.

Discolored teeth from exposure to stomach acid when throwing up. May look yellow, ragged, or clear.

Frequent fluctuations in weight - Weight may fluctuate by 10 pounds or more due to alternating episodes of bingeing and purging

CAUSES OF BULIMIA Poor body image – Our culture’s emphasis on thinness and beauty can lead to body

dissatisfaction, particularly in young women bombarded with media images of an unrealistic physical ideal.

Low self-esteem – People who think of themselves as useless, worthless, and unattractive are at risk for bulimia. Things that can contribute to low self-esteem include depression, perfectionism, childhood abuse, and a critical home environment.

Dieting – People who diet are much more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who don’t. The deprivation of drastic dieting can trigger binge eating, leading to bulimia’s binge-and-purge cycle

. Appearance-oriented professions or activities – People who face tremendous

pressure to look a certain way or stay thin are vulnerable to developing an eating disorder. Those at risk include ballet dancers, models, gymnasts, wrestlers, runners, and actors.

Major life changes – Bulimia is often triggered by stressful changes or transitions, such as the physical changes of puberty, going away to college, or the breakup of a relationship. Bingeing and purging may be a misguided attempt to cope with the stress.

Biological factors – Eating disorders run in families, indicating a genetic component. Research also shows that low levels of serotonin play a role in bulimia.

EFFECTS OF BULIMIA

Weight gain Abdominal pain, bloating Swelling of the hands and feet Chronic sore throat, hoarseness Broken blood vessels in the eyes Swollen cheeks and salivary glands Weakness and dizziness Tooth decay and mouth sores Acid reflux or ulcers Ruptured stomach or esophagus Loss of menstrual periods Chronic constipation from laxative abuse

TREATING PERSONS WITH EATING DISORDERS

Medications Nutrition Counselling

Dieticians Family physicians

Mental Health Counselling Individual therapy Group therapy Family therapy

REMEMBER THESE FACES IF EVER YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH