Taken together, these writings provide a design that may begin to decode the complications of hunger-related diseases like anorexia athletica from an integrative, biocultural perspective.
I wish to show how the behavioral expression of anorexia athletica is an adaptation formed through the interaction of primary process SEEKING and the self-conscious emotional response to a particular environment's "standards, rules, and goals (SRGs)." The work on what Lewis calls the "self-conscious emotions"--embarrassment, pride, shame, and guilt--will inform my analysis here.
Anorexia athletica is a particular form of anorexia.
contextualize these behaviors by defining anorexia athletica as "a state of reduced energy intake and reduced body mass despite high physical performance" (657).
Athletes who have anorexia athletica seek to achieve an unrealistic body size that they consider desirable for purposes of competition.
In anorexia athletica, then, you see both adaptation and pathology, and this circular dynamic between pride and shame fuels the disease.