PYC4802 Assignment 3

PYC4802
Assignment 3

,Table of Contents Page

PART A: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge eating disorder

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...3

2. Definitions of eating disorders……………………………………………………..3

3. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria……………………………………………………………..3

3.1. Anorexia Nervosa…………………………………………………………………….4

3.1.1 DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa………………………………….4

3.1.2 Clinical Picture………………………………………………………………………...5

4.1 Bulimia Nervosa………………………………………………………………………..5

4.1.1 DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa……………………………………..5

4.1.2 Clinical picture…………………………………………………..................................6

5.1 Binge Eating disorder…………………………………………………………………6

5.1.1 DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Binge Eating disorder…………………………........7

5.1.2 Clinical Picture………………………………………………………………………….7

PART B: South African females are no longer perceived to be “immune” from
eating disorders

1. Critical Discussion………………………………………………………………………8-13

2. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………14

Bibliography




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, 1.Introduction

There is tendency for women to judge themselves to be overweight and aspire to have
a smaller body size, and perceive themselves to be overweight when not factually so.
Body dissatisfaction seems to have important influence on weight control behavior in
women who may eventually lead to the onset development of eating disorder or
behavior associated with eating disorder. Body dissatisfaction is defined as a
psychologically prominent discrepancy between a person’s perceived body appearance
and their ideal body appearance. Research show that low self- esteem and depressive
moods are risk factors for increases in body dissatisfaction. Numerous research studies
have proven that there is a strong relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating
disorders. As majority of young people in South Africa embrace western values. The
hope to get the western body ideal of beauty may be putting some women at risk of
developing eating disorders(Cooper, Taylor, Cooper & Fairburn,1987).Historically eating
disorder were found to occur predominantly among white adolescent and young adult
females, within the upper socio economic classes who lived in socially competitive
environments ,but things have changes now(Barlow & Durand,2001).This assignment is
going to look into the three most prominent eating disorders namely: Anorexia nervosa,
Bulimia nervosa and Binge eating disorder. The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and clinical
picture of each eating disorder together with a critical discussion on the factors that
influence the assessment of eating disorders and wether South African black females
are no longer perceived to be “immune’ from eating disorders.

2. Definition of Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a notably low body weight as a consequence of
limiting the intake energy relative to energy needed the great fear of weight gain, and a
disturbed self-perception of body shape or weight. Bulimia Nervosa comprises recurrent
episodes of binge eating and associated compensatory behavior that are inappropriate
attempts to avoid weight gain. The evaluation of self is disproportionately affected by
body weight and shape (Burke, 2019). Binge eating disorder is a Anorexia nervosa
disorder subtype characterized by the use of purging techniques such as self-induced
vomiting, the use of laxatives(medication that relieves constipation),diuretics(medication
that increases the frequency of urination so that the body loses fluids),or enemas
subsequent to ingesting any amount of food (American Psychiatric Association,2013).

3. DSM-5 Diagnostic criteria

3.1 Anorexia Nervosa

According to (Fairburn & Harrison, 2003),the DSM-5 the prevalence of Anorexia
Nervosa is about 0.4% among females, while it appears to be only about a tenth of that
for males (American psychiatric association, 2013).Sources specify that the incidence of

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