The reason for the distinction is not entirely clear however, there appears to be a link between how Western cultures view female attractiveness, which often relates to physical traits and weight. How the individuals view themselves is a major factor in developing an eating disorder. In the mirror confrontation pilot study used to understand how body image affects individuals, patients were given a full-length mirror to view themselves. Researchers concluded, “Patients with bulimia nervosa react with distress to their body image as if it were a phobic stimulus” (Delinsky & Wilson, 2010). The study points to the fact that the victims of bulimia view themselves with negative emotions pointing out only the areas that they view as …show more content…
It seems depression is more common in people with eating disorders but further testing is needed to further achieve a definitive conclusion. Therefore, significant consideration should be given to the fact that it is highly likely that when an individual presents with bulimia they may be suffering from a co-occurring disorder. “A disturbance in interceptive awareness exists independently in bulimia nervosa and in MAD providing a common diathesis from which bulimia may arise given family and social pressure. Bulimics with MAD do not respond to treatment as readily as those without MAD” (Levine & Mishna,