Feeding Disorders

 I think a network analysis with bulimia and anorexia is very useful as it encompasses the variety of symptoms present. There are many factors that can contribute to an eating disorder that are not listed in the DSM and can easily be looked over. For example, diet culture could be a reinforcing element of anorexia nervosa but it would not be routinely identified in the biomedical model. Even within the network, the diet culture can have different levels of influence. When preparing for my presentation, I found many articles that discussed the cultural aspects of eating disorders. One article I found discussed anorexia in relation to ideas of femininity. The social standards of what it means to be a woman were a large indicator in the development of eating disorders. The study didn't just focus on unrealistic beauty standards, but also on the role a woman is supposed to take on. A successful woman is often portrayed as a multitasking, powerhouse that manages kids, a family, and a company. The authors argued that even this idea of "womanhood" contributes to eating disorders because of the stress levels put on women. Women may fall into a restrictive habit because they simply do not have time to eat lunch during the day.  I thought this was an interesting perspective. When working with clients, it would be important to assess their ideas on food and their relationship with eating. Food is fuel, so the less food that is being taken in, the less fuel someone has. A person's relationship with food can affect several other areas in their life for better or for worse. This is an area I don't have much research interest in, but I think there is a lot of clinical utility to assessing for eating disorders with a network model.