Family relationships used to be a lot more valued than they are today. Families [grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc] used to rely on each other a lot more than they do nowadays. Now, it's more about the nuclear family or even the individual within that family. When there is a disconnect between the individual and the rest of the family, it makes it easier to hide things. For example, eating disorders. Even if the other members suspect something is going on, it can feel like they are prying too much if they ask about another person's eating habits. The tension that amounts from this kind of behavior can really affect the family. For example, I read in one article that, when an eating disorder is discovered within a family, it controls everyone within that family (Tiemeyer). It says that sometimes caregivers of people with eating disorders can lose their freedom too, because they are being monitored by the person with the eating disorder (Tiemeyer). They look at the kinds of food the caregiver buys, the amount they buy, how they cook, when they choose to serve meals, etc. The caregiver feels as though they should make choices in order to please the one with the eating disorder (Tiemeyer). This creates a massive amount of stress within families because, as Tiemeyer states again, the eating disorder consumes the lives of those who have it, and thus it's very easy for the people that are close to get sucked in too.
A second article I read attempted to explain where eating disorders possibly come from. They hypothesized that eating disorders are a result of an ego deficit, which can come from the inability of the mother to comfort the child and care for their needs(HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer). Since the person sees themself as lacking, then they must make up for it by controlling some other part of their life. The article also noted a correlation between the severity of eating disorders and the severity of disorganization inside the family. The more chaos in a person's life, the more they need to control something. In contrast to the first article, the second one seems to only blame the family for eating disorders by saying that, " the verbal content of their [other family members] messages contradicted their nonverbals" (HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer). This is saying that, even though a person may be saying one thing, their non verbal actions might be completely contradictory and those are the ones that the person with the eating disorder may pick up on.
While one article seeks to explain what happens to a family as a cause of an eating disorder, the second article blames the cause of eating disorders squarely on the family.
1. In what other ways do you think eating disorders affect the family? Community? Society?
2. Which of the two articles do you agree with most? [See citations to find links to the actual articles].
3. Do you think that blame for an eating disorder should fall squarely on the family's shoulders? Why or why not?
Tiemeyer, M. (2007). How Eating Disorders Affect a Family's Meals, Time, and Money. About.com: Eating Disorders. Retrieved from http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/informationforparents/a/effectonmeals.htm
HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer. (2008). Eating Disorders and Family Relationships. Retrieved from http://www.healthyplace.com/eating-disorders/main/eating-disorders-and-family-relationships/menu-id-58/page-2/
Posted by Lyndsay Whitaker
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I really thinkj that it is society and the family that cause the disorder. It is more common to see it now. Most women and men want to look good and they think by looking thin they can accomplish that. Once again in my family my father was strict no junk food,lose weight, stay fit. I didn't live with him, i use to HATE going to my father's because i was always put down because of my weight. At my house my mom didn't stress it she is heavy herself, but she would always tell me you'll lose it on your own time. She would say that i need it to grow and her side of the family isn't smalland my father's side the women have big hips and thighs. She would tell my father to leave me alone. This was always an ongoing battle between the two. well she was right, while I'm not skinny I feel good about myself and healthy. I am just thankful i had my mom, I feel if I only had my father i could've developed an eating disorder, becasue he just made me feel so bad about myself. This is a vry difficult issue, and I believe there are a number of causes, not just one.
ReplyDeleteFelicia
Felicia, you are very lucky that you have such a supportive mom, and that you are strong enough to realize that all different types of bodies are beautiful and the most important thing is that you're healthy the way you are. I hate the American idea that skinny = beautiful. It is ridiculous to fall into this belief when the average women's size in the U.S. is a size 12. Health is what is important and taking care of your body so that you are happy and fit. Some women can starve themselves for years and never be a size 2.
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