Eating Disorders Essay

Persuasive Essay On Eating Disorders
Nowadays, when people emphasis more and more on healthy lifestyles, both exercise and food
intake have become a big part of the consideration. With the goals of being fit and losing weight,
some people eat irregularly or do not eat at all. As a result, eating disorders seem more often on
news and reports. However, some people still view it as a joke. With the increasing number of
people diagnosed with eating disorders, people should raise awareness on the effects of eating
disorders and treat them seriously. Eating disorder is the abnormal eating behavior that would
negatively impact one's health, emotions and ability to function in important areas of life. Eating
disorders include several categories: binge eating disorder, which means people eat large amount in
a short period, anorexia nervosa which people eat very little, bulimia nervosa which people eat a lot
and then try to rid themselves of food, pica which people eat non–food items, rumination disorder
means people regurgitate food, avoidant food intake means that people have a lack of interest in
food, and other specified eating disorders (ANAD). There is believed to be no single cause for
eating disorders, as all the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors contribute to this
illness. Studies have shown that specific chromosomes may be associated with bulimia and
anorexia (NY times). Eating disorders may also be caused by imbalance of serotonin and dopamine
which explain why people who have anorexia
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Eating Disorders Essay
An eating disorder is an illness that involves an unhealthy feeling about the food we eat. "Eating
disorders affect 5–10 millions Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide"
(www.eatingdisorderinfo.org 1). They also affect many people from women, men, children, from all
ages and different races. People who have eating disorders usually see themselves as being fat when
they really aren't. This usually deals with women or teenage girls mostly. They watch television,
movies, read articles in magazines, and see pictures of the celebrities whom they want to be like
because they have the "ideal body" that everyone wants and craves for. The media makes us all
think we need those types of bodies to be happy with ourselves, be more successful...show more
content...
But in order to do this we need to stop looking at other people and seeing what's missing from
ourselves. Stop buying the magazines and diet products, stop looking at the people in television and
movies, and just be us. We need to have more confidence in ourselves and show other people what
we can get in life without having the perfect body.
People who have Anorexia Nervosa have this fear of gaining weight so they result by not eating
regularly or eat little amounts of food or not eating at all. People see themselves as being fat but
instead they are skinny. "Anorexics usually strive for perfection" (www.mirror–mirror.org 1). So in
doing this they feel like not eating anything can make them look perfect and have the body they
want. "The lack of food can cause a person to become very thin, develop brittle hair and nails, dry
skin, and a low pulse, become not able to stand the cold, and suffer from constipation and sometimes
diarrhea" (Hendrick 3).
Anorexics put other people's feelings in front of theirs. They also feel that the only thing in their
lives is food and their weight and this shows that they have low self–esteem for themselves. "Signs
and symptoms are noticeable weight loss, becoming withdrawn, excessive exercise, fatigue, always
being cold, and muscle weakness" (www.mirror–mirror.org 1). There are many more signs and
symptoms for this illness. "An estimated 10

Eating Disorders: A Personal Analysis
It was not a very easy thing to do. I must have told myself to quit about a million times. I only
worked hard and gave it my all for two weeks.
I started very slow. My first week I must have gone to the gym about two times.
My eating habits could not change. For many years, I had been neglecting my body. I would not
eat enough. I never went to the doctor, but I am sure I had an eating disorder. I had many
symptoms that correlated with both anorexia and bulimia nervosa. I would not eat for days. If I
would ever eat, I would purge. When I finally began eating, I would eat so much that I felt like I
had to purge. It all became a habit and a cycle. I would either not eat or eat too much, but in both
situations, I would always heave. I always until this day tell everyone that I feel and look fat.
I fear developing diabetes because...show more content...
I wanted to bring my weight down to decrease my BMI, reduce my body fat percentage, and build
confidence within myself. My long–term goals were to lower my BMI of 25.8 to a range between
18.5–24.9, lower body fat percentage to 23%, and to have a better respect and love for my body.
Three obstacles that I face at first were poor eating habits, insufficient exercise, and negative thinking
plus body shaming. The resources I used to help me throughout this process were friends, the
TAMIU rec, the TAMIU counseling center, and YouTube/varies athletic websites. I targeted dates
one month apart and each short–term goal included a loss of five pounds and one percent body fat.
The rewards I decided to give myself after these objectives were simple things like eating sweats and
eating out. The long–term goal that I will continue to strive to achieve is to have the satisfaction of
knowing that I can do something about the way I look and see myself. A healthier and happier me
is overall the best thing in life that I could

