Eating Disorders and Obesity: Similarities and Differences
This paper examines the relationship between eating disorders—primarily anorexia and bulimia—and obesity, arguing that the two are more similar than they are different. Drawing on psychological research and clinical observations, the paper compares shared features including genetic predispositions, distorted body image, low self-esteem, and dysfunctional relationships with food. It also acknowledges key differences, such as behavioral manifestations and the fact that obesity is not always rooted in psychological dysfunction. The paper concludes that enough commonalities exist to justify similar treatment approaches, including the Twelve Step program Overeaters Anonymous, for both eating disorders and obesity.
- Introduction: Thesis linking eating disorders and obesity
- Comparing Obesity and Eating Disorder Behaviors: Behavioral overlaps in binging, exercise, and genetics
- Psychological Features of Eating Disorders and Obesity: Shared psychological risk factors and body image distortion
- Key Similarities, Differences, and Treatment Implications: Synthesis of similarities, differences, and shared treatments
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses a clear compare-and-contrast structure that systematically examines behavioral, psychological, and genetic dimensions of both eating disorders and obesity.
- Grounds the argument in peer-reviewed sources and a concrete clinical example—Overeaters Anonymous—to illustrate real-world overlap between conditions.
- Acknowledges counterarguments (e.g., cases where obesity has no psychological component) before reinforcing the thesis, lending the paper intellectual balance.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of comparison and contrast as an organizational strategy. Rather than treating each condition in isolation, the author maps specific variables—genetics, body image, self-esteem, exercise, and treatment response—across all conditions simultaneously, allowing readers to see both convergence and divergence within a unified analytical frame.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a thesis-driving quotation and a claim about the underappreciated overlap between obesity and eating disorders. The second section compares behavioral factors such as binge eating, exercise, and genetics. The third section examines psychological classifications and shared risk factors like distorted body image and low self-esteem. The final section synthesizes the three main similarities and three main differences, ending with a treatment-focused conclusion.
Introduction
According to Himmel (2009), "We could save a lot of pain, suffering and money by incorporating obesity into the range of illnesses now classified as eating disorders, and focusing on prevention." Obesity-related issues are frequently classified separately from eating disorders, but there is more overlap than many people believe. When a person diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia—the traditionally recognized eating disorders—enters treatment with a professional counselor or psychologist, a Twelve Step program called Overeaters Anonymous is sometimes recommended. The Twelve Step program Overeaters Anonymous was not started to help people with anorexia and bulimia, and yet it has come to serve these populations as well, suggesting that what Himmel (2009) says is correct.
Eating disorders encompass a range of disordered eating behaviors. Individual differences ensure that no two people practice an eating disorder for the same reasons. By the same token, obesity can be caused by similar underlying psychological variables as anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders and obesity do share some features when there is an underlying psychological dysfunction. However, there are cases in which obesity is not caused by a psychological dysfunction; in those cases, obesity can be distinguished from eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Generally, though, there are enough similar underlying factors—including genetics, behavior, and risk factors—to warrant similar treatment interventions for eating disorders and obesity. Eating disorders and obesity are more similar than they are different.
References
Day, J., Ternouth, A., & Collier, D. A. (2009). Eating disorders and obesity: Two sides of the same coin? Epidemiological Psychiatry, 18(2), 96–100.
Himmel, S. (2009). You must be hungry. Psychology Today, 18 September 2009. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/you-must-be-hungry/200909/is-obesity-eating-disorder
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