Essay
Dexter Led
teague7_ppt_ch08_Accessible1.pptx8: Body Image
Your Health Today, 7th Edition
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom. No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
1
What Shapes Body Image?
Body image is the mental representation that a person has of his or her own body, including perceptions, attitudes, thoughts, emotions, and actions
Culture has a strong influence on body image
Advertising industry and the media are relentless in selling the American consumer an image of the ideal body
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Positive Body Image
Positive body image is associated with enhanced well-being, body satisfaction, and healthy eating behaviors
Developing body appreciation means focusing on the features and functions of your body that you consider assets
Appreciate what you can do physically, socially, spiritually, and intellectually and don’t think of your body as simply an object to be observed and manipulated by others
Allows for self-care because you see your body as part of you
Essential to maintaining a positive body image is interpreting information in a body-protective manner
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Gender and Body Image (1 of 2)
Western social constructs for females and males have long been presented in binary, stereotyped ways
Historically, women faced societal pressures to submit to anything to reach the ideal of beauty
Despite progress, our culture still strongly values its ideal of beauty with a focus on a woman’s appearance rather than her abilities or performance
When women internalize narrow media presentations of the “ideal,” they are less accepting of and satisfied with of their bodies
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Gender and Body Image (2 of 2)
For men the opposite is true; historically, masculine imagery has emphasized body function and achievement rather than appearance
Today, there is a greater focus on a man’s physique over his accomplishments
Society’s “ideal” male body shape has become more unrealistic, distorted, and extreme
Men who buy into this cultural stereotype are more likely to have feelings of inadequacy and body dissatisfaction
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Race, Ethnicity, and Body Image
Intersecting identity roles are critical to the way people internalize media messaging
White women typically experience greater body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance
African American men and women fairly consistently report less body image dissatisfaction
Black women often describe beauty more holistically, encompassing personality traits, not just physical ones
Studies about Asian American and Hispanic women are inconsistent
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Life Stages and Body Image (1 of 4)
Adolescence is a critical phase of identity formation
Exploring new relationships and new friends, sexual experiences, and peer dynamics
Beliefs and concerns about what is attractive to partners start to develop and gain importance
Formation of gender identity and sexual identity
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Life Stages and Body Image (2 of 4)
Physical changes of puberty happen alongside sexual identity and gender identity formation
For girls, body fat increases from about 12% to about 25% moving them away from the female image “ideal”
For boys, puberty increases muscle mass and definition, moving them toward the male image “ideal”
Timing of puberty appears to play a role in the development of body appreciation
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Life Stages and Body Image (3 of 4)
Majority of research on body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders has focused on cisgender youth
Identify with the gender assigned at birth
For trans or gender-conflicted youth, puberty presents an increased risk in many areas
Conflict between their biological and desired gender
Developing sex characteristics can be very stressful and lead to disordered eating patterns and other forms of self harm in attempts to control these changes
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Life Stages and Body Image (4 of 4)
Changes in physical activity levels for females
Decrease physical activity and participation in sports
However, those that participate at elite levels, but not at nonelite levels, have an increased risk of eating disorders
Lifelong participation in noncompetitive activities have both physical and psychological benefits
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders (1 of 2)
Disordered eating behaviors are common and widespread
Restrictive dieting, skipping meals, binge eating and purging, laxative abuse, etc.
May occur in response to emotional stress, an upcoming athletic event, concern about personal appearance, etc.
