Ätstörningar är en sjukdomsgrupp som blir allt vanligare i samhället. En av orsakerna till att sjukdomen ökar är det orealistiska idealet som presenters i media. Mediatrycket blir även mer påtagligt och lättåtkomligt. Idealet medför en ökad missnöjdhet med den egna kroppen och med utseendet som bidrar till ett driv för förändring. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om män påverkats av media i samma utsträckning som kvinnor i insjuknandet av en ätstörning. Samt om könet spelar en central roll för vem som drabbas. Av de som drabbas av en ätstörning och söker vård utgörs enbart 10% av män. Kan idealet ha en påverkan till att färre män drabbas? Eller medför de olika föreställningarna kring könen och sjukdomen att män inte inser att se är sjuka, vågar de inte söka hjälp eftersom det anses vara en kvinnosjukdom? Resultatet tyder på att sjukdomen är komplex till sin natur, där inte enbart en mediafaktorn bidrar till att en person drabbas. / Eating disorders are a disease group that is becoming more common in society. One of the reasons that the disease is increasing is the unrealistic ideal that is presented in media. The media-pressure is substantial and accessible. The beauty ideal involve a dissatisfaction of a persons own body and his or hers appearance that will contribute to the drive of change. The purpose of this study is to investigate if men, as well as women, are influenced by the media-factor in the sicken of an eating disorder. Also if the sex matters and plays a certain role for those who suffer. Only 10 percent of those who are suffering from an eating disorder and that seeks help are men. Can the ideal have an direct affect that less men suffer from this disease? Or can the different expectations of the sexes and of the disease implicate that men don´t realize that they are sick, or that they feel shameful to seek help because eating disorders are known to be a women’s disease? The results implicate that eating disorders is a complex disease and that the media-factor alone does not contribute to sicken or the cause of sickness.

Bakgrund: Man kan se att en stor andel unga kvinnor lider av ätstörning samtidigt som det ä rbrist på kunskap om vilka hälsopromotiva åtgärder som är viktiga vid tillfrisknande. Syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka hälsofrämjande faktorer som bidragit till att unga kvinnor tagit sig ur en ätstörning. Metod: Kvalitativ metod med snöbollsurval och bekvämlighetsurval användes för att nå deltagarna. 17 kvinnor i åldrarna 19-59 år medverkade i studien. Öppna brev användes för att samla in data. De öppna breven analyserades enligt kvalitativinnehållsanalys med latent ansats där författarna tog ut meningsbärande enheter, koder, kategorier och teman. Analysen resulterade i tre huvudteman: Jag och min starka kropp, En främjande och glädjefylld miljö där jag kan vara mig själv och “Det löser sig nog -”stärkande insatser. Sex subteman skapades: Inom mig, Lyssna på kroppens olika behov, Balans mellan krav och stöd från betydelsefulla människor i min närhet, Faktorer i minomgivning, Konsten att sköta kosten och Professionell personal och preventiva verktyg som resurs. Resultat: Det som framkommer i resultatet är att flera olika faktorer främjade hälsa hos de unga kvinnorna och bidrog till att de tillfrisknande från ätstörning. Dessa faktorer var; att acceptera den man är och ge sig själv kärlek. Att få stöd och uppmuntran från nära. Aktiviteter och positiva sammanhang. Matstöd och preventiva åtgärder på klinik samt vägledning av utbildad personal. Slutsats: Riskåldern för att drabbas av ätstörning är 13-30 år och därför är det viktigt att jobba med hälsofrämjande insatser redan i ung ålder. I den här studien framkom det att flera olika faktorer är viktiga för tillfrisknande från ätstörning men även för att stärka hälsa hos kvinnor som är friska. / Backgound: A large population of young women suffers from eating disorders and at the same time there is a lack of knowledge about which health promotive tools are important in the fight to get well. The aim of the study was to investigate which health promoting factors that contributed to the womens recovery. Methods: Qualitative method with snowball sampling and convenience sampling was used to find the participants. 17 women in the age of 19-59 years participated in the study. Data was collected by open letters and then analyzedwith latent qualitative content analysis where the authors arranged meaning units, codes, categories, sub-themes and themes. The analysis resulted in three main themes: Me and my strong body, An encouraging and joyful environment where I can be myself and "It will all be alright" - strong efforts. Six sub-themes were created: Within me, Listening to the different needs of the body, Balance between demands and support from important people in my environment, Factors in my environment, The art of manage the diet and Professional staff and preventive tools as a resource. Results: What is evident in the results is that several factors promote health for the young women and contributed to the recovery from eating disorders. To accept who you are and give yourself love. To get support and encouragement from near. Activities and positive contexts. Food support and preventive methods at the clinic and guidance of healthcare professionals. Conclution: Most common age to suffer from eating disorder is 13-30 years old. Therefore, it is important to work with health promotive efforts at a young age. In this study, it emerged that several factors are important for recovery from eating disorders, but also for strengthening the health of women who are healthy.

