The applied approach to medical anthropology is defines as the research and analysis done by anthropologist on a specific problem for a specific client. Applied anthropologist used special knowledge and skills to improve global and local communities. In order to improve these communities applied anthropologist start new health programs or they find out why existing health programs are not working. Applied anthropologist develop health programs, national health policies, they raise fund and awareness, distribute vaccines and educate. Applied anthropologist look at theories and methods, instead of viewing one thing they look at the whole picture. From culture to political economic and biology; anthropologist view, study and test everything. Within applied anthropology you also have clinical anthropology. Applied anthropology can be used to study bulimia nervosa in many ways. Anthropologist can perform studies within different areas of people who are bulimic. Finding out why people chose to become bulimic would be a great start. Once the applied anthropologist completes all of their studies they could create more groups to raise awareness thorough the world or they could heavily promote and improve the programs that we already have. The picture below is a chart focusing on bulimia nervosa and everything that has an effect on it.
Globalization is a factor that affects bulimia nervosa in a negative yet positive way. According to globalization 101 eating disorders are becoming very popular around the world mainly due to the media and dieting industry. The television and internet is a huge contributor to why people want to become thin and turn to bulimia for help. In this article an example of a book written by Susan Bordo “blames rise of eating disorders around the world on the spread of western cultures and beauty ideals via mass media. They have different examples of how the United States, Great Britain and Australia had programs that started to broadcast in the Fiji Island which increased eating disorders. Before these programs aired there were no signs of eating disorders and everyone was very comfortable within their bodies. Another example is how the beauty standards changed in Korea after the media became open to foreign programming. Every woman now wanted small breast, a small waist, Western facial features a tall, thin and lean body. So is the western culture the one to blame in the rise of eating disorders? According to this article due to the media and the promotion of beauty, you bet it is!
On the other hand globalization of eating disorders can be used for good. Since the whole world is now affected with eating disorders the only thing we can do is to globally promote it as it really is and that is in a negative way. Globally we need to show everyone that you are perfect the way you are and if you want to lose weight do it the healthy way. Globally promoting health is something that I think this world could use. A lot people want to take the easy way to become thin but it causes a lot of harm to your body, giving them alternatives would be better.
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD) is a great health program that discusses bulimia nervosa and promotes health. ANAD is a “non-profit corporation that seeks to prevent and alleviate the problems of eating disorders, especially including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder”. ANAD is the advocate for healthy attitudes, bodies and behaviors. They promote eating disorder awareness, recovery, education about eating disorder and they connect professionals, families and individuals affected. Their pledge is something I think should be promoted every day and people of all shapes and sizes should real and try to apply this in their everyday life.
“I will accept myself as I am.
I will accept other as they are.
I will support diversity and freedom of expression in the way people think, look and live.
I will not tolerate physical or mental abuse.
I will actively participate in efforts to change media programming and advertising that exploit or demean the human body.
I will work to improve the lives of individuals, communities and the environment.
I will support programs that encourage good health through proper nutrition, regular exercise and adequate sleep.”
On the other hand globalization of eating disorders can be used for good. Since the whole world is now affected with eating disorders the only thing we can do is to globally promote it as it really is and that is in a negative way. Globally we need to show everyone that you are perfect the way you are and if you want to lose weight do it the healthy way. Globally promoting health is something that I think this world could use. A lot people want to take the easy way to become thin but it causes a lot of harm to your body, giving them alternatives would be better.
The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc. (ANAD) is a great health program that discusses bulimia nervosa and promotes health. ANAD is a “non-profit corporation that seeks to prevent and alleviate the problems of eating disorders, especially including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder”. ANAD is the advocate for healthy attitudes, bodies and behaviors. They promote eating disorder awareness, recovery, education about eating disorder and they connect professionals, families and individuals affected. Their pledge is something I think should be promoted every day and people of all shapes and sizes should real and try to apply this in their everyday life.
“I will accept myself as I am.
I will accept other as they are.
I will support diversity and freedom of expression in the way people think, look and live.
I will not tolerate physical or mental abuse.
I will actively participate in efforts to change media programming and advertising that exploit or demean the human body.
I will work to improve the lives of individuals, communities and the environment.
I will support programs that encourage good health through proper nutrition, regular exercise and adequate sleep.”
Medical anthropologist can offer doctors information as far as their research, data and charts. They can also offer government solutions to a healthier world by providing everyone with more help groups or awareness programs. Most importantly medical anthropologists are here to provide everyone with solutions to the problem. Looking at the illness from a culture viewpoint they can try and get the world to advertise more normal size average people and not the thin ones. They can promote self-love, love your body and treat it right because you are only offered one. They can help promote healthier ways to losing weight. Seminars could be a great help to the community to promote and showcase a healthy way of losing weight. Anthropologist can try to make it known that everybody is meant to be themselves, some are naturally going to be skinny but others are not and it is okay to be your own size. It is not healthy to try and force your body to become a size that it is not meant to be. Anthropologist could also try and get rid of these unhealthy fast food places and try and lower the cost of healthier food items so most people can afford them. Or they could start to grow crops and hold farmers markets at a very reasonable prices within neighborhoods.
"Entity Page for Bulimia Nervosa." Entity Page for Bulimia Nervosa. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.
http://www.textmed.com/unknown/bulimia-nervosa.htm#entity_graph
"Globalization and Eating Disorders." Globalization101. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.http://www.globalization101.org/globalization-and-eating-disorders-2/
"ANAD." Mission « National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.
http://www.anad.org/get-information/anad-mission/
"Health Promotion in Japan." :. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.http://healthpromotioninjapan.blogspot.com/2012/06/health-promotion-in-japan.html
"Entity Page for Bulimia Nervosa." Entity Page for Bulimia Nervosa. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.
http://www.textmed.com/unknown/bulimia-nervosa.htm#entity_graph
"Globalization and Eating Disorders." Globalization101. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.http://www.globalization101.org/globalization-and-eating-disorders-2/
"ANAD." Mission « National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.
http://www.anad.org/get-information/anad-mission/
"Health Promotion in Japan." :. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014.http://healthpromotioninjapan.blogspot.com/2012/06/health-promotion-in-japan.html