Binge eating, as we have seen, can be a symptom of bulimia, but binge eating can be a disorder on its own where people “binge uncontrollably” but do not vomit it back. It is believed that more people suffer from binge eating than anorexia and bulimia. It is estimated that approximately ten per cent of people with binge-eating disorder are obese. Signs of bingeing include eating faster than usual, eating until feeling nauseous, eating food when there is no real appetite, eating alone because they are embarrassed at the amount of food they eat, feeling ashamed and depressed after their binge and being unable to rid themselves of the food eaten.
Obesity is a disorder that can be apparent with those who suffer from bingeing. Curiously, in the early 20th century a bigger built man indicated that he had the money and means to provide for a large family, and was thus eagerly sort after by women. Today he would not be considered as such. Obesity is a growing problem with the National Obesity Forum (UK) reporting two thirds of men and half of women are obese, costing the NHS £500,000,000! The effects of obesity can include poor health including poor respiration and a reduced life expectancy “… on average nine years less.”
Over the last thirty years there has been a boom in fitness and the desire to be ‘big’ – muscularly big. This obsession to be ‘beefcake’ is called bigorexia. Bigorexia is a less known disorder, and one which has received little media attention. It primarily affects young men, where the individual is also after their ideal body shape, but in terms of muscle mass. They seek a big chest, V shaped back, big biceps and the ‘mandatory’ six pack, usually at any cost.
A study by the Eating Disorders Association (EDA) suggested that men especially do not recognise they have a condition and so the numbers of male sufferers could be much higher. The 1999 study indicated that one in ten sufferers of eating disorders are men.
Experts also state that gay men are more likely to suffer since their culture has always put a premium on physical beauty. The EDA also expresses concern that since Dr’s are not used to seeing male sufferers they may be slow in detecting the condition.
One reason for this and the afore mentioned disorders can be media hype. Where ever we look there are slim women and men modelling the latest fashions. On the Paris catwalk we see emaciated women and men parading the latest garments, and our children see this and think ‘desirable’. In 1997 a survey by ‘Psychology Today’ (US) found that 45% of men where dissatisfied with their bodies. A disaffection previously seen in the past by women. In the UK, Dr Karen Henwood asked a sample of men between 15 – 34 about the socially acceptable ‘body ideal’. She confirmed similar disaffection as with those in the USA. As men become more body conscious then we can expect increases of eating disorders.
Overweight people are beginning to appear in TV adverts most notably Dawn French with her ‘Terry’s Chocolate Orange’ advert and last years advert by Marks and Spencers to advertise clothing for the fuller figure.
Reasons for people suffering an eating disorder are varied, but can be grouped into the three main areas: biological reasons, psychological reasons and sociological reasons. Society is clearly a large influence on our perceptions on what is acceptable. People have favourite actors and actresses and they themselves are under great pressure to be thin and therefore their fans see this image and believe it to be desirable.
It can be argued that women suffer more because of the patriarchal control over women to try and control their bodies. Susie Orbach, and feminists, believe that men are to blame for women’s eating disorders. Over the past few years, women have expressed their desire to be equal and have rights, which should mean that they are less likely to actually meet these thin expectations from men. However, the magazine ‘New Women’ has a predominantly female staff and a female editor, but this has not stopped them from portraying shapely women and men on a bed! Therefore sex sells and both sexes demand shapely bodies and not just men.
Most help organisations also understand that psychological reasons play a larger part in the reasons for people adopting an eating disorder. Most of us find life unbearable at times, but some people cannot cope effectively with life’s ups and downs, and need comfort food (Maisner and Pulling). This results in binge eating and obesity. Some people have obsessive natures and carry out tasks to their best ability, including eating. As we saw above, people can have control over food even if they do not have control over other elements in their life. Therefore, they control food and eat (Brunch). However, people misinterpret control and eventually the food controls them.
Some young children are worried over their impending responsibilities as maturing adults and stop eating to delay the onset of adulthood (Chernin).
There are biological reasons for eating disorders. Szmukler believes that a “hereditary negative psychological condition” exists which means some people have a negative view of themselves which is genetically passed on down the line. Another biological reason for these disorders is the fact that between the ages of 12 and 14 an eating pattern needs to be established as there is a biological need for energy which sufferers seek to deprive (Abrahams & Llewellyn Jones).
The body’s ability to slow metabolism is also a factor and one which can be genetically passed on resulting in a family of obese people. This can be avoided to some degree by the choices of the sufferers such as whether they acknowledge they have a problem and then to walk into the health centre for treatment. The medical profession has various success rates for treatment. A GP can give dietary advice and use drugs where the condition is extreme.
There is another powerful biological reason – instinct. Evolutionary psychologists have stated that people have inherent instincts for what they find attractive. During the BBC’s television programme ‘Human Instincts’, Dr Robert Winston discussed and demonstrated the drives which direct women to choose a mate she unconsciously knows to be ‘fit’ and able to support a family, whereby men will sleep with anyone they simply find attractive. It might well be that those suffering with eating disorders are more aware of these instincts, which psychologically direct them to be the most attractive person (in their own eyes) using the images portrayed by the media.
Many of these reasons apply to women from the UK and the USA as these are the places where studies have taken place. There is some evidence that shows the difference in how obesity is viewed by other ethnic groups. Harris (1991) provided a report showing that African-American participants (men and women) were positive towards an overweight body than white Americans. Blank men were also found to be more likely to date over weight women than their white counterparts. Since African-American women do not have to worry too much about attracting an African-American male, they “…were less likely to want to lose weight.” Even in schools a study showed that African-American girls dieted less than white American girls.
In Britain a similar study by Jane Wardle (1993) found that Asian women, aged between 14 and 22, are less likely to think of themselves as fat. It seems that there are fewer stigmas attached to body size - “…healthier, more [satisfied] attitude towards larger body shape and size may develop.” As was the case in Britain, decades ago, plumpness is privileged in African-American cultures as it is seen as voluptuous and powerful.
In defiance of the biological reason for eating disorders some people believe that eating disorders are more prevalent in different classes of society, despite very little research having being done. However, it was found that out of 846 girls from different socio-economic backgrounds, higher levels of weight concern were seen in the groups from the higher class backgrounds (Wardle and Marsland (1990)). This finding was also shown with research by Striegel-Moore in 1986.
As a conclusion to this, it is clear that culture plays a large part in influencing eating disorders. In more developed countries (UK and USA) beautiful, stunning and unique men and women parade on catwalks, act on stages and appear in glossy magazines. Because of their uniqueness, their image is more desirable and a small group of people are particularly keen to acquire this uniqueness and adopt an eating disorder. Where as in other areas of the world other cultures have not taken this view and learned to appreciate the larger female form.
Whilst women suffer more from various eating disorders we can expect more eating disorders to affect men. This is in part due to more gay men ‘coming out’ and enjoying their new lifestyle openly and then having to bend to the demands of this way of life and be as desirable as possible to other men. As more sufferers are identified and seek help, the statistics will increase.
More research will need to be carried out to better understand the relationship between the classes and why higher class women are more critical of their image.
Bibliography
Sarah Grogan (1999) Body Image, London and New York.
Richard Lloyd Parry (1993) Lean Years for real women, Sunday Times.
, BBC, Male eating disorders ‘go untreated’, (1999)
, Rachel Shabi, Muscle mania, (2001).
, poster, (2002)
Stephen Hunt (2001) Dying to be thin, Sociology Review.
Lorna Browne, Anthony Curtis (2001) Eat to live or love to eat, Psychology Review.
