| At the expense of their physical and mental health, even at great risk of death, hundreds of thousands of young females in modern Western societies dedicate themselves to a regimen of food deprivation and hunger in order to pursue an unnaturally thin body—the current cultural ideal of beauty. The effect of this behavior on loved ones can be devastating. This qualitative study is based on an extensive review of the literature, highlighting the historical, technical, and existential dimensions of the health condition, Anorexia Nervosa. It is an investigation of the roles of genetic and environmental factors, personality variables, and cultural catalysts suspected to influence the development of this disability. The study is a further examination of the social forces that impact the development and continuation of this condition in our culture, and concludes with an attempt to construct an intricate relationship between all of the complex variables. In an effort to better understand her own life-altering experience of living with a child diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, the author examines and shares her personal journey and relates the experiences to historical accounts of the disease as well as current, available research findings. Suggestions and strategies are included for families, educators, and treatment staff, as well as recommendations for further research. |