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This thesis investigates the application of TrueBalance, a conversational agent designed to support young adults vulnerable to eating disorders (EDs). TrueBalance integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques with biomedical insights, including genetic and neurobiological factors, to provide a more personalized and scientifically grounded support system. It addresses limitations in existing dietary monitoring tools that usually focus on calorie tracking and food intake, often neglecting the nuanced needs of specific groups like young females and elite athletes, who are particularly vulnerable to EDs and disordered eating behaviors.  The study addresses how biomedical determinants can be integrated into a conversational agent, how these agents can utilize CBT principles to support individuals vulnerable to EDs, and what challenges and opportunities arise from the user’s perspective when using such a dialogue model. The research strives to bridge the gap in current dietary self-monitoring tools by offering a more robust and empathetic support system for individuals struggling with EDs. Through iterative development and user testing, TrueBalance has demonstrated its potential as an engaging educational tool. Feedback from both therapists and users has highlighted the tool’s utility in real-world settings. It has led to suggestions for enhancements in personalizing interactions and making response systems more adaptive. The findings suggest conversational agents like TrueBalance have potential in non-clinical support environments for individuals with EDs and function as a potential informative, supportive tool for therapists’ education. / Denna masteruppsats undersöker användningen av TrueBalance, en konversationsagent designad för att stödja unga vuxna som är sårbara för ätstörningar. TrueBalance integrerar tekniker från Kognitiv beteendeterapi (KBT) med biomedicinska insikter, inklusive genetiska och neurobiologiska faktorer, för att tillhandahålla ett mer personligt och vetenskapligt förankrat stödsystem. Den tar itu med begränsningarna i befintliga verktyg för kostövervakning, som vanligtvis fokuserar på kalorispårning och matintag men ofta förbiser de nyanserade behoven hos specifika grupper, såsom unga kvinnor och elitidrottare, som är särskilt sårbara för ätstörningar och ätstörda beteenden. Studien behandlar hur biomedicinska determinanter kan integreras i en konversationsagent, hur dessa agenter kan använda KBT-principer för att stödja individer sårbara för ätstörningar, samt vilka utmaningar och möjligheter som uppstår från användarens perspektiv när de använder en sådan dialogmodell. Forskningen strävar efter att överbrygga klyftan i nuvarande verktyg för kostövervakning genom att erbjuda ett robustare och mer empatiskt stödsystem för individer som kämpar med ätstörningar. Genom iterativ utveckling och användartester har TrueBalance visat sin potential som ett engagerande pedagogiskt verktyg. Återkoppling från både terapeuter och användare har belyst verktygets nytta i verkliga sammanhang. Det har lett till förslag på förbättringar för att personalisera interaktioner och göra responssystemen mer adaptiva. Resultaten tyder på att konversationsagenter som TrueBalance har potential i icke-kliniska stödmiljöer för individer med ätstörningar och kan fungera som ett potentiellt informativt, stödjande verktyg för terapeuters utbildning.

