Initial Statement
The purpose of this research paper is to discover the reality behind eating disorders in mid-childhood, how they’re neglected and are constantly on the rise. Moreover, this paper aims to establish links between the incidences and severities of eating disorders in both Indonesia and Australia, and conclude the comparisons and contrasts.
Introduction
Considerable amount of importance is given to eating disorders faced by adolescents and even teenagers, but the middle childhood section is neglected mostly. Eating disorders in the preadolescent stage or generally can be defined as any attempts to alter natural food intake patterns. These can be divided into broad categories that are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. All these are individually equally serious and require the sufferer to seek medical help. Vomiting, diet pills, diets, choking, gagging and overeating are all considered as different methods through which the excessive weight loss, body image or weight gain is attainable . The foremost aspect to note here is that these diseases are not triggered by illnesses and the sufferers never realize they have a problem.
Most of the children through mid-childhood suffer from this severe problem, but it is overlooked because the earlier stages might just be characterized by having dislikes for certain kinds of foods, which later on develops into severe abstinence and restrictive eating . Mid-childhood patients suffering from eating disorders are largely ignored and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders even overlooks this crucial and alarming problem. However, the aspect that is the target of this manual includes problems during infancy and early childhood, when there are occurrences of food refusal and growth deficiencies . According to a research paper by Primary Psychiatry eating disorders in mid-childhood either begin during infancy, through post-traumatic stress disorder and lastly, through early symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. However, it’s important to note that the fear of new foods in children this age may result in sensory aversions leading to lower acceptance levels of food throughout mid-childhood life and further on. A post-traumatic eating disorder forms a psychological base with the ever present feeling that the child will choke on the food and die. Moreover, the fear of becoming fat is associated with anorexia and bulimia inset more by the presence of media and disturbed inner thought and emotions . This paper essentially associates eating disorders with just consumption or food related issues and overlooks excessive eating entirely, which is one the major eating disorders in most countries around the world. Causal relationships are not established and just result based treatments are proposed. Moreover, this research paper fails to cover emotional causes for these eating disorders, differing in quantity and intensity depending upon the country or area within the society under scrutiny.
Previous Research Findings
Research has proven several relationships between factors that explain the occurrence of eating disorders during mid-childhood. Body and weight dissatisfaction is suspected to be more common in European American Children in comparison to African American children, females than in males and also amongst those children aged 6 to 11 who have heterosexual tendencies.
It is established that developed countries, where the standard of living is generally high has higher mid-childhood sufferers of eating disorders. Therefore, higher cases are recorded in countries like Australia, Hong Kong and Sweden . According to a study carried out by Queensland Institute of Technology, not only do eating disorders cause psychological problems and disorders, but they are also the result of such problems. Longitudinal Studies have established that eating irregularities which become severe are a cause of childhood anxiety, parental obesity, depression, and low self-esteem, sexual and physical abuses. The effects that these instances have on children in their mid-childhood differ, some might over consume and some might abstain from food entirely. This study conducted in Australia thoroughly looked into the 1 to 10 age group establishing that the relationship between mothers and their children also sets ground for eating disorders during mid-childhood periods . However, repeatedly this study as well fails to ignore the dire facet of distinctions between society and even economic distinctions for eating disorders in mid-childhood, which in turn result in the unique patterns of eating habits in countries like Australia and Indonesia. A general outline is formulated with its basis in Australia, with no comments on patters in other countries.
According the American Obesity Association 30% children are over-weight and the average child spends at least 4 hours a day watching television, which has increased the proportion of sedentary activities through the course of the day. Nutritionally empty foods and increased junk food consumption are all issues linked with eating disorders causing excessive weight gain . The perceived image of an ideal body has been shaped by the current media trend and is a part of everyone’s conscience. To fit into the society during mid-childhood females have this inclination to shed off weight and look like the celebrities they idolize, managing this through suffering from critical eating disorders .
