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Are zero size or thin women happy

INTRODUCTION: -
Researchers Michael W Wiedermann and Tamara L Pryor of the Dept. of psychological Science, Ball State University, Indiana USA, and   Dept. of psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, School of medicine, Kansas. touched upon the subject of how some women in pursuit of zero size end up being Bulimic, depressed and unhappy with their bodies. Even Pincess Diana was diagnosed having Bulimia.

ABSTRACT: -
Earlier study had questioned the link between body dissatisfaction and excess eating and vomiting (Bulimia) after having controlled depression, and also the relation with these and the urge to be thin, in Ladies.
The first group had women with loss of appetite, (91 and 142) with an urge to eat and then vomit (Bulimia); while the second group had 228 college students.
The results showed that the above symptoms like depression and Bulimia were due to body dissatisfaction. Also, the urge for thinness definitely led to body dissatisfaction and not Bulimia alone. Hence it appears that drive for thinness due to social pressures may lead to Bulimia, depression and body dissatisfaction.

INTRODUCTION: -
As per research published in Medical journals, body dissatisfaction and Bulimia are not only intercombined, but depression is equally common in women with eating disorders.
A constant state of worry is also known to cause body dissatisfaction, as was seen with college students who had depression and Bulimia. Scientists also suggested that overconcern with body shape could be a stimulus for depression and body dissatisfaction in Ladies.

METHOD: -
This study included 233 females who were divided into 1. Loss of appetite and 2. Bulimia group. With an average age around 19 years. Initially a 2 hour interview was done to screen the patients and was done by trained doctors, who studied their eating habits, followed by interviews with a psychologist, and psychiatric, along with family members. Lastly, patients had to fill a questionnaire before starting the study.

RESULTS: -
In this study, increased depression, Bulimia, and drive for thinness each was related to more body dissatisfaction.
In the first model, only depression and Bulimia figures were taken as indicators of body dissatisfaction. In the second group, a drive for thinness was added to the earlier group.
It was clear that depression was a major component of body dissatisfaction among women with eating disorders and maybe more important than Bulimia, in body image disturbance. Even those women suffering from Bulimia nervosa, a lack of depression, indicated reduced body dissatisfaction. Whenever a drive for thinness was added to all groups, it was an indicator for body dissatisfaction, beyond Bulimia or depression. Also, when the drive for thinness was controlled, then Bulimia was not linked to body dissatisfaction.
Hence, it was concluded that irrespective of eating disorders, women with drive for thinness suffered from more body dissatisfaction. Also, it appears that due to social fears and pressures, women want to pursue their drive for thinness so as to maintain their figures which will be well accepted by society. Therefore, it is social and cultural beliefs that force women to pursue their drive for thinness maybe to achieve the heights of beauty and social acceptance.
Those who are unable to achieve their goals, go into depression or suffer from Bulimia. Hence, it is this drive for thinness, which makes them suffer from eating disorders.

 

Compiled from various international research journals available at google scholar by D. Mukherjee having 38 years of pharmaceutical (Cardiac, Diabetic, Neurology, Pain & Inflammation products) experience with a Swiss Multinational Company NOVARTIS and edited by Dr Sandeep Ahlawat, MBBS