1 online resource (vii, 138 leaves : ill.) / Following an awareness of an increased turn over of staff in the eating disorder unit as compared with other specialised units, in a psychiatric hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tara Hospital, the researcher was motivated to investigate the issue. An exploratory, descriptive based research was chosen to explore and gain information about the topic and its implications. A qualitative research approach was used to gain insight into the perceptions and needs of the team working on the unit. The case study method was used. A pilot study was undertaken to test the validity of the interview schedules. The sampling category was a non- probability one. Individuals were selected from the population of staff working on the unit. Participants were selected from two groups, those who were presently working on the unit and those who had previously worked on the unit and now working in other units. Interview procedure involved personal semi-structured interviews conducted by the researcher and analysed qualitatively and a structured interview questionnaire analysed quantitatively. The researchers assumption that many staff members move from working in an eating disorders unit was confirmed and is due to the following: Staff turnover is due to constant exposure to occupational stress and burnout. Feelings of helplessness, a sense of being unappreciated and excessive exposure to conflict from the patients. In addition, staff experience minimum rewards leading to lowered job satisfaction due to the patients slow recovery rates and a poor prognosis of the illness. Staff also experience a change in their eating patterns and an increased awareness around food and food issues. Recommendations to the staff include: * Psycho-education on eating disorders. * Implementation of strategies to provide supportive care for all staff members. * Education on stress management and strategies to prevent staff burnout and lowered job satisfaction. * A multidisciplinary teamwork approach by the staff, when working in the unit. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Science in Mental Health)

Eating disorders remain a phenomenon that escapes full comprehension, resulting in frustration for those who suffer from the disorders, their families, and their therapists. It is becoming increasingly necessary to describe the mechanism by which eating disorders develop, in order to effectively treat and prevent these disorders. The aim of this study was to illuminate factors that contributed to the development of eating disorders within the individual contexts of the lives of the participants, as well as how those factors interacted in context to culminate in the development of an eating disorder. This qualitative study was conducted from an interpretive perspective. The findings show how individual contextual factors interact to produce a marked fear of gaining weight, which is driven by fear of negative evaluation, and that the eating disorder behaviour serves specific functions that are related to coping with stress within the lives of the participants. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Psychology with specialisation in Research Consultation)

As a whole, eating disorders have been characterised as having the following key features: a persistent over concern with body size and shape; and weight control behaviours such as fasting, exercise, and self-induced vomiting. However, there tends to be a blurred line between those that do and do not meet diagnostic thresholds as the level of psychological distress is comparably similar. This study examined whether psychological inflexibility (from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy perspective) was associated with eating disorders and whether it mediated the relationship between childhood abuse and invalidation and eating disorders. This was considered to be important because high rates of abuse have consistently been found in this population, yet not everyone goes on to develop an eating disorder. In addition, the role of emotional abuse has been largely neglected. A clinical sample of 190 participants with a clinical or subclinical eating disorder were recruited from eating disorder charities and support forums; they completed a range of questionnaires measuring experiences of abuse and maternal/paternal emotional invalidation in childhood, current levels of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance and current levels of eating pathology. The sample was split into three groups based on their Eating Disorder Risk Composite scores: elevated, typical and low clinical range. It was found that those in the elevated clinical range (most severe eating pathology) had the poorest emotional processing and significantly higher levels of psychological inflexibility, thought-shape-fusion, depression and anxiety than those in the low clinical range (least severe eating pathology). In terms of predicting current levels of eating pathology, three variables emerged as significant predictors: emotional processing, thought-shape fusion and depression. In terms of predicting current levels of psychological inflexibility, five variables emerged as significant predictors: childhood emotional abuse, emotional processing, thought-shape-fusion, depression and anxiety. The results add novel findings to the literature regarding the role of early experiences on the development of psychological inflexibility, and the role of psychological inflexibility in the maintenance of eating pathology and psychological distress. Clinical implications of these findings in relation to assessment, formulation, intervention and prevention are discussed.

Poruchy příjmu potravy ve spojitosti s jinými diagnózami. Eating Disorders in Connection with other Diagnoses Bc. Marie Vavrušková The aim of this thesis, which focuses on the topic "Eating Disorders in Connection with Other Diagnoses," is to introduce the different types of eating disorders that have been previously diagnosed (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, psychogenic overeating and new forms of eating disorders), to specify the medical treatment offered to patients in the Czech Republic, and in particular to describe what other mental or somatic disorders are most commonly associated with eating disorders. The empirical part of the thesis presents a questionnaire which analyses the following aspects: type of eating disorder from which the clients of Centrum Anabell Praha suffer most frequently, where their medical treatment takes place, whether they suffer from another mental or somatic disorder associated with eating disorders, and whether eating disorders have a negative impact on their lives. The empirical part also presents a case report, which describes the life story, history and prognosis of a man who suffers from an eating disorder and other associated disorders.

