Abstract
This article presents the significant research in eating disorders within the conceptual frame of a multidimensional model. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa begin with dieting. Behaviors and influences antecedent to this dieting experience can be categorized into problems of biological vulnerability, psychological predispositions, and societal influences. Numerous studies in each of these categories have provided salient information for the understanding of the development of the eating disorders. However, it is the integrative effect of the disturbances in all of these categories on dieting behavior that propels the individual person into developing an eating disorder. As the dieting continues, starvation effects, weight loss, nutritional effects, and psychological changes occur. Both psychological and physiological reinforcement of the maladaptive eating behavior continues a sustaining cycle of the core dysfunctional eating disorder behaviors.
The numerous treatment approaches for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa reflect the studies representing the various categories of the multidimensional model for eating disorders. To date, no treatment can predict recovery in the specific patient. Continued controlled treatment studies are essential to provide this information.
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