Main Causes of Eating Disorders in Young Australians Research Paper 2022

Main Causes of Eating Disorders in Young Australians
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CAUSES OF EATING DISORDERS IN YOUNG AUSTRALIANS 2
Abstract
The cause of eating disorders among the young males and females of Australia has been
hot of research for several years. This paper evaluates the leading causes of eating disorders in
the young people of Australia. It discusses how the causes effect the health conditions of the
youths of the country. The research would be carried through the use of survey. Its aim is to
enhance the knowledge about eating disorders among the young males and females of Australia
and how it is related to health risks for ultimately leading to growth of healthy young people and
reduce the health issues in Australia.

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Introduction
The eating disorders are a set of mental illnesses characterized by disordered eating
behaviors such as inadequate food consumption or overeating. This problem can affect
individuals of all genders and ages, regardless of social and economic factors. They are most
prevalent in the young Australians with rate of 22% between 15 years to 24 years. No single
reason has been recognized and they might take place in the youths through several
psychological, biological, environmental and socio-cultural aspects. Negative emotions and
thoughts about body image, low confidence as well as physical changes could lead to this illness
in youths. The paper will carry on research on the leading causes of eating disorders among the
youths of Australia. It will evaluate some knowledge gaps in the researches of this illness after
reviewing the literature. It will analyze the need of further research on the topic.
Literature Review
The eating disorders are not a single, but a group of serious as well as complicated
illnesses that could have a long-term and significant impact on the life of a young individual. In
the words of Allen, Byrne, Crosby & Stice, (2016), this illness has both psychological along with
biological causes and present within a youth as highly-disturbed eating behaviors and regulation
of weight. They are frequently characterized by severe concern or distress about body shape or
weight, and distorted body image that could excessively affect the positive self-image of a youth.
Some young people of Australia have physical image concerns connected with desirable
muscular figure alongside high levels of physical dissatisfaction and longing for building up
muscles prevalent among young males of Australia.

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Young Female
As mentioned by Atkinson & Wade, (2016), the young women are the most commonly
recognized risk factor for developing eating disorders in Australia and young females have 2.5
times chance of this illness than the young males. The rates of prevalence of this illness is higher
among the young women with bulimia nervosa along with anorexia nervosa, even though
occurrences of binge eating disorders seem to be evenly characterized throughout both genders.
For young women, this illness signifies the second leading source of disability and the third most
common prolonged ailment after asthma and obesity.
Young Male
It has been reported that eating issues and body dissatisfaction such as weight gain
behaviors and weight control are the concerns among the young males. Most of the young men
have stated their desire to change the size of their body, whereas approximately, majority of
young people detected with anorexia nervosa are males. In the opinion of Broomfield, Stedal,
Touyz & Rhodes, (2017), since, young males adopt excessive exercise as well as disordered
eating behaviors, it often led to increased physical bulk along with muscularity, the indications
for possible eating disorders often overlooked.
Prevalence in Australian Young People
Apart from some state-based researches and one national research on early arrival of this illness
among the young people, there is limited data available in Australia regarding the prevalence of
this illness among the youths. But, it has been found that binge eating disorder is common among
the young males and females in Australia. As stated by Dahlgren, Wisting & Rø, (2017), it has
also been discovered shape and weight concerns is higher among these people, along with higher