Research strategies:What are the reasons behind some people developing anorexia and others developing bulimia?

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Research strategies:

What are the reasons behind some people developing anorexia and others developing bulimia?

Background and significance!

Anorexia and Bulimia are two very complex conditions that have been around for quite a while, however both anorexia and bulimia amongst other eating disorders are becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society.  There has been extensive press and media coverage on conditions related to eating disorders.  Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most common eating disorders or two of the most prevalent eating disorders around. Conditions relating to eating disorders more than fifty or so years ago were virtually unheard of, this could be due to a number of reasons.    

The bulimic sufferer will binge grotesque amounts of food, literally assault themselves with more food than a body can tolerate. Bulimics have no limit at all. The compulsive overeater will at last have to stop eating if only because of the pain of their distended stomach.

The Anorexic sufferer deliberately aims to lose weight and sustains this weight loss. Anorexics have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though they are severely underweight.  This intense fear is powerful enough to make an individual diet to the point of starvation.  An individual who suffers from anorexia is hungry, however, refuses to eat because of the fear of gaining weight.  

There are thought to be various potential causes of eating disorders.  According to the eating disorders research unit, institute of psychiatry (2002), some of the potential causes of eating disorders may be resulted due to the disorder having genetic links,   biological factors such as chemical imbalance or malfunction, psychological cause; interpersonal factors such as physical, sexual or psychological abuse form any source, such as family, friend, partner etc…  Other causes of eating disorders include cultural pressure, peer pressure or social pressure to have the perfect model body (e.g. slim), or a learned responses to physical or emotional pain, or a way to deal with stress.

Each possible cause of the disorders is as unique as the disorder itself, each cause is as complex as the disorder is itself and every single individual who suffers from anorexia or bulimia are unique, as pointed out by Sacker and Zimmer (1987) ‘Every single person suffering from bulimia and anorexia nervosa is unique’.  Due to the uniqueness and the complexness of each disorder and the difference in each individual’s personality, it is paramount to look deeper in order to devise the best possible treatment for anorexia nervosa and bulimia, as currently most eating disorders are treated in a similar manner.    

The main question this research proposal aims to answer is, what are the main reasons some people develop anorexia and others develop bulimia?   What role personality plays in making individuals more prone to suffering from bulimia instead of anorexia?   The aim of the proposed research questions aims to look at and to understand the personality traits of people with anorexia and bulimia.

Extensive research has been conducted in the area of personality and eating disorders.  As the number of eating disorders rise, more research is needed.  Research findings can be used to help understand the cause of, and find who are at risk form these disorders.  Research in this area provides a look into who is likely to develop an eating disorder by looking at the type of personality characteristics most associated with various disorders.  

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Literature review:

According to the work of a registered nurse and mental health counsellor specialising in eating disorders, Ellen Della, suggests that there is a link between eating disorders and an individual’s personality.  There seem to be a conflict between the mind and the soul; she claims that the body is the battleground for this conflict.  She claims that an estimation of about 20-25% of individuals who suffer from eating disorders is also suffering from either one or more personality disorder. Personality disorder is a deviation from the normal.  

The eating disorders research unit also ...

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