Representations of beauty standards in health care professionals who attend chilean women diagnosed with Eating Disorder

Abstract

Beauty Standards (BS) have an outstanding role in our society, as a sociocultural phenomenon is easily spread in the contemporary world as they influence in people’s Eating Disorders (ED) mostly in women. Thus, despite their studies, Health Professionals (HP) who work with eating disorders could be influenced by BS. For this reason, the aim of this study is to describe the representations of BE of the HP who attend young adult chilean population diagnosed with eating disorders. A qualitative methodology was used, through in-depth interviews. The main results show that professionals agree that the sociocultural system has historically influenced the construction of BS, providing mandates and prototypes, leading women to fall into harmful diets or TCA in order to reach the body that is accepted and developed a belonging feeling. Currently social networks, family, friends, educational and work environment maintain these BS. In consequence health professionals have used different strategies (i.e. healthy lifestyle, acceptance of their own body image), so that these BS do not interfere in their professional practice.