Struggles Facing Teens: Parents Shouldn't Blame Themselves - Struggles with Eating Disorders among Adolescents - Parents Ought Not to Blame Themselves
Article:
Professor Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, a renowned psychiatrist, shed light on the significant role mothers' guilt plays in the development of anorexia nervosa (AN) during a podcast discussion. The renowned child and adolescent psychiatry expert emphasized the need to tackle this issue.
During the podcast, Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann was asked about her personal weight management practices, to which she humorously replied that she, like many women, does indeed keep an eye on her weight. Her recent research, most notably a study published in April 2025, focuses on the shifting trends in eating disorder diagnoses and hospitalizations, which may indicate broader societal and healthcare system influences.
Herpertz-Dahlmann's research underscores the intricate interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors in the development of eating disorders like AN. Modern societal pressures, such as the glorification of thinness and increased self-monitoring of weight, are influential risk factors, particularly among women. These pressures can result in harmful weight control behaviors and exacerbate body dissatisfaction, core characteristics of AN.
While the study primarily presents epidemiological data, the context suggests that societal pressure and self-monitoring behaviors significantly contribute to the onset and persistence of eating disorders in vulnerable populations. Improved understanding of these factors may pave the way for more effective early interventions and ultimately reduce hospitalizations related to eating disorders.
Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann's work underscores the need to address societal pressures and self-monitoring behaviors as vital components in the fight against eating disorders like AN. By doing so, we can potentially prevent the development of these harmful conditions and support a healthier, more self-accepting society.
The following are some of the main problems contributing to the development and persistence of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa: (1) the societal glorification of thinness leading to increased self-monitoring of weight, (2) the influence of science and research in establishing shifts in eating disorder diagnoses and hospitalizations. Addressing mental-health concerns, health-and-wellness, and nutrition is crucial in creating a healthier, more self-accepting society, as highlighted by Professor Herpertz-Dahlmann's work.
