To learn more: Eating Disorders, Looking for the Culprit. that’s not fashion

From Anorexia to Bulimia to Binge Eating DisorderEating disorders (DCA) are disorders characterized by changes in eating habits and excessive concern for weight and body shape. They mainly appear during adolescence and may persist for years.

specific behaviors range from reduction in food intake to fasting, but also bulimic crisis (eating a large amount of food in a short period of time) and then vomiting. It still is. The use of anorectics, laxatives or diuretics for the purpose of weight control until intense physical activity.

suffer from an eating disorder, at an advanced stage disrupts a person’s life and limits his relational and social skills. For someone with an eating disorder, everything revolves around the fear of food and gaining weight. Already among children and adolescents, eating ice cream with friends or going to a pizzeria or birthday party becomes a cause for concern.

often i thoughts about food They bother the person even when he is not on the table, for example at school or work; Accomplishing a task can be very difficult because the only thoughts in the head are “what” to eat, for fear of gaining weight or having a major crisis.

But why do eating disorders develop?

The answer currently shared by scholars is multicomponent, Specifically, there are two risk factors that act consistently, statesadapItalian Association of Eating and Weight Disorders.

have predisposing factors, such as genetic, psychological, or environmental factors, which increased vulnerability of a person to develop an eating disorder. Other factors include events or circumstances that trigger start Causes of the disorder, such as bereavement, aggression, separation from loved ones, but also school failure, school changes, or being teased about one’s appearance.

Why are women most affected?

The reasons the scientific community believes are top social cultural, The woman’s body has become more of the last century “object” of interest by the media. The resulting message is that woman must be beautiful and be as canon-like as possible. beauty ideal determined by the company.

But socio-cultural factors are not the only ones explaining such a large difference in frequency between the sexes.

genetic, hormonal, and neurobiological factors influence further. In fact, several studies have shown that stress responses occur more frequently in women.change in eating behavior Not only in humans but also in animals. they are decisive sex hormonesWomen are less active in regulating serotonin, the hormone of happiness that regulates anxiety, mood, impulsivity, and the sensation of hunger and satiety.

From social media to the world of sports, new imposed models

One fact is certain: Adolescents with high body dissatisfaction are at higher risk of developing clinical depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem. But what are the factors that contribute to body dissatisfaction?

Many researches look at the models of beauty often promoted by TV and movies as negative. but today the most influential are also Model E Proposed by Social Media Comments you receive or read on published photos. This phenomenon is significant, given that 70% of European adolescents aged 14 to 17 use social media and 40% spend more than 2 hours a day on these sites. But there is more. A German study, which analyzed 800 teenagers over two years, found that frequent use of social media may contribute increased discontent His own image in both men and women.

The ever-increasing influence of coaches of the so-called should also not be overlooked. “lean” game (i.e. period, grooming, weight dependent) that encourage and “improve” weight loss For sports performance and/or aesthetic reasons. Sports competition has increased greatly in recent decades and has resulted in emotional and physical stress to achieve goals.

body positive, between light and shadow

In a world of rules and models, body positive movement, born exactly ten years ago Instagram With the hashtag #bodypositive, he talks about inclusivity and puts likability at the center of his narrative love your Body Even if it falls short of society’s beauty standards.

On the other hand, however, even with a positive body, the body remains central and this supports the notion that the individual’s body is a element that can be measured and evaluated, Furthermore, the speed of inclusion also results in representing extra large models that are not healthy. And which can further support wrong eating patterns.

Anorexia and bulimia find bread for their teeth on social media and out of ignorance

Recently showgirl and actress Ambra Angiolini, talking about eating disorders on the radio, pointed to the beauty models offered by fashion as one of the possible causes. former director of last year Marie-Claire UK Liz Jones did the same thing by starting a rant daily Mail against a Prada show that seemed to blinkheroin chic Nineties.

But are we sure that all the problems associated with eating disorders start in the world of fashion? Because if that were the case, then the trend of customs clearance of non-slender bodies, which is very fashionable today (Lizzo Doucette, but also Australian model Zach Miko), could lead to similar problems, but even more massive versions. In.

However, the fashion phenomenon alone is not that powerful and we have not really seen this kind of growth. anorexia and bulimia, which according to psychoanalyst Massimo Riccalati (read last supper, And. Bruno Mondadori, Milan 2007) represent two sides of the same coin, they are disorders that are associated with a feeling of emptiness inside those affected.

If on the one hand some people try to control it by giving up food (anorexia), on the other hand (bulimia) they fill it compulsively to empty it. Pathology is also associated with obsessive control of the material aspect; But those who are affected will look for constancy in the images around them. Starting with the mirror.

Images are numerous and elusive, and the lack of curricula already in elementary schools explaining their semantic function is a major gap. Young people seek refuge in social networks – El Dorado rarely breaks the rules easily – and, in particular, people with eating disorders seek validation of their vision which they often share with other individuals suffering from the same disorder. Leadership is found in anorexia groups. , Finding there not only pictures, but also support and encouragement. And parents, who often know nothing other than how to use social media, remain similarly isolated.

*Cocooners Editorial Manager and Founder of Gaiazoe.life