Abstract
Eating Disorders (EDs) involve a consuming drive for thinness. They cause significant physical and psychosocial impairment. A core commonality between EDs is the overvaluation of body weight and shape as a measure of selfworth. The purpose of this paper is to review the importance of self-worth perception in the development and treatment of EDs in women and girls. Women and girls with EDs tend to believe their worth comes from body weight and shape, as opposed to intrinsic sources. Self-worth can interact with other factors such as relationships, body dissatisfaction, and perfectionism in ED development. A major goal of treatment is to replace false beliefs about the source of selfworth with more truthful, positive beliefs. To do this, counselors should work with the patient's social support system and address the patient's negative thinking and perfectionism. Prevention efforts would ideally start at an early age by instilling in young girls an understanding of their inherent worth.
Recommended Citation
(2015)
"Self-worth in the Development and Treatment of Eating Disorders,"
Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology: Vol. 11:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/intuition/vol11/iss1/3