The Impact of the Digital Age on Eating Disorders

In your readings, the authors discuss the prevalence of pro-eating disorder websites (sites that assist the client in sustaining unhealthy behaviors related to an eating disorder) and their impact on the health of individuals living with an eating disorder. The authors also discuss recovery websites that promote treatment strategies for those struggling with an eating disorder. In clinical practice, social workers need to be aware of the different resources available to clients living with an eating disorder that would affect the recovery process.

For this Discussion, read this week’s Resources. Then search the Internet for a website that promotes strategies to sustain pro-eating disorders. Finally, identify a recovery website.

• Post an analysis of how the website you selected affects behaviors listed in the DSM-5 criteria for eating disorders.

• Then analyze the strategies the recovery website suggests for addressing the problematic behaviors and the related self-perceptions of the individuals living with an eating disorder.

• Include the URLs for the websites in your discussion.

Support your post with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

References (use 3 or more)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Verstuyf, J., Vansteenkiste, M., Soenens, B., Boone, L., & Mouratidis A. (2013). Daily ups and downs in women’s binge eating symptoms: The role of basic psychological needs, general self-control, and emotional eating. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 32(3), 335–361.

McGee, B. J., Hewitt, P. L., Sherry, S. B., Parkin, M., & Flett, G. L. (2005). Perfectionistic self-presentation, body image, and eating disorder symptoms. Body Image, 2, 29–40.

Peebles, R., Wilson, J. L., Litt, I. F., Hardy, K. K., Lock, J. D., Mann, J. R., & Borzekowski, D. (2012). Disordered eating in a digital age: Eating behaviors, health, and quality of life in users of websites with pro-eating disorder content. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(5), 305–320.