The Westernization of Eastern Countries Is Increasing the...

Globalization is the integration of countries’ individual culture and traditions into one global, conglomerate culture. It leads to the spread of the dominant western culture into many eastern countries. Eating disorders are typically associated with industrialized countries primarily, but because of the globalization the economy and society they are appearing more and more in developing countries such as China and Korea. Eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are fairly new psychological disorders comparatively, and did not originate anywhere else except for the Western world. For example, in the United States today, approximately 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder (â€Å"Eating . . . 2013). For the past 30 years, America has been developing the criteria for mental health especially concerning diagnosis and treatment (Watters, 2010). The westerniza tion of Eastern countries is increasing the frequency and severity of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. The westernization of societies around the globe increases the likelihood of eating disorders. Eating disorders were extremely rare until the late 20th century, when Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa began to appear primarily in the United States during the 1970s. American culture was rapidly changing due to the Civil Rights Movement and Sexual Revolution; society became