When discussing eating disorders there are three main models used to explain the Epidemology, Etiology and treatment of eating problems.

The first model is referred to as the biomedical model and is used to give scientific reasons for the psychological aspects of the eating disorders. Unfortunately it often ignores the cultural, social, and historical reasons that contribute to the disorders. In some cases because of the focus being on the more scientific aspect it often makes women feel less empowered.

The psychological model views  eating disorders as multidimensional and believe it is are often influenced by genetics, cultural and psychological elements. This model while considered very valuable in the use of providing proper therapeutical treatments yet in contrast tends to ignore many of the social and cultural aspects of its women.

Lastly the Cultural thinness model says that thinness is culturally and socially required in today’s society and is often attributed to a woman’s worth and beauty. Thus many women are often subject to frequent dieting cycles and eating disorders to appease and meet society’s expectations.

Examples of the cultural thinness model are rampant throughout today’s society. When one looks at the Fashion Industry and Entertainment world we see numerous protrayals of what society viewed as the perfect body or the perfect woman. Everywhere you turn there are  posters, commercials, movies ect displaying ultra thin, attractive women. Although these  industries cannot be blamed for the disorders they definitely have contributed in a way to the social pressures and expectations women are faced with.

Yet there are still more intimate and painful factors that contribute to eating disorders. Sexual abuse and eating disorders have been shown to be directly  connected. Studies show that one third- out of  two- thirds of women who suffer from eating disorders have been abused. Of the 61 percent of women interviewed most of them made direct connections to sexual abuse and eating problems. These women often turned to food and binge eating to comfort and make them feel safe. Numbing their emotional and psychological pain the food was used to help them survive.

In the case of one woman,  Antonia( who’s sexually abuse began at 4 years old) she describes how after having nightmares and anxiety attacks she would go to the cabinet and eat anything she could find. The food served as a sedative in her cause helping her to go back to sleep thus for a short time allowing her to escape the confusion and pain resulting from the abuse. She later shared that one of the reasons she binged at instead of dieting was because she equated thinness with the good girls and due to her abuse she no longer felt worthy to be called a good girl.

In contrast another woman explained having the opposite experience and believed her chubbiness was the cause of her being targeted for abuse. She had even heard her family say that the perverts like the chubby girls best. Thus her desire to be thin and thus no longer be a victim led her to hate her body and the fat. Adding to that fact of the extra pressure she endured from her parents who viewed as a embarrassment because of her chubbiness. Her father often referred to her body as a “shot to hell.

Another aspect of eating disorders is the sensitive subject of racism and class.

As seen in the text Joselyn and African American described remembering how her Caucasian  grandmother would often tell her she would never be pretty because she was not light like her other cousins. She was often subject to humiliation and called fat, thus began the journey into the dark channels of eating disorders. Coming from a family that was slowly evolving along with history the once acceptable scene of a happy plump family was replaced by the expectation of a thin looking family. Instead of plumpness being viewed as a sign of success and wealth it became a thing to be abhorred in her family especially as her father began doing more business with their Caucasian neighbors. Her father in a desire to portray the new picture of success placed Joseyln on numerous diets in a effort to appear successful. Yet in the end the cause for Joesyln’s eating disorder was not properly addressed and led to greater problems in the future.

When discussing eating disorders there are three main models used to explain the Epidemology, Etiology and treatment of eating problems.

The first model is referred to as the biomedical model and is used to give scientific reasons for the psychological aspects of the eating disorders. Unfortunately it often ignores the cultural, social, and historical reasons that contribute to the disorders. In some cases because of the focus being on the more scientific aspect it often makes women feel less empowered.

The psychological model views  eating disorders as multidimensional and believe it is are often influenced by genetics, cultural and psychological elements. This model while considered very valuable in the use of providing proper therapeutical treatments yet in contrast tends to ignore many of the social and cultural aspects of its women.

Lastly the Cultural thinness model says that thinness is culturally and socially required in today’s society and is often attributed to a woman’s worth and beauty. Thus many women are often subject to frequent dieting cycles and eating disorders to appease and meet society’s expectations.

Examples of the cultural thinness model are rampant throughout today’s society. When one looks at the Fashion Industry and Entertainment world we see numerous protrayals of what society viewed as the perfect body or the perfect woman. Everywhere you turn there are  posters, commercials, movies ect displaying ultra thin, attractive women. Although these  industries cannot be blamed for the disorders they definitely have contributed in a way to the social pressures and expectations women are faced with.

Yet there are still more intimate and painful factors that contribute to eating disorders. Sexual abuse and eating disorders have been shown to be directly  connected. Studies show that one third- out of  two- thirds of women who suffer from eating disorders have been abused. Of the 61 percent of women interviewed most of them made direct connections to sexual abuse and eating problems. These women often turned to food and binge eating to comfort and make them feel safe. Numbing their emotional and psychological pain the food was used to help them survive.

In the case of one woman,  Antonia( who’s sexually abuse began at 4 years old) she describes how after having nightmares and anxiety attacks she would go to the cabinet and eat anything she could find. The food served as a sedative in her cause helping her to go back to sleep thus for a short time allowing her to escape the confusion and pain resulting from the abuse. She later shared that one of the reasons she binged at instead of dieting was because she equated thinness with the good girls and due to her abuse she no longer felt worthy to be called a good girl.

In contrast another woman explained having the opposite experience and believed her chubbiness was the cause of her being targeted for abuse. She had even heard her family say that the perverts like the chubby girls best. Thus her desire to be thin and thus no longer be a victim led her to hate her body and the fat. Adding to that fact of the extra pressure she endured from her parents who viewed as a embarrassment because of her chubbiness. Her father often referred to her body as a “shot to hell.

Another aspect of eating disorders is the sensitive subject of racism and class.

As seen in the text Joselyn and African American described remembering how her Caucasian  grandmother would often tell her she would never be pretty because she was not light like her other cousins. She was often subject to humiliation and called fat, thus began the journey into the dark channels of eating disorders. Coming from a family that was slowly evolving along with history the once acceptable scene of a happy plump family was replaced by the expectation of a thin looking family. Instead of plumpness being viewed as a sign of success and wealth it became a thing to be abhorred in her family especially as her father began doing more business with their Caucasian neighbors. Her father in a desire to portray the new picture of success placed Joseyln on numerous diets in a effort to appear successful. Yet in the end the cause for Joesyln’s eating disorder was not properly addressed and led to greater problems in the future.

Tais