Detective Risk Factors

About 7 million women and 1 million men have an eating disorder in America (anorexia or bulimia) (J, 2011). Some risk factors for developing an eating disorder are biological and psychological predisposition, family dysfunction, and societal and developmental pressure (Silvestri, 2017). In addition to those risk factors an individual may get positive reinforcement from family or friends about their weight and this may lead to perpetuating the poor eating habits. While watching the documentary, Dying to be think (NOVA, 2016), many of the women who shared their stories had risk factors and eventually developed an eating disorder. Kate Dillion, a plus-size model, said she was taunted and bullied for her weight by schoolmates who repetitively called her “overweight Kate” and lost 30lbs and grew 4in in the 7th grade. She felt as though after losing the weight and becoming anorexic she became well-liked by peers and went onto to become a professional model. She then went onto experience further pressure from modeling agencies and photographers to lose more weight. She eventually quit modeling and developed healthier eating habits and now works as a plus size model. Some protective risk factors that we can establish as nurses while working with these clients include: Being accepting and nonjudgemental, assess nutritional status and medical problems, encourage the patient to express feelings about the eating behavior and how the client feels about their body, weight daily at the same time using the same scale and wearing the same clothing, refer …show more content…
(2011, January 19). Eating Disorders - Anorexia. Retrieved March 14, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQCJL1fk46U

Nova - Dying to be Thin (PBS Documentary). (2016, September 30). Retrieved March 14, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMyumga-Jr8

Silvestri, L. A., & Silvestri, A. E. (2017). Saunders comprehensive review for the NCLEX-RN examination (7 edition.). St. Louis, Missouri: