Culture And Eating Disorders: Article Analysis

A similar aspect about human beings across cultures is that we all have the constant desired to remain healthy. We know that if we are in good health, it means we can be happier, enjoy life, and live longer. However, the way in which some cultures think about health may be very different from other cultures. A series of factors within those cultures might be the ones who influence people the most to acquire certain eating habits and perceptions of a “healthy” individual. Notwithstanding, these habits and perceptions can represent a hazard to those people. In the article, Culture and the Development of Eating Disorders: A Tripartite Model, the author Charlotte N. Markey looks at three main cultural influences that are thought cause disordered …show more content…
This article focuses on the ways we can be influenced into having maladaptive eating behaviors. The author explains that a better way to understand those influences is by looking at three pathways that link culture to eating disorders. She first talks about the transmission of dietary patterns within families. While families from one culture enjoy eating small portions of food, other families prefer big servings. Furthermore, when parents restrict food intake to their children, they will not learn to regulate their food intake in the future, leading to consuming “junk” food. (Markey, …show more content…
What some people acknowledge as positive in one culture might be perceived as negative in another culture. One example of people who can get affected by this aspect is immigrants, who may encounter difficulties at the time of acquiring new values and views from the new culture. The ideal body image, eating habits, and perspectives of health of immigrants can change with influences of the media, since it is constantly sending subliminal messages about what is “right” or “wrong” in terms of physical appearance and