Eating Disorders Essays
Introduction
When you think of the words "eating disorders", you automatically picture someone who is thin.
This is partly true because people who suffer from anorexia or bulimia are relatively thin, but
what you did not know is that there is also an eating disorder that affects mostly those who are
obese and it is called binge eating. Eating disorders are any of several psychological disorders
characterized by serious disturbances of eating behavior (Merriam Webster, 2014), the best–known
eating disorders are bulimia nervosa, binge eating and anorexia nervosa (Yancey, 1999). Not only do
eating disorders have the highest mortality rate than any other mental illnesses, but it is estimated
that in the U.S. twenty–four million...show more content...
There is not exactly a specific age group that bulimia tends to affect and because of this 1–2% of
adolescents suffer from this disorder (NEDA Feeding Hope) It is estimated that 10–15% of bulimics
are male, and gay men account for 14% of male bulimics (ANAD), although men are more
reluctant to seek help because bulimia is considered a "women's illness" (Colwell, 2012).
Approximately 4% of females in the U.S will develop bulimia in their lifetime, according to Boston
Children's Hospital 1–5% of adolescents suffer from bulimia (Nordqvist, 2009), the mortality rate
for bulimics is 3.9% with only 6% of both men and women seeking any help or treatment. (Eating
Disorder Hope) There are many risk factors that play a role in whether or not an individual develops
anorexia such as: being bullied, victims of physical or sexual abuse, low self–esteem, genetics and
cultural factors. (Nordqvist, 2009) Although there isn't a treatment that completely treats and helps
an individual overcome bulimia methods such as: psychotherapy, family therapy, counseling and
medication have been proven to help those with bulimia (Nordqvist, 2009). The only medication
that is approved in the U.S. to help those who suffer from bulimia and because of it have developed
depression is Prozac, but those with bulimia and no signs of depression may still benefit from it
(Nordqvist, 2009).
Binge Eating
Remember how it was mentioned that there is an eating disorder that mostly affects those who

Eating Disorders Essays
Eating disorders are a group of conditions characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior
with either an extreme reduction or an extreme increase of food intake, which negatively affects the
individual's mental and physical health. There are two main types of eating disorders – anorexia
nervosa and bulimia nervosa. There is a third category of eating disorders called "eating disorders
not otherwise specified". Binge eating disorder is categorized under this. Eating disorders mainly
appear during adolescence and early adulthood and affect women and girls much more than males.
Eating disorders are not self–inflicted diseases, but real illnesses with biological and psychological
causes. They often co–exist with other disorders such...show more content...
Treatment for eating disorders is expensive and long term – as many as six years. Many people with
eating disorders are spending all their life savings on treatment and even dying as a result of a
lack of it. Treatment options include in patient care where the patient resides in the facility and
works with a team of specialists, partial residential care where the patient goes home at the end of
the day, and outpatient care in which the patient sees therapists, but lives at their own home. The
cheapest of these options is outpatient care and even then insurance companies refuse coverage.
Just one day of inpatient care can cost from $800 to $2500 and a month of treatment can range
from $24000 to $78000. Many people and families spend their live savings trying to pay for
treatment. Often times appearances can be deceiving when it comes to people who suffer from
eating disorders. They may feel and look well, but may have electrolyte, fluid and mineral
imbalances, heart and blood pressure irregularities, and stomach problems which puts them at risk
for sudden death. A bulimic person at a normal weight may actually be starving and severely
malnourished. Short periods of treatment have been showed by studies to lead to a high rates of
readmission. Despite the American Psychiatric Association's care guidelines, because of the high
cost of treatment insurance providers might require early patient discharge. There are

