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Poverty Circumstance and Social Condition on Nutrition and Consumption
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
International Poverty
Poverty is something that impacts individuals on both a national and global level. It is estimated that over 1.3 billion people worldwide live in extreme poverty, with more than 3 billion people living on less that $2.50 per day.
This translates to nearly half of the world’s population, which is suffering with poverty and poor living conditions.1.
It can be hard to grasp the reality of food scarcity and poverty while living in a developed nation where food is often in abundance and even wasted, However, hunger and starvation kills more people worldwide that malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.
A common misconception about eating disorders is that these are diseases of “vanity”, or that individuals willingly chose to have a disorder as a means of having an ideal body or fitting into a certain jean size. Eating disorders are hardly thought of in circumstances where food is scarce or where poverty is the predominantly concerning issue.
Eating Disorders Affect Everyone
Breaking these stigmas begins with understanding the basics of eating disorders, knowing that these are in fact mental illnesses that people do not willingly choose to have. Research has revealed the strong genetic components of eating disorders, demonstrating how biology can make a person more susceptible to developing an eating disorder.
Eating disorders develop irrespective of socioeconomic status, and under the right conditions, these mental illnesses can progress as a result of both biological and environmental factors. Even in a community where access to food is scarce and poverty is the norm, an individual can find themselves struggling with an eating disorder.
Breaking The Stigma
For people who have limited food and who may be unsure as to when their next meal may be, maladaptive behaviors may develop around eating. This may include hoarding of food, consuming food ritualistically, or acting out aggressively or anxiously around food.
Food insecurity, especially for prolonged periods of time, can lead to an unhealthy and distorted relationship with food consumption and nutrition, which can lead to a host of more complex problems, including eating disorders.
While it is not always possible to change the socioeconomic status of an environment or community, it is important to bring awareness to the widespread impact of eating disorders. By shedding more light on the reality of these mental illnesses, further treatment options can be developed and explored.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
What are your thoughts on how poverty can be correlated to eating disorders? Why do you think it is important to break the stigmas that may surround eating disorders and socioeconomic status?
References:
- “11 Facts about Global Poverty”, Do Something About Global Poverty, https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-global-poverty
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on May 07, 2015.
Published on AddictionHope.com
Jacquelyn Ekern founded Eating Disorder Hope in 2005, driven by a profound desire to help those struggling with anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder. This passion resulted from her battle with, and recovery from, an eating disorder.
