Gender Differences in Anorexics Essay Example

for anorexia occurrence.

Anorexia nervosa has negative effects on the health of adolescents and families due to its physiological and psychological symptoms. It is frequently disregarded as a disorder, leading to insufficient comprehension about its impact on individuals' mental well-being. This article will explore factors contributing to anorexia, including societal pressures from media, family, and culture. Although it is a mental illness, medical professionals can treat anorexia with appropriate care. Nevertheless, society must also investigate the underlying causes of this condition.

According to Pietrowsky et al. (2002, pp. 321-326), anorexia is characterized by physiological and psychological symptoms. The former includes weight loss, amenorrhea, and endocrine disorders while the latter involves refusal to eat or maintain weight, unusual eating habits, disturbance of body image and cognitive function like preoccupation with thoughts of food. Research indicates that anorexia's occurrence in adolescent women and young females is greater than 90 percent with a rise in instances among males.

The study reveals that anorexia affects a greater proportion of females (80%) compared to males (10%), especially those below 18 years old, with the highest prevalence among adolescents aged between 12-13 and 17. The etiology may be attributed to societal standards, familial influence, cultural traditions, peer pressure, as well as inadequate self-worth.

Media plays a significant role in the development of anorexia among children and adolescents, as various forms of media such as television, radio, newspapers, and magazines promote a particular beauty standard that can strongly influence young minds. In particular, celebrities, movie stars, and other performers who endorse thinness as desirable and trendy have a greater impact on today's youth.

Despite their young age, teenagers strive to emulate celebrities and crave attention. They

yearn to embody perfection, but unfortunately, the media often distorts their perception of beauty by portraying famous individuals as flawless. This misleading representation can contribute to a negative body image, leading individuals to experiment with various methods in pursuit of an ideal physique.

Adolescents may become anorexic due to behavior focused on weight loss for girls and excessive exercise for boys. The influence of media can impact young adults' values and behavior. Additionally, family pressures can contribute to anorexia, leading to strained relationships and high expectations for children in affected families.

Those with anorexia commonly have unrealistic expectations for themselves, which can contribute to their disorder. It's important that one's expectations align with their abilities and circumstances for success. Anorexia can be brought on by family pressure, especially if the individual has difficulty managing stress. Genetics and societal pressures regarding thinness make females more susceptible to anorexia, as evidenced by a teenage girl from an anorexic family background who may have inherited genes and accepted social norms.

Behavioral and environmental factors, such as family members dieting to lose weight, can significantly impact boys. These factors may create pressure for boys to achieve a perfect physical shape and avoid being labeled derogatory terms like "blimp" or "fatso". As a result, they may engage in weight loss efforts within their family unit and potentially develop anorexia. Additionally, social pressures during adolescence can worsen these issues.

Social pressure includes peer pressure and social isolation, with childhood and adolescence loneliness and shyness being key factors in the latter. Anorexic teenagers often lack close friendships during their early years, resulting in increased feelings of loneliness and decreased involvement in social activities. Consequently, their

shyness may intensify as they become anxious about interacting with others and worried about their physical appearance.

A study revealed that 15% of kids feel the need to be thinner in order to gain more acceptance from their peers, indicating that peer pressure is a common experience among adolescents (Malorey et al., 1989, p. 483). Additionally, young adults may also feel pressured by their peers as they engage in comparisons with others.

Generally, female students are favored by their instructors and display characteristics such as adherence, acquiescence, and industriousness in academics. Oftentimes, they experience a feeling of supremacy when receiving commendation from teachers for their endeavors. Nevertheless, maintaining this conduct for an extended duration becomes more difficult. Those with anorexia tend to be introverted, which is frequently linked to their condition.

Both males, including boys and young men, may participate in physical activity to attain an athlete-like physique with the objective of losing weight. On the other hand, girls usually aim to have a slender body. Despite boys showing more overt aggression, girls tend to employ relational aggression tactics. The development of anorexia nervosa is significantly impacted by social relationships dynamics and stems mainly from low self-esteem.