Argumentative Essay On Eating Disorders
In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant
eating disorder at some time in their life ("Get The Facts on Eating Disorders," NEDA). This is in
the United States alone. Imagine how many people are affected by eating disorders in the world.
Even Though there is a plethora of people with eating disorders, many people don't speak out and
if they ever do it may be too late. Eating disorders can kill you and affect other factors of your
health so it is important to find help. Although eating disorders are crucial, scientists, school, etc are
trying to help people suffering and prevent others from having an eating disorder.
Even though people try to hide their eating disorders, there are still...show more content...
If your life is at risk, you may need immediate hospitalization. (Mayo Clinic Staff Paragraph 2).
There is help if someone has an eating disorder even though certain ones may not work for you.
Along with signs and symptoms, there are warning signs that can help detect if someone is likely to
have an eating disorder. "A gut feeling may be our truest indicator that something – disordered eating
patterns or something else–needs our attention," (Stephanie Haines Paragraph 6). If someone is
acting weird and wearing bagging clothes that can be another warning sign. You should talk to the
person who seems suspicious to stop them from risking their lives even more.
However, scientists are also involved with helping those with eating disorders such as anorexia. As
of right now, they are testing deep brain stimulations are one of the therapists for anorexia.
"LONDON – A small study in 16 people with severe anorexia has found that implanting stimulation
electrodes into the brains of patients could ease their anxiety and help them gain weight,"
(Paragraph 1, Fox News). This could potentially be another treatment for those with anorexia. If this
works for most people then it may work for others.
Similarly, schools help kids with eating disorders by making programs and therapy groups. "Full
staff training on eating disorders, covering prevention, awareness, identification of eating disorders,
and working with students with eating

The Three Types of Eating Disorders Essay
In today's society, we are forced to think, act, and look a certain way. Everyone can be found guilty
of feeling self–conscious due to the social medias. Society has built so much importance around
appearance, that it has lead many to resonate to dangerous acts such as dieting. Dangerous dieting
has lead to what we today call an eating disorder. There are three types of eating disorder,Anorexia
nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge eating disorder (American Psychological Association, Help
center, 2011). These types of eating disorders all have something in common but can differ slightly,
and can affect everyone. Anorexia is the type of eating disorder that reduces eating. According to the
book Psychology Edition 3 published 2012, this type...show more content...
Pg. 550–556). When looking at bulimia the cause is slightly different, the causes are anxious or
depressive mood swings. Eating disorders can also be caused by having a low self–esteem, due to
fact that we live surrounded by the media everywhere we go, making people feel wrong and weak
about the way they appear to look. Most of the time we look at these people with eating disorders
and might think they are perfectly fine. We all suffer from a little depression or insecurity once in
a while by the things we are surrounded by, and that might cause us to think it's normal for
everyone. We need to keep in mind that there are many who suffer a lot more from such depression
and have less self–control to feeling a certain way. Some of the symptoms that arrive from these
eating disorders can be, developing an obsession with calories and fat that the food contains, hiding
food, and noticing a drastic amount of weight loss in a very short period of time (Psychology
Edition 3 published 2012, ch14 pg.550–556). Further more, hiding body image with the usage of
oversized clothes, and obsessively reading books about weight loss and/or eating disorders. People
who suffer from eating disorders can frequently experience these symptoms, but the main cause for
these eating disorders arrive from the social media and the frequent reminder of appearing and
looking a certain way. There are many types of treatments that can help overcome

