The National Eating Disorders Association says that the average women is 63,6kg and the average model is 53kg. Magazines and social media display what they think is the perfect weight, height, hair colour, etc. and so many people are unsatisfied with themselves when they compare their appearance with that of society’s. This often leads unsatisfied people to developing an eating disorder. Having an eating disorder is a serious medical problem. They most frequently develop during adolescence, but can occur earlier or in adulthood and is more common amongst females than males. It is more than just a problem with food, they use it to try gain control and ease tension and anxiety. Some factors believed to contribute to development of eating disorders: Social: being very thin is socially ideal and appearance are very important to women in particular. Personal characteristics: Often when people feel ugly, hopeless, and worthless and have a poor self-image it leads to developing an eating disorder. Other emotional disorders: Some mental problems like depressions and anxiety go hand–in-hand with an eating disorder. Stressful events or life changes: Starting something new or going through a traumatic experience can lead to the development of an eating disorder. You Biology/Genes: some scientists believe your genes, hormones and chemicals in the brain can lead to the development of an eating disorder. Families: Parents can influence how you perceive appearance and being on diets. If a mother is anorexic often the child is too because that’s how they’ve been raised. It is valid because it was written in the last 10 years, 4 years ago to be exact and it is reliable because it was written by a government organization, I found it ... ... middle of paper ... ...ily has an eating disorder, e.g. their mum. The short term effects and symptoms are: Dizziness Fatigue Weakness Constipation Irritability Difficulty concentrating Trouble sleeping Menstrual irregularities for girls The long term effects are: Muscle wasting Thinning hair Bone loss Tooth decay Delayed growth and development Anemia Digestive problems Heart problems Seizures Depression It is valid because it was written in the last 10 years, 2 years ago to be exact, it is reliable because it was written by the mayo clinic staff which is a group of medical editors (as said on website), it is useful because is provided me with information in a logical order that was easy to understand, and its limitations are that the authors are not named so you cannot confirm their credentials or contact them for information/questions. (Staff, 2012)
Eating disorders are not caused by a single source, such as control, but are due to an accumulation of factors including genetics, upbringing, culture, and personality.
One possible factor is biology. A person might inherit a gene from their parents that predisposes them to a susceptibility to eating disorders. While that may not be enough on its own, it certainly starts that person off on the wrong foot and if combined with other factors it can lead to an eating disorder. For example, an individual could inherit a slow metabolism causing them to put on weight faster than others, which in turn could cause them to develop an eating disorder to counteract the weight gain.
...orted self-image, low self-esteem, and a need for control. "Eating disorders are not about food or weight but about a disordered 'sense of self' looking for approval and finding it, however
Someone who has difficulties with any type of eating disorder have negative body imagines. Therefore this person begins to do things that mess with regular body functions and their life. Even though it seems as if eating disorders are always about food and weight they aren’t. More usual than not, it is used to cope with things that person is going through. They take their daily struggles and try to cope with it by an eating disorder, by feeling as I they are in control. Their thoughts begin to endlessly think about exercise, food, or weight. Overall, it is an unhealthy connection with weight and the intake of food that affects multiple zones of someone’s life. (Source 2)
The three most commonly known eating disorders of today are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Anorexia nervosa is a disease connected with abnormal eating; it is not brought on by excitement, delusions, overactivity or a bad habit, it is a mental illness. Development of anorexia usually starts in the early teenage years, however it can go undiagnosed for thirty to even forty plus years. Another eating disorder is bulimia, people who are bulimic have no time to think about daily life; all that is on there mind is their next meal. Someone who has bulimia often l...
There are two major disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The first disorder, anorexia nervosa, happens when someone decides to stop eating. “People with anorexia nervosa often also limit or restrict other parts of their lives besides food, including relationships, social activities” (McConnell). These self-imposed limits lead to anorexia. The second disorder, bulimia nervosa, is another disorder, where someone eats but then gets rid of the food. “People who have bulimia nervosa routinely ‘binge,’ consuming large amounts of food in a very short period of time, and immediately ‘purge,’ ridding their bodies of the just-eaten food by self-inducing vomiting, taking enemas, or abusing laxatives or other medications” (McConnell). These actions can be fatal if they are not treated. “Eating disorders are illnesses, not character flaws or choices. Genetics have a significant contribution and may predispose individuals to eating disorders,” (Why do young). “Your environment can also play a major role in developing an eating disorder. Dieting, body dissatisfaction and wanting to be thin are all factors that increase the risk for an eating disorder,” (Why do young). Whatever the reason for having anorexia or bulimia these disorders can have diffe...
What you are about to encounter and learn may one day save a family member‘s life, a friend‘s life, or perhaps even your own. Hopefully you will never come across what is called an eating disorder. Present are many eating disorders. Some of which include: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, and purging. Eating disorders can be very dangerous. On occasion they can even lead to death. There are ten million females and one million males that fight a life or death battle with an eating disorder. (National Eating Disorders Association 9) Exactly twenty-five million more struggle with Binge Eating without realizing. (National Eating Disorders Association 9) researchers attacking this puzzling illness are scattered across the country. With only few medical articles and conferences on these disorders there are not many opportunities to pursue the cures. (Cauwels 18) Further more, only a vast amount of research has been done on the subject of eating disorders. However, for some reason to believe, experts suspect that problems with the hypothalamus gland or other parts of the body’s hormone system may increase a person’s chances of having an eating disorder. (Eranger 29) Eating patterns can be triggered by anxiety and/or stress. (Maloney 29) Emotional problems are the main concerns. Many eating disorders have been proven to emerge during adolescence and often serve to more serious problems.
There are many different biological approaches that explain the reasons for eating disorders they all have some validity behind them to a certain extent. An eating disorder is a psychological dysfunction that causes a person to change their eating habits to eating less, or more etc.
Today, America is plagued with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Eating Disorders. Each has its own characteristics that distinguish the illness yet there are some similarities that they also share. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. Shockingly, they also report that in the United States, there are as many as 10 million females and 1 million males that are battling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Additionally, another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorders (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org). Typically, psychological factors such as depression and low self-esteem contribute to eating disorders...
An eating disorder is characterized when eating, exercise and body image become an obsession that preoccupies someone’s life. There are a variety of eating disorders that can affect a person and are associated with different characteristics and causes. Most cases can be linked to low self esteem and an attempt to, “deal with underlying psychological issues through an unhealthy relationship with food” (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood, with females being most vulner...
"Causes of Eating Disorders." Mental Help. N.p., 2 Feb 2007. Web. 20 Feb 2014. .
Psychological and emotional health. People with eating disorders may have psychological and emotional problems that contribute to the disorder. They may have low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior and troubled relationships.
Eating Disorders (EDs) are a series of often life-threatening mental health disorders which are commonly used as coping mechanisms or as ways to mask one’s problems. The causes of these illnesses are still being researched, and the effects they have on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing can often be as long as the sufferer’s life.
Eating disorders can be altered by many things including bullying. One way that an eating disorder can come about into someone's life if is low self-esteem. Negative body images can make someone want to become skinnier. When someone has a low self-esteem it means a person who has a very low image of themselves. They think that they are nothing and aren’t worthy of life. When someone thinks this they could exercise excessively thinking that it will make them skinnier.
There are many reasons that can contribute to the cause of eating disorders. One of the main reasons seems to be the obsession over every little pound a person is wearing. Sometimes low self-esteem or depression from any number of causes can usher in the eating disorder. Other times compulsive exercising can help shed the pounds but leave the enthused unhealthy looking.