Individuals with anorexia commonly experience feelings of inferiority as a result of societal and familial pressures, even if they excel in academic pursuits, athletics, and other activities. Despite receiving acknowledgment from others, these individuals continue to grapple with low self-esteem while striving for flawlessness. Adolescent males may be motivated by a yearning for social status.

Felicia (1994, pp.) explains that some boys feel pressure from their fathers who may have excelled in sports or have a muscular physique, as they aspire to be

as strong as their father.

The advertising industry perpetuates cultural pressure to be thin, which can trigger anorexia in those who lack confidence. Male anorexics place significant importance on exercise. Eating disorders have increased in Oman, where thinness was not traditionally valued in Arab-Islamic cultures. A survey given to Omani students, non-Omani adolescents and Omani adults with diverse backgrounds found that the majority of anorexic individuals were Omani teenagers, followed by non-Omani teenagers and then Omani adults.

Al-Adawi et al. (2002, pp. 1124-1130) reported that males are more likely than females to have anorexia as a result of cultural pressures impacting vulnerable adolescents, leading to improper attitudes and behaviors. Addressing anorexia requires recognizing the problem and embracing it.

It is vital to diagnose and treat this disorder early. Females should consult their general practitioner or school doctor for advice and referral to specialists, including physicians, psychologists or psychiatrists, dieticians, and social workers. Treatment may require hospitalization and a blend of therapies, such as nutritional therapy, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy. The assistance of loved ones is necessary throughout the treatment process to assist those with anorexia in accepting their physique and appearance. Parents play a crucial role in reducing stress levels and educating young individuals about genuine beauty standards.

Friends are essential in treating anorexia as they provide an outlet for individuals to express their mental pressures and accompany them to social events. Despite being a mental disorder, seeking professional help is crucial in addressing anorexia nervosa. Therefore, society must be vigilant of its potential impact as vast technological and cultural changes have made it challenging for young adults to transition into adulthood, altering the nature

of family and community and rendering the future uncertain (Brumberg, 1988).

The prevalence of anorexia is on the rise and should be recognized as a significant psychological disorder that goes beyond a mere desire to shed pounds. Early intervention is vital for successful treatment, regardless of gender. To tackle the underlying causes of anorexia, society must confront and acknowledge the impact of media, social pressures, family dynamics, and cultural factors on young adults. It's essential for society to approach shaping young people's perceptions with care and intentionality.

References are made to Al-Aldawi, S., Dorvol, A.S.S., and Burke, D.

A publication was authored by T., Al-Bahlani, S., Martin, R. G., and Al-Ismaily in September 2002.

Brumberg, J.J. (1988) conducted a study on anorexia and bulimia among male and female adolescents from Oman and other nations in electronic format. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, covering pages 1124 to 1131.

The book "Fasting girls: The emergence of anorexia nervosa as a modern disease" by A.O. Eliot and C.W. Baker is published by Harvard University Press.

(Fall, 2001). The topic of this article is eating disorders among adolescent males. The source is the journal "Adolescence," published in 2001. The article can be found in the Ebsco Search Premier database and was retrieved on January 15, 2003.

The citation for an article by Felicia, R. titled "Adolescent boys

and anorexia nervosa," published in the journal Adolescence in Fall 1994 and retrieved from the Ebsco Search Premier database on January 15, 2003 is presented in paragraph form within .

The article "Over-exercising in Anorexia and Normal Samples: Behavior and Attitudes" was written by Long, C. G., and Smith, J. in 1993 and was published in the Journal of Mental Health. The article explores the behavior and attitudes towards over-exercising in both anorexia and normal populations.

On January 17, 2003, Maloney, J. M. and McGuire, J. were retrieved from the Ebsco Search Premier database.

, Daniels and Sepecker's study in September of 1989 focused on the eating attitudes and dieting behavior of children.

The article titled Pediatrics, 84, 482-490 authored by Troop, A. N. and Bifulco, A. in 2002 can be found in the Ebsco Search Premier database. The retrieval date for this article was January 16, 2003.The article titled "Childhood social arena and cognitive sets in eating disorders" can be found in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology. It is located in the Ebsco Search Premier database and was retrieved on January 17, 2003. The article is comprised of approximately 205-211 pages.