The origin of some disorders is unknown. Compared to some, there are indications of the factors that precipitate them, in the case of eating disorders it seems to be a clear and difficult reality: they are motivated by a cultural context, implying that these disorders, both anorexia and bulimia and obesity, respond to the values and lifestyles that predominate in the environment , so the influence of society, its impact on this group and the role of parents in preventing their children’s eating disorders should be considered.
In many psychological disorders age plays a key role; in some of them, such as personality disorders, specific changes begin to occur in the early stages of adulthood.
- Others can systematically affect a part of the population.
- Such as anxiety and depression in women (although in this sense.
- We can talk about overdiagnosis and the few calls for help from men).
One of the main reasons why socioeconomic status is irrelevant to the development of an eating disorder is that stereotypes of beauty and thinness already reach contexts where they would be less common: rural areas.
The age of risk for women is between the ages of 13 and 24, this age group coincides with the child’s stay at home, so although it is known that the role of parents in the prevention of eating disorders is very relevant, one might ask: Is there anything they can do to prevent them from appearing?
Before explaining the role of parents in the prevention of eating disorders and, therefore, what can facilitate or prevent their onset, it should be noted that an eating disorder is linked to many factors, the fact that certain family characteristics may be related to eating disorders does not mean that their development is the family’s fault.
Martínez and Martínez (2017), in studying the relationship between eating disorders, family and sex in Bogota, have found role models in the families of those affected, so they concluded that the dysfunction of the family structure was proportional to the appearance of an eating disorder. disorder, with two main elements: the lack of cohesion and the low tolerance for the frustration of these young women.
In addition, the two researchers discussed excessive parental control with their teenage, overprotective, authoritarian daughters who are not in favor of independence, which may lead them to believe that they have no control over their environment, at an age when they should. acquire responsibilities and power over their lives.
The role of parents in preventing eating disorders does not mean being permissive or negligent. This same study found that lack of affection and supervision is linked to low self-esteem, one of the main characteristics of all.
In addition, researchers discussed the existence of a single type of family where a eating disorder is more likely to occur; in the absence of consensus, it is interesting to note what Espina, Pumar, García and Ayerbe (1995) found in their goal. -analysis of eating disorders and family interaction:
Knowing the enormous impact a parent can have on the onset and development of an eating disorder, we need to think about what they can do.
Martínez, Navarro, Perote and Sánchez (2010) present some useful tools in their educate to grow in health manual: the role of priests and educators in the prevention of eating disorders.
The teen’s body is changing and she’s not the only one who notices it; his entourage also comments on his physique. Some of these reviews can promote good self-esteem.
Many adults who have suffered from an eating disorder remember comments such as “don’t eat so much, otherwise you’ll get fat,” “round face,” “you look like an idiot when you get your hair done like that. “body that has your cousin ?.
Adolescence is a challenge that some teens are not prepared to take on, some believe their discomfort should be reduced with a false solution, eating disorders, which give them control over the body (constant source of discomfort with themselves) and on food.
It is vitally important to educate and provide tools so that they can manage their frustrations and not live adolescence as a confusing step because of the lack of information from parents.
It is recommended to talk about the disorders, the warning signs, the thoughts that may be related to them and the existence of different types of beauty, although the messages that receive other channels are totally different.
It is likely that this role is not played by friends or a society that lives largely from the existence of the problem, you are the one who will have to tell your daughter that thinness is not synonymous with beauty, otherwise it will be her. exposed to adolescence full of physical changes with the idea that extreme thinness, sometimes inaccessible, is what to look for.
The widespread permissiveness of recent decades has resulted in parents, even if they want to set rules, do not know how to do so, so the imposition of limits based on affection and acceptance, differentiating what they would like for their daughters and what they want, is a protective factor against any eating disorder.
Part of the role of parents in prevention is to impose limits. This is perhaps one of the most ungrateful jobs in the short term, but with better medium and long-term effects.
The idea is that if children don’t learn to live with healthy limits when they’re young, they won’t consider them in adolescence, even if they need them, as in the case of eating disorders. necessary to prevent these disorders: affection and control.