Identity, Body-Image, and the Global Epidemiology of Eating Disorders

Abstract

Eating disorders have been explained as syndromes with foundations in Western ideals and values. These disturbances in eating patterns may be more widespread within varied ethnic groups than formerly acknowledged, due to shifting standards that promote the manipulation of the body. Cross-cultural research of eating disorders implies that societal change may be connected to the rise in susceptibility to such conditions, principally when issues concerning identity are involved. Examination of these behaviors in South Korea, South Africa, and Argentina utilizing historical records, journal articles, and research studies has led to the suggestion that these disorders thrive during prosperous phases of time across egalitarian societies. Utilizing the conceptualizations of Michel Foucault pertaining to disciplinary technologies associated with power and control over the body, this thesis seeks to analyze the current etiology and epidemiology of eating disorders in three "emerging" nations, and how preventative measures can be implemented to treat such illnesses.