Final Answer:
Alexis's disordered eating habits are notably influenced by her fear of weight gain, reinforced by the compliments from "Her family members continually compliment her on her weight loss." Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alexis's struggle with disordered eating is multi-faceted, with influences converging to exacerbate her condition. While her personal desire for thinness initially prompted her dieting, external influences, notably continual compliments from her family on her weight loss, play a pivotal role in perpetuating and amplifying her disordered eating habits.
The family's persistent praise inadvertently reinforces Alexis's behavior by validating her belief that thinness is not only desirable but also crucial for social acceptance and validation. These affirmations create a feedback loop wherein her disordered eating patterns are reinforced as acceptable and praiseworthy. The fear of losing friends if she gains weight stems from this belief, driving her to extreme measures to maintain her current weight.
Moreover, the impact of societal pressures and ideals regarding body image cannot be discounted. Alexis's environment at college might also contribute to her skewed perceptions, with potential social pressures from peers further solidifying her fear of weight gain and its perceived social consequences. However, the familial influence, with its constant validation of her weight loss, serves as a significant external reinforcement, strengthening her resolve to continue these harmful behaviors.
Although other factors, such as friends avoiding her at the dining hall and the family offering food, might affect her emotional well-being or possibly trigger moments of distress, it's the persistent positive reinforcement from her family regarding her weight loss that directly contributes to the maintenance and escalation of her disordered eating patterns.
Ultimately, these external influences create a complex web that not only reinforces her disordered eating but also consolidates her belief that her worth and acceptance h.i.n.g.e on maintaining a specific weight, driving her further away from a healthy relationship with food and her body.
Correct answer: b. Her family members continually compliment her on her weight loss.
Complete question:
Case study 1 for eating disorders - Alexis (Explore each "Master Training" chapter activity. Use your knowledge of eating disorders to identify symptoms and provide a diagnosis based on the details presented in the following case summary and physical exam:
Case Summary:
- Name: Alexis
- Age: 19
- Sex: Female
- Family: Lives with room mates
- Occupation: College freshman
- Presenting problem: Disturbed eating Alexis started dieting as soon as she got to college, hoping to avoid weight gain during her freshman year. However, what started as watching what she ate soon progressed into disordered eating. Alexis was happy with her weight loss and didn't think there was anything wrong with her eating habits. The problem was identified, though, when she had to get a physical exam to join an intramural soccer team. The physician calculated her body mass index (BMI) and was concerned about her eating habits. The doctor then asked Alexis to describe her eating habits in her own words. Alexis responded that she would most often eat small amounts of food throughout the day and then binge at certain times. The doctor documented her eating habits and BMI; both are presented on the Physical Exam tab. Alexis was honest with the physician but doesn't want to start eating any more food because she is deathly afraid of gaining weight. Since everyone knows her as a thin person, she thinks she will lose friends if she gains weight. She also thinks she could look better if she lost a little bit more weight.
Physical Exam
- Data Eating habits: Patient subsists on about 800 calories a day, binge eating on no more than 200 calories at a time. Patient induces vomiting and laxative use after binge-eating episodes.
- Last menstrual period: 4/29 (over 4 months ago)
- Height: 5'10"
- Weight: 120 lbs
- BMI Grid: 2
Questions: 1. Often, several factors contribute to the development of an eating disorder. In addition to her own desire for thinness, which of the following hypothetical outside influences would exacerbate Alexis's disordered eating habits?
- a. Her friends avoid her at the dining hall on campus.
- b. Her family members continually compliment her on her weight loss.
- c. Her family continually offers her food to supplement what they see her eating.