Globalization of eating disorders bordo

GLOBALIZATION OF EATING DISORDERS 1

GLOBALIZATION OF EATING DISORDERS 4

The Globalization of Eating Disorders

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Introduction

Globalization is only known for its positives and rarely for the negative impact it has on mental health. Globalization has been known to bring different cultures together leading to major cultural changes. These cultural changes lead to globalization playing an indirect role in the promotion of eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Eating disorders are considered health compromising behaviors which increase the risk of major complications. Eating disorders are mental conditions which work on the patient’s fear of either gaining weight or looking overweight. Globalization increases media exposure, technology such as social media and the internet and facilitating the infrastructure for fast foods franchises. According to Bordo (2013) nations practicing cultures that celebrate voluptuous women are being affected by the media.

Thesis

Globalization has had a major impact on eating disorders due to the mixing of cultures, influence of media, technology and peer influence.

The Globalization of eating Disorders

Media influence

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder where the patient limits their calorie intake leading the patient losing weight and compromising their health. The patient has a fear of being fat or gaining weight. The traditional media has had a major influence on Anorexia Nervosa as it creates the fear of being fat. The media has placed unrealistic body images linking them with beauty with global brands taking this approach to promote their products. This approach by the media is contributing to body dissatisfaction leading to the development of eating disorders. As these brands become global their influence on various cultures also increases in the development of eating disorders. Fiji serves as a good example of a country that the influence of international media changes the culture leading to the development of eating disorders. The culture of the country promoted voluptuous women and with the access of television which only broadcasted western media the culture changed leading to the development of eating disorders (Bordo, 2013). Africa also presents a case on the influence of western media in the development of eating disorders. Most cultures in Africa have always supported voluptuous women and the influence of western media led to some of these cultures changing and led to development of eating disorders.

Technology

Technology has also played a major impact in the development of Anorexia Nervosa. The internet and social media have played a major role in indirectly affecting eating disorders. The social media offers a unique culture where people post pictures of perfect bodies or the patients post their efforts in losing weight. These pictures influence others globally increasing the number of patients suffering from eating disorders. Gerbasi et al., (2014) consider peer influence as one of the major risks of developing eating disorders. Social media provides the platform for peer influence.

Globalization

Binge eating disorder involves consuming large amounts of foods without stopping. Globalization plays an indirect role in promoting binge eating disorder through the concept of McDonaldization. This concept explains when society adopts the characteristics of a fast food restaurant. The notion has made fast foods readily available for everybody. Globalization has made it easy for franchises to open up in different nations. Fast food restaurants are known to target areas where people have low income. This makes it harder for them to access healthy foods and easier to access fast foods.

Conclusion

Globalization of eating disorders has been fueled by technology which has enhanced interaction between different cultures. Eating disorders are health compromising behaviors and education is needed to help the patients. Eating disorders are harder to treat as treatment involves the patient admitting they have a problem. Education offers the best solution in limiting the development.

References

Bordo Susan. (2013). The Globalization of eating Disorders. Thinking, Reading and writing about the new global Era pgs 19-22.

Gerbasi, M. E., Richards, L. K., Thomas, J. J., Agnew-Blais, J. C., Thompson-Brenner, H., Gilman, S. E., & Becker, A. E. (2014). Globalization and eating disorder risk: peer influence, perceived social norms, and adolescent disordered eating in Fiji. The International journal of eating disorders, 47(7), 727–737. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22349