With mass media brainwashing us to believe that beauty
(for women) equates to being 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighs 116 lbs. with an
hourglass figure of 36”-24”-36”. I do
not know whether this is even possible, but most school girls and women feel
the pressure to be physically perfect in order to be beautiful.
“By age 6, girls especially start to express concerns about
their own weight or shape. 40-60% of elementary school girls (ages 6-12) are
concerned about their weight or about becoming too fat. This concern endures
through life.” (Smolak, 2011).
Individuals with eating disorders developed this illness at
some point during a traumatic experience(s) which they were teased and/or
humiliated for being overweight. Trauma like this can cause the individual to
binge eating, purging behavior, or using of drugs to numb the pain or trying to
take control over their lives – no matter how false the sense of control may
be.
13 million Americans have an eating disorder – and it is not
only women – 1 million is men. Social
Media promotes fear of becoming fat among children in the age of 10. (See
Figure 1, CNN)
(Figure 1, CNN)
Eating disorder is no laughing matter. It has the highest
morality rate out of all the mental illness. Treatment costs in the US ranges
from $500-$2000 per day in a clinical setting. (DMH) This amount seems unbelievably high. I
started to wonder if there are non-clinical or private centers that offer help
at a discount. I found an article on eating disorder and art-making in Canada
where they offer help in free non-clinical, community-based support centers.
The article points out that there are two major challenges
to recovery for individuals with eating disorders. One is that cost of the treatment and the
second is the patient’s feeling of ambivalence that associates with eating
disorders. The study used phenomenological methods while they interviewed 6
women for this study. In this discussion-based and art-based group study, the
findings resulted in 4 themes:
1.
Sense of Control over Process
2.
Sense of Safety
3.
Development of Self-awareness
4.
Improvement in Sense of Emotional Well-being
“All of the participants have mentioned in their moods as a
result of attending the art-based groups….Other research suggests that engaging
in creative thoughts can increase blood
flow to the brain,…studies also find that serotonin, a brain chemical that
helps to alleviate feelings of depression, is increased during creative
activities.” (Ki, 2011)
The article did not share the exact art projects used
because they wanted to give the participants the freedom from the “pressure of
having to develop new ideas and at the same time helped them engage with
personal issues to whatever extent they chose.” (Ki, 2011)
I wonder if coloring a predesigned mandala or creating their
own pattern before a meal would help the patient from binge eating. From the Patricia Ki’s article, it is obvious
that art-making is beneficial to the participants, but I wonder if what
specific project would be the most beneficial to help treat the illness. Eating
disorder can take up to 15 years to recover. If I were to work with an anorexic,
what art project would actually empower them to overcome the situation and the
lie of beauty? I don’t believe
art-making would be the only key to recovery, but it would play an important
role.
About 10 years ago, Dove launched a campaign to create a
paradigm shift for self-image and beauty. Using the arts, Dove ‘Real Beauty’
Campaign produced a video to help spread awareness in homes to safe another
person from self-hatred. It shows how impossible it truly is to have it all
without manipulations of Photoshop or surgery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
References:
Smolak, L. (2011). Body image development in childhood. In
T. Cash & L. Smolak (Eds.),
Body Image: A Handbook of Science, Practice, and Prevention (2nd ed.). New
York: Guilford.
Ki, P. (2011). Exploring the experiences of participants in short-term
art-based support groups for adults living with eating disorders. Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal
24:1-12