Introduction
Eating disorders are psychological problems marked by an obsession with food and weight.
There are four general categories of eating disorders these are; Anorexia nervosa, Binge eating
and Bulimia nervosa. However this disorder affects individuals of various age groups; it has
become more popular among teenagers these days. For the purpose of this research plan the
writer will focus on age group of ages 15 to 19 because teenagers most vulnerable to eating
disorders fall into this age group. Moreover, in doing so it will also be possible to determine the
significance of this research and apply it to today's lifestyle. Anorexia is a medical condition in
which youngsters, mainly during the onset of puberty, begin to starve...show more content...
It was found that "Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge eating are life threatening diseases.'' (Voelker, 2008).
These findings support the view that Anorexia Nervosa is known to be the third most common
chronic illness for teenage girls in Australia after obesity and Asthma Beumont, (cited in Eating
Disorder,2008).
Genetic factors Bulik et al. (2007) states that genetic trait responsible for heritability of anorexia
ranges from 50% to 83% thus it is uncontrollable and these could cause some people to be
vulnerable to developing anorexia. These findings support the fact that, if a teenage girls with
biological mother or a sister with anorexia is at a higher risk of getting or inheriting the disease. It
may also be that some teenagers have a genetic tendency towards perfectionism, sensitivity and
perseverance, all traits associated with anorexia. Consequently, Diconsiglio (2009) discovered that
from 50–80 percent of suffers inherit a gene that makes them more likely to develop an eating
disorder. "Emotional problems are not the root causes of these diseases; instead they spark it in
children who already have the gene. He further explained that it is quite vital for teenagers to avoid
cases which may increase the gene coding for eating disorders. On the other hand care should be
shown to them so that teenagers can overcome the eating disorder promptly.
Parental Behaviours
Research has shown that, family plays the vital role on the growth of a child, for instance study

Eating Disorder Reflection Paper
Reflection on impact of societal ideas on body image and eating disorder.
Nah! you are not skinny enough, no one wants a fat guy or a girl, do not eat that you will never
get skinny, sadly but truly we are consistently being reminded with phrases like these to pursue a
socially accepted thin and trimmed figure. Eating disorders are chronic and serious illness that
engages a person into severe irregular eating behaviors to satisfy their distress about maintaining a
thin figure and low body weight. The widely known types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa,
is a fear of gaining weight, in which an extremely little food is consumed causing a significant lower
body weight. The other common type of eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa, in...show more content...
In my opinion, when people began to lose weight the first thing to do is skip their meals since it is
easier to do so than exercising. However, as pleasing as it sounds that people are thriving to achieve
my body type I am somewhat indirectly encouraging them towards eating disorders since their
distorted perception of their body figure does not allow them to perceive themselves as thin or
healthy but instead fat.
In our society the model of beauty is characterized by a thin frame in females and a muscular
frame in males but, I began to ask what might be the cause of these societal pressures on our body
images. In my opinion these perfect and ideal body images are triggered by media, prejudice in
body size, and peer pressure since we are constantly exposed to these sources in our everyday
lives. In developed countries, mass media plays a direct role in regards to eating disorders by
allowing people to acknowledge their thin ideals and values that being beautiful means being thin.
People are progressively exposed to perfect images in media via television, magazines, internet, and
video games; for example, compared to past years, females are portrayed as non–curvy, tall and with
a perfect skin and males are portrayed as tall, muscular with no chest hair; this evidence is consistent
with the rise in eating disorder as people try to internalize their thin ideals and manifest themselves in
abnormal eating

A Research Study On Eating Disorders Essay
INTRODUCTION
During the psychosocial development in adolescence, there are various health issues that may
transpire. This essay will focus primarily on how eating disorders affect both genders, predominantly
in Western societies. The term 'eating disorder' is a very comprehensive term, which is further
broken down into categories. The content of this essay will cover three of these categories; including
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Additionally discussed are
the benefits of psychodynamic theory and cognitive behavioural therapy and how these approaches
may be used in relation to eating disorders in a therapeutic environment.
COGNITIVE THEORY
Eating disorders are a significant consequence of corporal and psychological indispositions in both
female and male adolescents. This health issue can be precipitated by a cognitive disruption in their
perception of their body image. Cognitive behavioural therapy is a particular type of treatment used
by the individual 's therapist, to try and alter their continuous thought pattern and help to reduce the
unhealthy actions and emotions that are a consequence of any type of eating disorder. It
encompasses observing the connection between feelings, thoughts, and actions, and how these might
contribute to the patient 's health issue. The therapist could use multiple initial approaches; the
cognitive triad could be useful to determine and understand the negative opinions about oneself, their

Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder Essay
Introduction
There is a commonly held view in the general population that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice.
However, eating disorders are a group of serious conditions in which a person is preoccupied with
food and weight that they often cannot focus on anything else. Amongst all the eating disorder the
main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge–eating disorder, which are all
psychological illnesses. The disorders vary between eating extremely small amounts of food, to not
eating at all, or to severely overeating. Each of these eating disorders can cause serious physical and
psychological problems, and at their most severe, can even be life–threatening (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Similarly, eating disordered behaviors (EDB) are a heterogeneous group related to overeating
and/or extreme restricting of dietary intake (Filaire, Treuvelot, and Toumi, 2012). More
specifically, EDB refer to problems in one's eating behavior that occurs less frequently and less
severe, ultimately, not meeting the full criteria for a diagnosis of an eating disorder. EDB can be
viewed as an early warning sign for the possible development of an eating disorder (U.S Department
of Health and Human Services, 2005 as cited by Filaire et al., 2012).
Disordered eating behaviors are becoming a growing threat, especially in the western culture
(Zysberg & Rubanov, 2010). There is numerous research to suggest that adolescent girls and young
woman are affected by EDB due

Essay on Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is a way of using food to work out emotional problems. These illnesses develop
because of emotional and/or psychological problems. Eating disorders are the way some people deal
with stress. In today's society, teenagers are pressured into thinking that bring thin is the same thing
as being happy. Chemical balances in the brain that may also result in depression, obsessive
compulsive disorders, and bi–polar disorders may also cause some eating disorders. Other causes
may be emotional events, illnesses, marital or family problems, manic depression, or ending a
relationship. Over eight million Americans suffer from eating disorders. Over 80% of girls under
age thirteen admit to dieting, one of the main...show more content...
Victorian women kept with the ideals of the time by refusing food and restricting any intake. A
hearty appetite was said to represent sexuality and a lack of self–control, which was strictly
prohibited for women. The era was emphasized by spirituality, which also had an impact on the
restriction of meat. Ironically, most of the women were large, as common meals were high in
starches. Medical evidence of the existence of anorexia has been documented as far back as 1873. It
was decided that this refusal of food was to attract attention. An American neurologist, Silas Weir
Mitchell saw anorexia as a form of neurasthenia, a nervous disorder characterized by nervous
exhaustion and lack of motivation. Mitchell thought the disease was caused by any stressful life
situation in combination with social pressure. Treatment was a so–called "parentectomy," which was
removal from the home, and force–feeding, if necessary. Mitchell preferred the pampering method,
consisting of a diet low in fats, total seclusion, bed–rest, and massage therapy. Sigmund Freud, a
psychiatrist from Vienna, believed that anorexia was a physical manifestation of an emotional
conflict. He believed that anorexia might be linked to the subconscious desire to prevent normal
sexual development. In the 1930s, doctors theorized that the only way to permanently recover from
anorexia was to
McCurry 3 explore the cause of the disease in the individual, in addition

Argumentative Essay On Eating Disorders
Mariah Raveling Ms. Frehse English 3.3 6 Oct. 2017 Eating Disorders Around 10–15% of all
Americans suffer from an eating disorder. "More than 7 million women suffer from an eating
disorder whereas only one million men suffer from an eating disorder" (Mirasol). In modern
society, we are surrounded by media and images. Both men and women struggle to meet the
expectations set forth in magazines, websites, and on television. The pressure to imitate the ideal
body can lead many down unhealthy paths. Teens today face a lot more challenges which leads
them to illnesses like Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge eating. Although there are a lot of similarities
in this disease, the differences can also affect people differently, which means different treatments
are required. Anorexia is an eating disorder that struggles with the fear of gaining weight and
refuses to be healthy. Another eating disorder is Bulimia, which is when you overeat followed by
forced vomiting and excessive exercise. Binge Eating is one of the most common eating
disorders along with Anorexia and Bulimia, Binge eating is when you lose control over one's
eating. All of these common eating disorders all suffer from guilt or depression. "Individuals with
bulimia and binge eating eat large amounts of food to reduce stress" (CEDC). They also could
have risky behaviors, such as dealing with drugs or alcohol or even death. People with Anorexia
or Bulimia are very concerned with being overweight or in other words fat. There are many
different reasons Anorexia is different from Bulimia and Binge eating. According to the Cambridge
Eating Disorder Center the, "Low pulse rate, sensitivity to cold, loss of hair, etc." are signs and
symptoms of Anorexia. Bulimia's signs and symptoms are swollen glands, puffiness in face, petty of
stealing money to buy food" (CEDE). Binge Eating and Bulimia are the most alike but there are a
few differences that points them out. Eating alone, possible history of marked weight fluctuations,
eating when not hungry, etc. are all similarities between Bulimia and Binge Eating. Treatments are a
huge part of getting back on the right track. Some treatments are harder than others but in the end,
many will get to the right place. One of the