Disordered eating behaviors may or may not develop into a full-blown eating disorder
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders (2 of 2)
Eating disorders are chronic illnesses characterized by severely disturbed eating behaviors, distorted body image, and low self-esteem
Jeopardize physical and mental health
Occur primarily among people in Western industrialized countries
Occur in all ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic groups
More prevalent when food is abundant and has taken on symbolic meanings such as comfort, love, belonging, fun, and control; and where being attractive means being thin
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Contributing Factors
Risk for eating disorders involves more than exposure to the thin ideal and social pressures to be thin
Gender is a risk factor, with being female increasing risk
Gay and bisexual men may be at greater risk than heterosexual males
Family history of eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or obesity increases risk
There are links to depression and anxiety, although the relationship appears complicated
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Diagnosing Eating Disorders (1 of 3)
Anorexia nervosa: distortion of body image and refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight
Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight, or interfering with weight gain
Disturbance in the way body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Diagnosing Eating Disorders (2 of 3)
Bulimia nervosa: distortion of body image and repeated episodes of binge eating, usually followed by purging
Recurrent episodes of binge eating accompanied by a sense of lack of control
Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of medications, fasting, or excessive exercise
Episodes occurring at least once a week for three months
Self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Diagnosing Eating Disorders (3 of 3)
Binge eating disorder: binge eating behavior without the vomiting or purging of bulimia
Individuals afflicted can be normal weight or overweight, but if undiagnosed, they often eventually become obese
Recurrent episodes of rapid binge eating alone, when not hungry and until uncomfortably full; and feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty about overeating
Marked distress about binge eating
Episodes at least once a week for three months
Binge eating not associated with inappropriate compensatory behaviors
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Health Consequences of Eating Disorders
Anorexia carries the highest death rate of all psychiatric diagnoses
Some complications may not be reversible
Decreased bone calcium (osteoporosis) is one of the most serious long-term effects
Bulimia is associated with electrolyte imbalance and can be deadly due to low potassium
Consequences of binge eating disorder are related primarily to obesity
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Treating Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders (1 of 2)
Aside from osteoporosis, most of the negative health conditions associated with anorexia and bulimia are reversible
Keys to recovery are:
Early intervention
Lower incidence of purging behavior
Support and participation of family members and loved ones
Lack of other diagnosed psychological problems
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Treating Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders (2 of 2)
First step is to recognize the problem
Effective treatment often involves a multidisciplinary or multimodality team
Severe weight loss or another medical abnormality may require hospitalization
Once weight is stabilized:
Psychotherapy
Behavior relearning and modification
Nutritional rehabilitation and education
In some cases, medication
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (1 of 2)
Body dysmorphic disorder: preoccupation with an imagined or exaggerated defect in appearance
Perceived flaw not observable or appears slight to others
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts in response to appearance concerns
Preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment and is not accounted for by another mental disorder
Preoccupation in men tends to be about genitals, muscle mass, and hair
Preoccupation in women tends to be about breasts, thighs, and legs
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (2 of 2)
Muscle dysmorphia is a subcategory that appears predominantly in men obsessed with working out
May be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder
Some people turn to cosmetic surgery to correct the supposed flaw in their appearance
Not everyone who uses cosmetic surgery has this disorder
Cosmetic surgery can also have psychological and physical benefits
Some people use body art to express themselves
Among people with tattoos, about one in five is dissatisfied
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Exercise Disorders (1 of 2)
Exercise disorders, on the rise, may exist in conjunction with eating disorders or by themselves
Excessive exercise is often not supported by calorie intake
Treatment is similar to that for eating disorders, with a focus on increasing caloric intake or decreasing activity level until a balance is reached
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Exercise Disorders (2 of 2)
Female athlete triad: interrelated conditions of disordered eating, amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation), and osteoporosis
Excessive exercise to lose weight or attain a lean body appearance to fit a specific athletic image or improve performance
Female athletes need to understand the importance of good eating habits and moderation in exercise
Male athletes are susceptible to a similar condition
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
Promoting Healthy Eating and a Healthy Body Image
Individual attitudes and actions:
Value yourself based on your goals, talents, and strengths rather than your body shape or weight
Look critically at the images and messages you receive from people and the media
Develop healthy stress-management skills
Avoid judging yourself or others
Challenge others to speak positively about their bodies
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
College Initiatives
Prevention efforts should include both individual measures and campus-wide activities
Residence advisors, professors, coaches, trainers, and other college staff can be trained to watch for problems
Health and counseling services can be visible and accessible
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Public Health Approaches
Focus on raising awareness about eating disorders and changing widely accepted social norms
Develop organizations and programs to promote healthy body image and lifestyle patterns
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education.
In Review
What is body image, and how is it determined?
What is disordered eating, and what are eating disorders?
Why do people develop eating disorders?
How are eating disorders treated?
What is body dysmorphic disorder?
What are exercise disorders?
What are individual and public ways to promote healthy eating and healthy body images?
© 2019 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. Authorized only for instructor use in the classroom. No reproduction or further distribution permitted without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
