The three theoretical models used to explain eating disorders are the biomedical, physchological, and the feminist models.  The biomedical model looks at the physiological causes and dangers of eating disorders, whilst ignoring the social and emotional factors that may influence an individual. Its focus is on the treatment, rather than the prevention.

       The psychological models says that biological, psychological, and the cultural factors are the reasons why their are eating disorders. It does not acknowledge the other half. This half being woman, woman of color, lesbians, and or working class woman.

       The last being the feminist approach which says that eating problems are gendered. The most people with this disorder are women.  Sexism and other enforcers are the contributing reason to a society that portrays women as only one way, thin and pretty.

       Sexual abuse is the most common reason women develop eating disorders. Most woman were young when they were abused and found food as a way to numb the pain; similar to how an alcoholic leaves it in the bottle. Being young, food was familiar and a easily attainable. It was also something that could be done at any time or anywhere without to much notice. Eating and binging was also a way to become thinner, which was thought of as a reason of why the abuse happened. The abuse wouldn’t happen if they were thin and pretty was the mindset.

       Even though sexual abuse is the main contributing factor for these  disorders; racism and class standing also play a factor. The body image that is seen by different cultures be-it, black-white, white-black, latina-chinese, etc, plays a role society wise how people are seen. Just as important is, if you are up and coming and everyone around you has a different body image or expectations of how body image should be, it puts extreme pressure to be one of the “in crowd”.

        The models to prevent and treat this work, but don’t work at the same time. We need a hybrid approach, lets say Bio-psycho-femino model. This like any disorder or disease needs to be treated as a whole, otherwise it is like giving motrin to a cancer patient as their only form of treatment.

Zach