Women Eating Disorders Essay
Tabitha HernandezMrs. HammillBiologyJune 11th, 2012 Eating Disorders Eating disorders are a
worldwide problem and effect the lives of many. Women are much more likely than men to
develop an eating disorder. One of three women have eating disorders, most of these women began
to have the eating disorder due to stress, depression, and anger. Eating disorders stem is often
formed with problem with self image caused by the media. Eating disorders are complex conditions
that arise from a combination of long–standing behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological,
interpersonal, and social factors. While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food
and weight, they are most often about much more than food. People with eating...show more
content...
In March 2005, findings concluded from those surveyed that three out of four Americans believe
eating disorders should be covered by insurance companies just like any other illness. Americans
believe that government should require insurance companies to cover the treatment of eating
disorders. Four out of ten Americans either suffered or have know someone who has suffered from
an eating disorder. Dieting and thrive for thinness is very common in America. Over one half of
teenage girls and nearly one–third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as
skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives. Commonly eating
disorders are accumulated by society. The average American woman is 5'4'' tall and weighs 140
pounds. The average American model is 5'11'' tall and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are
thinner than 98% of American women. Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet–related
products a year! The list is never ending on the different types of eating disorders there actually are.
The three most common types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge
Eating Disorder. Other eating disorders are mainly any combinations of the above listed. Anorexia
Nervosa includes the symptoms of dramatic weight loss, dressing in layers to hide weight loss,
constantly preoccupied with weight, food, calories, and dieting, makes frequent comments about

Children and Eating Disorders Essay
Children and Eating Disorders
In the past few decades researchers have focused on eating disorders, the causes of these disorders
and how they can be treated. However, it has mainly been in the last decade that researchers have
started looking at eating disorders in children, the reasons why these disorders are developing at
such a young age, and the best recovery program for these young people. To understand this growing
problem it is necessary to ask a few important questions:
Is there a relationship between family context and parental input and eating disorders?
What effect do mothers who suffer or have suffered from an eating disorder have on their children
and specifically their daughters' eating patterns?
What is the best...show more content...
Other common features include self–induced vomiting, laxative abuse, excessive exercising,
distorted body image, and morbid preoccupation with energy intake. Physical findings include
dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, hypothermia, poor peripheral circulation and even circulatory
failure, cardiac arrythmias, hepatic steatosis, and ovarian and uterine regression (Bryant–Waugh and
Lask, 1995).
CAUSES AND PREDICTORS OF EATING DISORDERS IN CHILDREN
Eating disorders in children, like in adults, are generally viewed as a multi–determined syndrome
with a variety of interacting factors, biological, psychological, familial and socio–cultural. It is
important to recognize that each factor plays a role in predisposing, precipitating, or perpetuating the
problem.
In a study by Marchi and Cohen (1990) maladaptive eating patterns were traced longitudinally in a
large, random sample of children. They were interested in finding whether or not certain eating
and digestive problems in early childhood were predictive of symptoms of bulimia nervosa and
anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Six eating behaviors were assessed by maternal interview at
ages 1through 10, ages 9 through 18, and 2.5 years later when they were 12 through 20 years old.
The behaviors measured included (1) meals unpleasant; (2) struggle over eating; (3) amount eaten;
(4) picky eater; (5) speed of eating (6) interest in food. Also data on pica

