**6. Conclusion**

98 New Insights into the Prevention and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa

contours is due to the fact that women overestimate the body image and men underestimate it (Almeida et al., 2006; Atalah et al., 2004; Coqueiro et al., 2008; Damasceno et al., 2005;

Although percentages of the body image dissatisfaction prevalence may be different in Australia, Croatia, UK, Mexico, Switzerland and the USA, it is very high in all countries and this lack of satisfaction is not merely found in overweight or obese subjects but also in

Due to incidence increase in eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, several researches are relating them to body image disorders (Almeida et al., 2005; Conti et al., 2010; Killen et al., 1994; Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006; Smolak & Levine, 2001, Stein et al., 1998; Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2006; Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2008). It should also be underscored that during the last years body image disorders have been found in still younger eutrophic

Since body image formation involves the subjects' relationship with their own body, positive and gratifying experiences are required with regard to the body so that a satisfactory development of the body image may occur. The subjects who refuse their own physical appearance undergo an interpersonal anxiety experience and have difficulties in

Overweight and obesity in any age bracket are high stigmatizing conditions in society and negatively affect the subjects' vocational, professional and relationship opportunities. Fear of being obese, body dissatisfaction and the preoccupation in being thin may establish body image distortions in children and adolescents, produce health damaging behaviour such as the inadequate ingestion of food, risking cognitive development and the development of eating behaviour disorders, such as bulimia nervosa (Cooley & Toray, 2001; Crocker et al., 2003; Johnson & Wardle, 2005; Nunes et al., 2003; Pinheiro & Giugliane, 2006a; Stice et al.,

Girls who go on restrictive eating diets gain weight in the long run and thus a vicious circle ensues (Field et al., 2003; Stice et al., 1999; Stice et al., 2002). These situations are a source of concern to health professionals because of the high prevalence of adolescents with low body satisfaction levels (Smolak, 2004). Several studies have emphasized that body dissatisfaction is associated with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia in adolescent and adult females (Cattarin & Thompson, 1994; Thompson & Smolack, 2001) and also in children

Several research works have associated body dissatisfaction and a wide variety of negative implication in health and behaviour, such as an increase in depression, low self-esteem, and anxiety, and an increase in dangerous habits such as smoking, alcoholism and drug-taking (Ackard et al., 2002; Granner et al., 2002; Ohring et al., 2002; Pesa et al., 2000; Rierdan & Koff,

A five-year longitudinal study revealed that body-dissatisfied males and females frequently acquire eating compulsion, acquire bad eating behaviour, live a sedentary life and adopt unhealthy habits for weight control. The above study proved that low body dissatisfaction fails to be a motivation to get a healthy weight behaviour. On the contrary, it predisposes to types of behaviour that may put to risk adolescents' health and it increases chances in

Kakeshita & Almeida., 2006; Madrigal et al., 2000; Tanaka et al., 2002).

populations too (Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2006; Souza-Kaneshima et al., 2008).

eutrophic ones (Ricciardelli & McCabe, 2001).

**5. Consequences of body dissatisfaction** 

their social interactions (Castilho, 2001).

1997; Stice & Shaw, 2002; Stice et al., 2000).

weight gaining (Neumark-Sztainer et al*.*, 2006).

2002; Vilela et al., 2004).

(Gardner et al., 2002).

While the social media and social culture associate a beautiful body with slimness, they transmit a beauty standard unattainable by most people. The body image's distortion may be related to the thin body as the ideal body type. Since the distortion is normally linked to diseases such as depression, it may also be associated with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa. In fact, such diseases are difficult to deal with and perhaps the best type of prevention is an improvement of satisfaction with the body image, especially during childhood and adolescence which are the periods in which subjects are building their body image.

Educational campaigns focused on healthy social milieus which make possible an emotional well-being are highly recommended. Campaigns, physical activities and the intake of healthy food should be adopted by the community and broadcasted by all the social media. Results in the subjects' health will be visible in a short space of time. Therefore, parents, educational personnel and health agents should not merely increase their knowledge on the potential risks of overweight during childhood and its consequences in adulthood but provide practical and concrete alternatives, such as linking leisure with physical activities. It will surely improve children and adolescents' body image. The family may also provide a wide variety of healthy food for children and the latter may choose their preferences.

Children and young people will have healthy feelings with regard to themselves coupled to a solid self-esteem. They will never have their physical value tainted by the social impositions on beauty. Avoidance of eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa, and an improvement in their body's image will be achieved when there is a change in current ideal of beauty, which is already being sustained by many experts in the field.
