Persone in silenzio, corpi che parlano, linguaggi da interpretare. Uno sguardo antropologico sulle cornici culturali dei Disturbi dell'Alimentazione

The article addresses the topic of Eating Disorders (ED) in the “Western world”, highlighting the complex intertwining of culture and nutrition through socio-anthropological analysis of the cultural frames on the field, seeking to provide a useful contribution in addressing the treatment of these disorders. Through some of the issues that have emerged in the literature and from a series of semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the care of people with ED, the authors aim to highlight some of the complex cultural, social and symbolic dynamics involved in ED. The research, based on the anthropological-interpretive approach, focuses on the network of meanings related to human relationships mediated by food, linking the issues of ED to the contemporary life context in the dimension of Homo Consumens. After exploring several theoretical arguments that emphasize the relevance of culture in shaping people's relationships with food, the authors develop the themes of hope and repair from the role they play, on the one hand for patients with ED, and on the other for their family members. Related to these elements are other key concepts, including that of re-mediation, tolerance for uncertainty, desire, and trust, all of which are fundamental, in the interpretation of cultural frames, to the healing pathways of the ED.