Binge Eating Disorders - treatment programmes, specific clinical Essay

Binge Eating Disorders - treatment programmes, specific clinical issues - Essay Example In case of adults, it is possible for them to spend money and get surgeries done to reduce the flab from their bodies. However, for children, spending money on plastic surgeries is not possible and hence, they are forced to adopt harmful eating behavior to get in perfect shape. Moreover, the pressure from families makes it difficult for them to find a support at home (Graber, Archibald, Brooks-Gunn,1999, p.52). In fact, according to Taylor et al (2006), the development of eating disorder occurs due to negative comments regarding physical aspects, made by parents and family members (Dosil, 2008, p. 47). Hence, the only option that children and adolescents have is to indulge in drastic steps of weight loss like dieting, binging, using laxatives, skipping meals etc. It not only develops the eating disorder in them but also makes them lose their self-esteem, confidence and trust in self and people around them, as parents tease them and siblings laugh at them (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.313) . However, the factor that plays a major role in development of eating disorder is the unusual and rigid functioning style of the family. Hence, if the eating disorder is to be eradicated completely, then the families need to show unconditional regard, emotional support and total acceptance of children as it is their outlook which makes children to develop confidence in their personal and social image, and achieve happiness and success in life. Definition Eating disorder is a general term used to describe two types of eating disorders known as the anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.311). American Psychiatric Association defines anorexia nervosa as a disorder in which a person has a disturbed body image perception which develops intense fear of gaining weight and refusal to maintain a normal body weight (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.311). In bulimia nervosa, people evaluate themselves on the basis of body shape and weight which leads to episodes of uncontrolled binge eating and inappropriate behavior like self induced vomiting and misuse of laxatives to maintain weight (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.312). The studies in the past 25 years, including that of Kog and Vandereycken (1985) and Wonderlich (1992), have found family relationships and communication patterns as consistent factors in the development of eating disorders (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.312). Eating disorders can be developed due to multiple destructive family functioning styles and structures (Segrin & Flora, 2005, p.312).This clearly shows that eating disorder is not just a physiological problem but has its roots in psychological and emotional aspects of a person. Hence, eating disorder is a psychosomatic disorder. Nature Of The Disorder Eating disorder is not a physical disorder completely. It has its roots in the social and personal perception of the body. Most of the times, the desire to get the body shape and weight to fit with the expectations of others, makes young adolescent s to develop eating disorder. It is not just a physical problem but has its roots in the mind and the soul of a person and hence, it is psychosomatic in nature. Psychosomatic illness is an illness which has its roots in the psychological problems that a person is experiencing (Minuchin, Rosman & Baker, 1978, p.13). Dunbar had noted that certain diseases are a result of certain personality traits in human beings and hence, according to him, it was