SOC W6200 Week 5 Assignment Eating Disorders in Adolescence

SOC W6200 Week 5 Assignment Eating Disorders in Adolescence

 

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Capella University

SOC W6200

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Eating Disorders in Adolescence

Adolescence is an essential time of developmental transition during which biological, psychological, and social developments converge and make young individuals especially vulnerable to issues related to eating.

This assessment will emphasise the peer relationship and social media role, and also look into body shaming (Nagata et al., 2023). In addition, it will examine a website of pro-anorexia, discuss how these disorders affect individuals, and identify theoretical models and approaches to address them.

Role of Peer Relationships in the Development of Eating Disorders

The relationship of peer play an essential role in the development of how an adolescent views themselves and behaves, especially the view of their body image and eating habits. During adolescence, fitting in with peers and gaining social acceptance become major issues and sensitivity to peer pressure increases. Research shows that peers can have a significant influence in terms of eating behaviours, either by direct comments or teasing, peer modelling, or shared attitudes against thinness or dieting (Nagata et al., 2023).

Adolescents who are surrounded by peers who are concerned with appearance or have disordered eating behaviours might adopt these opinions and unhealthy eating behaviours to be accepted or approved by their peers. Moreover, peer pressure has a significant role in the development of eating disorders by reinforcing the idea that being thin equates to being attractive and socially acceptable. In a school environment where adolescents are constantly comparing themselves with one another, even subtle remarks about weight or body shape can have long-lasting psychological repercussions (Lie et al., 2021).

Studies show that those adolescents who have poor relationships with peers or who get bullied have more opportunities to develop eating problems. These disorders are emotional distress from the rejection by society, which may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as binging, purging, or over dieting. These peer dynamics offer a social environment for the development of eating problems.

Rrile rif Sricial h4edia and Bridy Shaming in Eating Disorders

Social media has a substantial impact on body image, and can sometimes affirm unrealistic beauty standards, which create problems with eating. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram have allowed adolescents to develop a collection of images about themselves, sometimes using filters to make them look better, promoting the idea of a “perfect body.” However, the constant exposure to the idealised images can lead to feelings of inadequacy (Cole, 2022).

Adolescents may compare themselves to those influencers or peers who appear to conform to societal ideals for thinness, and this can create pressure to alter one’s own appearance to conform to these ideals. Online and offline body shaming also contributes to such problems. When adolescents post their pictures of themselves on social media, they are leaving themself open to public scrutiny.

Even just one negative comment (called ‘fat’, for example) can set insecurities into motion and result in disordered eating to gain control over body image (Bozzola, 2022). Body shaming perpetuates a culture that equates self-worth with appearance. Thus, some adolescents resort to dangerous activities to achieve the standard that social media and society have created, such as starvation or purging.

Pro-Anorexia Website and Adolescent Attraction

The websites of Pro-anorexia websites, commonly known as “pro-ana” sites, are online platforms that promote anorexia as a healthy lifestyle rather than a serious medical state. These websites contain content that encourages and glorifies thinness, weight loss and gives tips on how to hide disordered eating behaviours (Temesgenova, 2023). One such website called the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) (htlHs://w’w’w’ .nalialealinudisorders.ores.) is a support for those who are having issues with body image and disordered eating.

They provide resources, information on healthy eating and ways to get help. Adolescents will often leave such websites because they give a sense of community, particularly if they feel misunderstood or judged in real life. The attractiveness of such websites to them for their regulation of disordered eating could be appealing to adolescents who have body shape issues.

The pro-anorexia community provides a platform for people to connect through common goals of extreme thinness, which can reinforce unhealthy behaviours with the help of competition and encouragement (Temesgenova, 2023). This feeling of belonging, along with the desire to receive the attractive body offered by social media, can make these websites extremely dangerous for vulnerable adolescents.

Biological, Psychological, and Social Effects of Eating Disorders

There are many biological, social and psychological effects on adolescents when an individual is suffering from eating disorders. Biologically, these disorders are capable of causing severe malnutrition, which affects growth and development. For instance, adolescents who have anorexia may suffer delayed puberty, have less dense bones and have a hormonal imbalance due to a lack of essential nutrients in their bodies.

Long-term consequences include heart problems, weakened immune systems and infertility (Feng et al., 2023). Psychologically, disorders related to eating often cause mental conditions like anxiety, depression and other compulsive disorders. Adolescents with these disorders may have distorted thinking patterns because they convince themselves they are never thin enough, and the cycle of disordered eating is perpetuated. Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction are common, and these psychological problems can continue into the adult years if left unchecked (Feng et al., 2023).

Socially, eating problems lead to loneliness because adolescents retreat from situations in their surroundings that contain food or where their bodies might be scrutinised. Relationships with family and friends may be strained, specifically if loved ones say that they are concerned about the adolescent’s health. Additionally, the pressure in society surrounding thinness and beauty could further contribute to the feeling of inadequacy, making it more difficult to recover.

Theoretical Model for Addressing Eating Disorders

The Cognitive-Behavioural Model (CBT) is a theoretical model that helps when dealing with eating disorders. This model emphasises the link between behaviours, thoughts, and emotions, especially if an individual develops after suffering from eating disorders (Atwood & Friedman, 2020). CBT: to help adolescents recognise and reframe negative beliefs about their body image, food, and self-worth and replace them with healthier, more realistic thoughts.

Research has found that CBT is very beneficial in the treatment of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, mainly when used with family-based therapy (Atwood & Friedman, 2020). By focusing on cognitive restructuring, CBT works to help adolescents develop healthier ways of coping with the pressure and stress of society and their emotions. Lt also teaches them skills to cope with triggers that may lead to disordered eating, such as social media or comments from peers about weight. The model’s focus on goal setting and behaviour modification makes it a structured and evidence-based way of helping adolescents regain control over their eating habits and improve their overall mental health.

Approaches for Addressing Eating Disorders

Family-based therapy (FBT) and nutritional counselling are important approaches which can be helpful when dealing with eating disorders. During the treatment process, family-based therapy involves the family of the adolescents and focuses on the role of the parent as a support for the recovery of adolescents (Hughes et al., 2020). In FBT, the family collaborates to help the adolescent return to healthy eating patterns and confront the behaviours related to the eating disorder.

This approach is especially practical in the treatment of younger adolescents because it emphasises the role of the family in providing a supportive and structured environment for the recovery. Nutritional counselling, on the other hand, focuses on educating adolescents on the significance of balanced and healthy eating (Hughes et al., 2020).

A registered dietitian works with the adolescent to develop meal plans and realistic nutritional goals and dispels misconceptions about food. Nutritional counselling also helps to reverse the biological effects of malnutrition and provides the adolescent with the knowledge and the skills to maintain a healthy relationship with food moving forward.

Conclusion

In adolescence, eating disorders are multifaceted, which can be impacted by relationships with peers, social media and also body shaming. Adolescents may be attracted to dangerous views such as those on pro-anorexia websites, which glorify disordered eating. The social, biological and psychological effects of such disorders are severe. Still, evidence-based approaches, such as CBT or family based therapy and nutritional counseling, can offer effective pathways to recovery. By addressing the many-sided sources and impacts of consuming disorders, we can assist adolescents have healthier and more positive relationships with bndies and food.

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