RESUME: Level of foreknowledge of the eating disorders Eating disorders make characteristic problem of current word in many wals. Eating disorders are extréme and simplified answer on a complicated question of personál satisfaction and sociable as well as health. We are surrounded by media which show beauty bodies. Television programmes, films, magazines for woman and men - everywhere we met with an idea, that beauty, young and femine body is a gurantee of personál hapiness. And unfortunately: not only the guarantee, but even requirement. I have chosen this topic for its topicalyty. It can be expected, that a number of disordered by eating disorders will still increase and society will have to deal with it. In my researech - I tried to focus on point how students are notified of eating disorders. '' Why just on students''? This is the most endangered group of people, where usually eating disorders start. In my option - I think that a lot of people knot these both kinds of disorders, but they do not realisme or do not knot importace of these disorders. The result of my research should show, if there is a need to more inform young people about these disorders and by this precede a rising of eating disorders. I dividend my development into two parts: Theoretical part: In theoretical part I did aim to eating...

Introdução - Pacientes portadores de diabetes tipo 1 que manifestam comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares (TA) possuem grandes chances de complicações microvasculares e macrovasculares e maiores taxas de mortalidade. Objetivo Avaliar a freqüência de comportamento de risco para TA em adolescentes e adultos portadores de diabetes tipo 1 bem como sua relação com variáveis socioeconômicas, nutricionais, relacionadas ao diabetes e satisfação corporal. Metodologia: Foram aplicados: Teste de Investigação Bulímica de Edinburgh (BITE), Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT), Escala de Compulsão Alimentar Periódica (ECAP) e Escala de Silhuetas de Stunkard, além da mensuração de peso, estatura e cálculo do IMC. Foram verificadas associações ou diferenças estatísticas por meio dos testes de Qui-Quadrado e T-Student e Regressão Logística para identificar fatores que influenciaram o risco da doença. Resultados: Um total de 58,7% dos pacientes apresentaram escore positivo em algum dos testes utilizados para risco de TA. Houve diferença significante entre os grupos com e sem risco para TA com relação ao IMC (p=0,009), gênero (p=0,001), omissão de insulina (p=0,003), uso de insulina NPH (p=0,006), ausência do uso da insulina Glargina (p=0,021), ausência do uso da técnica de contagem de carboidratos (p=0,019), controle da glicemia (p=0,049) e insatisfação corporal (p=0,001). Conclusão: Portadores de diabetes tipo 1 apresentaram grande freqüência de comportamentos de risco para o TA, o que requer atenção e cautela dos profissionais de saúde. / Introduction - Patients suffers of type 1 diabetes that reveal risk behavior for eating disorders (ED) have more chances of micro and macro vascular complications and a high mortality level. Objective Evaluate the frequency of risk behavior for ED in teenagers and adults suffers of type 1 diabetes as well as its relation to the socially economical variable, nutritional variable, related to diabetes and body satisfaction. Methodology: There was applied: The Bulimic Inventory Test of Edinburgh (BITE), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), Binge Eating Scale (BES) and The Stunkard´s Figure Rating Scale, besides weight measure, height and BMI calculation of the patients. There were verified associations or statistical differences through tests of Chi-Square and T-student and Logistical Regression to identify the factors that influenced the risk of the disease. Results: A total of 58,7% patients presented positive score in tests used for ED risk. There was a significant difference among the groups with and without risk for ED in relation to the BMI (p=0,009), gender (p=0,001), omission of insulin (p=0,003), usage of NPH insulin (p=0,006), lack of usage of Glargine insulin (p=0,021), lack of usage of the technique of carbohydrate counting (p=0,019), blood glucose control (p=0,049) and body dissatisfaction (p=0,001). Conclusion: The suffers of type 1 diabetes presented high frequency of risk behavior for ED, which require more attention when caring for patients for the prevention of the disease.