Eating Disorders in Teenagers Essay
Eating Disorders in Teenagers
Eating disorders are a growing problem in teenagers of today. According to an Association of
Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) study, eighty–six percent of eating disorder
victims report their problem before the age of twenty. The two main types of eating disorders are
anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that usually strikes
women.
There are about seven million women who have anorexia, and many of them will die of
complications. This disease is defined as self–starvation, leading to a body weight that is 15% below
normal. Accompanied with the weight loss are hyperactivity, hypothermia, and amenorrhea.
Hypothermia is when the body's natural...show more content...
There are two sub–types of anorexia nervosa. The first is the restricting type. People fitting this
type do not engage in binge eating or purging. The second type, binge eating/purging, is exactly
the opposite. The victim does engage in binge eating and purging. One in ten cases of anorexia
leads to death, either by starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. There are many other less serious
physical complications of anorexia. Victims may suffer from dry skin, brittle nails, hypothermia,
and anemia, just to name a few. Anorexia does not just cause physical problems. Psychological
complications are also often obvious in anorexia victims. The majority of individuals with anorexia
also suffer from clinical depression. Obsessive–compulsive disorder, an illness characterized by
repetitive thoughts and behaviors, can also accompany anorexia. Individuals with anorexia are
typically compliant in personality but may have sudden outbursts of hostility and anger or become
socially withdrawn. Bulimia nervosa is the other most common eating disorder. This disorder is also
most common in women. It is defined as an illness involving uncontrolled episodes of overeating, or
binging, usually followed by self–induced vomiting, or purging. These episodes may occur several
times a day. The affected person usually realizes that something is wrong, and may feel guilty about
the binge/purge episodes. Like anorexia, there

Teens with Eating Disorders Essay
Teens with Eating Disorders
In our society today, we are constantly hearing about more and more teenagers, mostly girls, who are
suffering from an eating disorder. For reasons that are unclear, these young women are developing
potentially life–threatening eating disorders as a way of achieving a perfect model body. There are
many different types and classifications of eating disorders, but the two most common ones in which
teens suffer from and are diagnosed with are called bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. People
with bulimia, known as bulimics, indulge in bingeing, which are episodes of eating large amounts
of food to satisfy their hunger and craving for food. Then there is purging, this happens after
bingeing and it is a...show more content...
Finally, I wanted to possibly find alternatives, or other ways that teens can solve and beat these
problems in which they are facing. The direction that I took or supported with this paper is
anti–eating disorder, but moreover I am supporting treatment and awareness programs.
The main reason that I am personally interested in this topic is because right now as a Social
Work major, my intentions are to help and work with teens with eating disorders once I graduate. I
know what it is like and how these teens feel, and the torment that they deal with and agonize over
everyday in attempt to live up to society's expectations. I hope that maybe I can help these teens
take a healthy approach to losing weight, or maybe first maybe just try to raise their confidence and
morals.
Eating disorders are diseases that take a toll on a number of peoples lives currently as well as in
the past. In the United States approximately 10% of girls and women suffer from anorexia and
bulimia. Anorexia and Bulimia are only two types of eating disorders that combined affect an
estimated 11 million people every year(Mintle, 2000). At least 50,000 of those 11 million people
will die as result of their eating disorder. In the most extreme cases the suffers literally starve
themselves to death or burn up their esophagus. Those who survive are at greater risk of developing
brittle bones, life–threatening infections, kidney damage and heart problems (What Causes Eating

Adolescent Eating Disorders Essay
Adolescent Eating Disorders
With children as early as age 7 showing dissatisfaction with their body, and as young as 9 starting
dieting, eating disorders are a serious issue in our society. Taking a look at perceptions, behaviors,
and medical issues associated with the disorders of anorexia and bulimia, scholars have tried to
categorize and find answers to the problems which certain adolescents suffer. In this paper I focused
on the two major eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.
In 1978, Brunch called anorexia nervosa a 'new disease' and noted that the condition seemed to
overtake ?the daughters of the well–to–do, educated and successful families.? Today it is
acknowledged and accepted that anorexia affects more than...show more content...
The list goes on and on. The truth is that it is not known why the disorder begins or what each
individual experiences while consumed with these disorders, but we do know that recovery is
possible. A supportive friend and family base, along with education in early childhood seems to be a
logical step in the right direction.
The inaccurate obsession with food seems to be the cause of bulimia; however, the inaccurate
obsession with weight seems to be the cause of anorexia. A majority of research suggest that the
media is responsible for this, due to the fact they idolize the thin, slender figure. For bulimics, the
delight of binging comes at the cost of extreme guilt which can only be resolved by purging; a
never ending cycle. For anorexics, these thin messages on the media can make them feel shameful
and hate to look at their own body, which makes food the sworn enemy. In one research article it
was proposed that individuals with an external locus of control (believing that their lives are
determined by outside forces such as fate and other people) were found to exhibit more of the
bulimic and anorexic traits than those individuals who had an internal locus of control (believing
that one controls his/her own fate) (Fouts and Vaughn, 2002).
There are two sides to the issues of participating in sports. Some individuals who participate in sports

