Nurse Insights into Eating Disorders in Adolescents

birdgardner · Jul 12, 2008

Wouldn't it be better to search the nursing journals for research on eating disorders?

There are probably nurses here with good insight, but if you want that 'A', reference papers in peer-reviewed journals, not anecdotes from an internet forum. At least that's how it works in our school.

knewb · Jul 12, 2008

I have already done the review of literature, but part of the assignment is to interview 2 nurses.... and we all know nurses are too busy to be interviewed... this is my last hope. Thanks for the advice, though!

leslie :-D · Jul 12, 2008

i honestly don't think it's possible for this generation of teens...

thanks to our media, who loves to glorify the 80 lb young female as beautiful.

it is our society that succumbs and falls prey to the ubiquitous, pervasive depiction of what constitutes beauty.

hollywood/movie stars/rock stars, w/the help of paparrazi and other media assistance, totally glamorizes the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

no one can be too thin, too blonde, too young, too busty, too rich...

this makes our teen girls esp vulnerable.

cosmopolitan magazine, i thought, was reserved for females in their 20's.

now they have cosmopolitan jr...or something like it...targeted for our teen girls.

and knowing the approval that all teens want from their peers, there just isn't any way that they will listen to adult input.

that's why it will never change, until our society changes its concept of what is beautiful.

compound that with other possible etiologies of anorexia/bulemia...thought to be a fight for control:

dangerous combination, betw an adolescent's natural rebellion against authorities, intertwined w/adolescent's natural need to seek approval from peers.

i just don't see a near or easy fix.

btw, i'm not speaking from any experiences in nsg.

this comes from being a mom of 3 teens:

once, being a teen;

overall and invaluable life experiences.

i'm sure many adult women could give you similiar or other insights.

good luck on your paper.

leslie

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2008

I worked with a number of patients who had anorexia during my career so far.

It is important to remember that eating disorders do not only occur in adolescent females. Nor do you have to be 80 lbs to suffer from an eating disorder. Disordered eating patterns occur on a spectrum, as do many other psychological disorders. It's rarely about being thin. Most patients have co-morbid conditions such as OCD, depression, and anxiety. Oftentimes there is a history of psychological trauma (traumatic event, sexual or physical asault, etc). Controlling one's eating is a coping mechanism to deal with periods of high stress and anxiety. Self-harm activities may also be present (cutting, etc).

The media plays a role, but many who have an eating disorder would find another mechanism (healthy or unhealthy) to cope with their anxiety if they did not have anorexia/ bullemia.

There is a wealth of good literature out there, found in nursing, medical and psychological journals.

knewb · Jul 13, 2008

Thanks for your insights! Do you have any opinions on how to prevent eating disorders? I know it is a complicated issue...

Meraki · Jul 13, 2008

Preventing ED...

Somewhat tongue in cheek and generalizing...

Avoid living in a home in which other females diet and talk about food/calories, weigh themselves and talk about weight, or have body image issues

Avoid having parents who put pressure on their adolescent to be a high achiever

Avoid growing up in a home that encourages open communication and expression of feelings

Avoid having controlling parents who allow the adolescent little sense of control, decision making

Avoid having a perfectionistic, Type A personality

Avoid being brought up in a home with money/wealth/materialism

Avoid looking at modern media (TV, movies and magazines)

Avoid modeling, pagents, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing or any sport that focuses attention on the body

Avoid growing up in a western affluent society in which all basic needs are met and greed, envy, 'better than the jones's and success are central

Avoid being Caucasian

Avoid being female

Avoid being the teen whose natural body size is different than other family members or peer groups

Avoid developing anxiety or having family members with anxiety

Avoid having poor coping skills when dealing with stress

If you avoid all these things your chances of developing an eating disorder are much much less....

While any, all or none of these can be part of the development of an ED, those are some of the factors that are at play...

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2008

Preventing ED...
Somewhat tongue in cheek and generalizing...
Avoid living in a home in which other females diet and talk about food/calories, weigh themselves and talk about weight, or have body image issues
Avoid having parents who put pressure on their adolescent to be a high achiever
Avoid growing up in a home that encourages open communication and expression of feelings
Avoid having controlling parents who allow the adolescent little sense of control, decision making
Avoid having a perfectionistic, Type A personality
Avoid being brought up in a home with money/wealth/materialism
Avoid looking at modern media (TV, movies and magazines)
Avoid modeling, pagents, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing or any sport that focuses attention on the body
Avoid growing up in a western affluent society in which all basic needs are met and greed, envy, 'better than the jones's and success are central
Avoid being Caucasian
Avoid being female
Avoid being the teen whose natural body size is different than other family members or peer groups
Avoid developing anxiety or having family members with anxiety
Avoid having poor coping skills when dealing with stress
If you avoid all these things your chances of developing an eating disorder are much much less....
While any, all or none of these can be part of the development of an ED, those are some of the factors that are at play...

Avoid being emotionally, physically and sexually abused. A huge number of ED sufferers have a history of abuse. EDs are NOT about food and weight.

Meraki · Jul 13, 2008

Not sure how i forgot abuse. Excellent addition to the list, lovingtheunloved.

As for ED's not being about food and weight. I agree that the underlying issues and contributing factors are not about food and weight but somewhere along the line those issues manifest through food, weight and body image...hence the name Eating Disorders. Given that many people with similar underlying issues do not develop eating disorders but may instead have another issues such as an addiction of some description or clinical depression or PTSD...I think there are environmental/ familial/societal food and weight cues that may lead that individual to manifest their issues through and eating disorder....if that makes sense?

SaraO'Hara · Jul 13, 2008

Cultural exposure has a lot to do with it, I think... I was (and am) deeply into Victorian history / fashion, so my ideal body shape is not deathly skinny, but well-rounded, shapely, with a small waist. I end up viewing stick figures as androgynous and unattractive.

lovingtheunloved, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2008

Not sure how i forgot abuse. Excellent addition to the list, lovingtheunloved.
As for ED's not being about food and weight. I agree that the underlying issues and contributing factors are not about food and weight but somewhere along the line those issues manifest through food, weight and body image...hence the name Eating Disorders. Given that many people with similar underlying issues do not develop eating disorders but may instead have another issues such as an addiction of some description or clinical depression or PTSD...I think there are environmental/ familial/societal food and weight cues that may lead that individual to manifest their issues through and eating disorder....if that makes sense?

Very true. Body image especially, since the body is so commonly violated. Most ED patients have depression, PTSD, addiction, etc in addition to the ED. Sad how our list of things to avoid is made up of things that are beyond people's control.

SunnyAndrsn · Jul 13, 2008

It's not possible for the nurse to prevent eating disorders. Prevention begins in the home, with parental awareness of the causes of eating disorders. This includes the understanding that anorexia and bulumia are not simply about food. In addition, there is a high percentage of personality disorders among this population. Anyone who has encountered someone with a personality disorder and has met the parents of that person while likely met at least one more person with a personality disorder.

A good resource: http://www.emilyprogram.com/

Please don't forget about the often overlooked eating disorder of compulsive overeating.

Hi,
I hope this isn't inappropriate, but I need to get insights from nurses on the best ways to prevent eating disorders in adolescent females. (This is for a paper in nursing school) Any insights along with your experience in eating disorders would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!:typing