A report by Hong Kong Eating Disorders Centre Medical Facility has revealed that there has been an increase in the number of eating disorder cases of all ages in Asian countries especially Indonesia. It has been claimed that media can’t be the only source of blame for these eating disorders and low-income high income classifications don’t determine the relative number of cases in eating disorders amongst mid-childhood. Even though economic liberalization in these countries can be stated as one of the causes, it doesn’t play a defining role, and poverty stricken areas have also reported some cases in Indonesia amongst middle childhood bracket . Research also highlights that the Indonesian Fashion Industry is a role model for mid-childhood section and they are unaware of eating disorders despite the media affluence. Phrases like eating healthy and the nervosa family disorders have almost little or no awareness . In Australia however, the problem is seemingly severe, as more than 100 young children, at least half being 6 to 13 years of age have been hospitalized for eating disorder related care. Children under the age of 5 being admitted to the hospital for starvation were rarely boys, statistics revealing a ratio of 1 in 4. This study also establishes that symptoms include low blood pressure, slow heart beat, since excessive weight loss isn’t noticeable in children under 11. If children are skipping meals regularly then that should be an alarm for parents to decrease the amount of eating disorder sufferers in mid-childhood periods . According to research eating disorders are almost never caused by just a body image in mind, there are always underlying reasons that need to be scrutinized to analyze the situation. Even though most cases might seem alike on the surface there are different concealed reasons for the eating disorders. For example some might be facing a divorce at home or being abused in school. Research has established a link between control over life and eating problems, especially starvation amongst middle childhood bracket. Controlling how the body looks helps victims feel better about having little say in other extrinsic life factors. Obesity is more linked psychological factors, as claimed by this research study because children in their mid-childhood period tend to over eat if they’re tense or suffering from depression because it makes them feel secure and more positive . Most often, neglect on the family’s part help to aggravate this condition, but that is more common in countries where there is little awareness regarding eating disorders like in Indonesia . The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and the Westmead Hospital in Sydney have reported that the cases of eating disorders in children under the age of 12 have shockingly increased and more than half of the primary school going children wants to lose weight and have a thinner structure. However, only 25% of these cases are common in males and a majority of victims are females .
A research titled Weight and Wealth: When Food and Finance become disordered has formed a common link between eating disorders and financial crisis. Money serves as an innate form of happiness for both genders alike and the more the wealth and the higher the standard of living the lesser the likelihood of suffering from eating disorders. This factor established a relationship of sorts with depression and how that triggers eating disorders, also in mid-childhood youngsters because they are deeply affected by their family’s financial crisis forming a distinction between haves and have-nots . Previous research and reports fail to establish a link for comparison between the eating disorder sufferers in the mid-childhood brackets. Both are mentioned as separate cases, with no analyzing of the variables like media, poverty, financial security and economic liberalization and how they contribute to middle-childhood eating disorders in particular to Australia and Indonesia.
Shortcomings in the previous Research Findings
Previous research lacks an in depth analysis and structured effects of crucial variables on eating disorders during mid-childhood. There has been more information revealed on the cases and relevant statistics rather than on causal effects. For instance more reports are found on the number of Australian and Indonesian children between 5 to 13 suffering from eating disorders rather than their actual causes. Moreover, research has not established a clear link between the dissimilarity of eating disorders and what brings them to existence in various cases, with regards to both Indonesia and Australia. Independent studies exist, but there aren’t links between any, and they are merely stand alone general offerings. Undetectable eating disorders like refusal to consume certain types of foods, and eating less than normal are the starting point of eating disorders. But, these are ignored in studies from both the countries under reference. Essentially, these disorders are only defined as such when the problem becomes critical and not beforehand.
Research Questions
Do eating disorders share a positive or negative relationship with cross-cultural references with respect to mid-childhood?
Does the economic situation and standard of living in both Australia and Indonesia have an impact on the eating disorder number in mid-childhood?
Is there an equal effect of the media on increasing the incidences of eating disorders in both these countries?
Do intrinsic and extrinsic physiological and psychological factors have an impact on increasing the number of eating disorder cases in these countries?
How strongly do undetectable eating problems lead to severe eating disorders in both situations?
Hypothesis
The current hypothesis that I have taken up will look in detail at all the causal and effect relationships and will form a link between economic, media and standard of living for causing eating disorders in early childhood in both Indonesia and Australia. Intrinsic factors not dependent upon each respective country’s growth like emotional, familial relationships and traumas will also be analyzed physiologically and psychologically for their effects. In essence, the eating disorders as shown in Australia are rather severe, with more than half of the cases originating from 5 to 13 year olds as those are majorly admitted into hospitals . An in depth study related to Indonesia needs to be created, based on samples and comparisons to Australia for formulated relationships.
References
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