Nutrition is both physically and mentally essential in daily lives. While people have knowledge of
severe underdeveloped nutrition in other parts of the world, they fail to realize the malnutrition that
may be affecting their own bodies. Every human needs a proper diet with nutrients which provide the
individual with energy, structure, and regulation to maintain the body (Smolin and Grosvenor
21–22). In order to lead a healthy lifestyle, a person must also have a healthy body image.
However, healthy body images have been rapidly decreasing in recent years. Both men and women
are constantly urged to fit a specific body image in order to be happy, admired, and loved. In
countries where a food shortage is a constant concern, obesity is...show more content...
After a period of time, their extreme hunger overpowers their control and they eat a great amount
of food in a short period of time, which is referred to as binging. In fact, the name bulimia is taken
from the Greek words bous ("ox") and limos ("hunger"), implying hunger of such intensity that a
person can eat an entire ox (94). Since the great amount of food that they consume is not on their
strict diet plan to be thin, they become very fearful of a possible weight gain and they purge.
Induced vomiting, taking laxatives, and excessively exercising are examples of purging in
somebody with bulimia. After doing this they feel guilty, yet relieved. Once the person realizes that
they can eat basically anything that they want without gaining weight, they make it an ongoing
cycle. However, there are many side effects. These include constipation, dehydration, damaged
tooth enamel, breakage of stomach and esophagus lining, depression, and may even result in death
(101). Bulimia may be caused by pressure to achieve or to fit a certain body image. Since they
often crave and binge on foods rich in carbohydrates, the illness can be from an imbalance in the
neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain (Engel, Reiss, and Dombeck). There are many psychological
illnesses associated with this eating disorder and others. These include alcoholism, drug abuse,
self–injury, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Disorder, and
Multiple Personality

The Cause of Eating Disorders Essay
The Cause of Eating Disorders
Although the causes are many and varied, we know that people with eating disorders often use
food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may
otherwise seem overwhelming. For some, dieting, bingeing and purging may begin as a way to
cope with painful emotions and a way to feel in control of one's life, but ultimately, these behaviors
will damage a person's physical and emotional health, self–esteem and sense of competence and
control.
Psychological factors that can contribute to eating disorders include:
Low self–esteem.
Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life.
Depression, anxiety, anger or loneliness.
A quest for perfection....show more content...
Cultural norms that value people on the basis of physical appearance, and not inner qualities and
strengths.
Scientists are still researching possible biochemical or biological causes of eating disorders. In some
individuals with eating disorders, certain chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite and
digestion have been found to be imbalanced. The exact meaning and implications of these
imbalances remain under investigation.
Eating disorders are complex conditions that can arise from a variety of potential causes: physical,
emotional, social and familial issues. Once started, they can create a self–perpetuating cycle of
physical and emotional destruction. All eating disorders require professional help. All causes need
to be addressed for effective prevention and treatment. The earlier an eating disorder is discovered
and addressed, the better the chance for recovery.
The cultural context for eating disorders
1. Eating disorders are serious and complex problems. We need to be careful to avoid thinking of
them in simplistic terms like, "anorexia is just a plea for attention" or "bulimia is just an addiction
to food." Eating disorders arise from a variety of physical, emotional, social and family issues, all of
which need to be addressed for effective prevention and

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