Eating Disorders & Behaviors The undertaken study examined eatin

The undertaken study examined eating disordered behavior and cognitions in a sample of nutritionists. The study can be placed within the context of the existing knowledge-base through a review of current literature in the field which has relevance for the variables of interest and nutritionist sample examined in the undertaken study. The review presented here provides this context by first defining the condition (Eating Disorder) and describing its types and subtypes. Behavioral and cognitive features of eating disorders are then delineated. This delineation is followed by a discussion of the literature as it relates to eating disorders in professional nutritionists.

Eating Disorders: Review of Current Literature

The American Psychiatric Association (1993) defines eating disorders as physically and/or psychologically harmful eating patterns and notes that in American society the condition has increased dramatically over the last twenty years. While there are several types of eating disorders, the two most frequently diagnosed types are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa (Cooper & Fairburn, 1992).

Each of these two types, along with relevant subtypes have been characterized by Sue, Sue and Sue (1994). According to these authors, Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a normal body weight appropriate for one's age and height (most anorexics are 15 percent under their normal body weight); intense fear

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ity, exercise participation, percent body fat and body mass index were all found to be correlates of the dietary restraint behavior. Lautenbacher, Thomas, Roscher and Strian (1992) examined both body size perception and body satisfaction in restrained and unrestrained eaters. Interestingly findings showed that restrained eaters evidenced no systematic inaccuracies in body size estimation. However, restrained eaters did show less perceptual accuracy than unrestrained eaters. Restrained eaters also evidenced a greater degree of body dissatisfaction than did unrestrained eaters. However, regardless of whether subjects were restrained or unrestrained eaters, those subjects most dissatisfied with their bodies evidenced greater depressive mood and thoughts than those subjects not dissatisfied with their bodies. However, this correlation was not observed for comparisons of subjects differing in body size misperception. In other words, depressive mood and thoughts did not systematically vary with differences in body size misperception. People with diverse types of eating disorders often have a number of cognitive features in common. In this regard, regardless of the type or subtype of eating disturbance, people with eating disord

Category: Psychology - E