Eating Disorders Essay

1078 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Differences and similarities between anorexia and bulimia

Eating disorders can very well change a person's life and affect people around him or her. People engaged in these eating disorders are mostly referred to as victims, because of horrible and dangerous effects of these diseases. Eating disorders are very serious; sometimes life threatening illnesses can occur. There are three different common eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating. There are also two that are not as common disorders recognized by most of the people today; they are anorexia, pica, and bulimia in combination. One must first know how to recognize the disorders in order to help one's self or others battle. Eating disorders are very common and people should know what they are, what causes them, how to detect them, and most importantly how to help prevent it or stop it. Anorexia nervosa is one of the types of eating disorders in which a person starves them self in order to gain and maintain their idea of "perfection". This condition happens when a person is constantly dieting to the extreme because of a mental image they have of their body that is incorrect. It usually strikes women around the time when they start going through puberty and has also been known to happen in the late teens and the early twenties. This state of starvation leads to a loss of 150 below normal body weight. Of the 7 million women between the ages 15 to 35 who have anorexia, 65 percent will surely die due to the complications of this disorder (Wellness Web 2). Anorexia often occurs as a result of an emotional problem. Control over eating may be the one of the only areas where they feel they have control over. Part of recovery often involves helping the anorexic gain some independence (Greenberg 114). ... ... middle of paper ... ...d to have it, and experts estimate that the disorder also affects as many as 4 percent of the college age women. Compulsive eaters consume food to comfort and soothe wounded feelings that they are dealing with. Many magazine models influence a woman’s minds into believing that you have to look a certain way. The exact definition is an irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation. The category has adapted a new name over the years: binge eating. The victim tends to eat even when they are not at all hungry. The person may eat impulsively or maybe even continuously. Although the compulsive eater will realize that their behavior is abnormal, but they seem powerless to stop it. The compulsive eater is different from a bulimic person, because they do not try to purge themselves by vomiting or using a laxative (Moe 14).

Show More
Related

  • An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Out of all mental illnesses found throughout the world, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. Anorexia nervosa is one of the more common eating disorders found in society, along with bulimia nervosa. Despite having many definitions, anorexia nervosa is simply defined as the refusal to maintain a normal body weight (Michel, 2003). Anorexia nervosa is derived from two Latin words meaning “nervous inability to eat” (Frey, 2002). Although anorexics, those suffering from anorexia, have this “nervous inability to eat,” it does not mean that they do not have an appetite—anorexics literally starve themselves. They feel that they cannot trust or believe their perceptions of hunger and satiation (Abraham, 2008). Anorexics lose at least 15 percent of normal weight for height (Michel, 2003). This amount of weight loss is significant enough to cause malnutrition with impairment of normal bodily functions and rational thinking (Lucas, 2004). Anorexics have an unrealistic view of their bodies—they believe that they are overweight, even if the mirror and friends or family say otherwise. They often weigh themselves because they possess an irrational fear of gaining weight or becoming obese (Abraham, 2008). Many anorexics derive their own self-esteem and self-worth from body weight, size, and shape (“Body Image and Disordered Eating,” 2000). Obsession with becoming increasingly thinner and limiting food intake compromises the health of individuals suffering from anorexia. No matter the amount of weight they lose or how much their health is in jeopardy, anorexics will never be satisfied with their body and will continue to lose more weight.

    Read More

  • A Look at Binge Eating Disorder

    793 Words  | 2 Pages

    Binge Eating Disorder also known as Compulsive Eating Disorder, is a disorder in which a person uses food to deal with their stress and other negative emotions. A person affected from Binge Eating Disorder will secretly and compulsively overeat large amounts of food even if they were not hungry at all. During a Bingeing Episode, it could last several hours or all day, and can be reoccurring several times in one week. Often the foods that are consumed are “comfort foods” such as cookies, chips, candy, etc. Aside from the disorder there are its symptoms, who is affected, age of onset, causes, potential treatment methodology, and several resources for help. (Smith, Segal, and J. Segal; February 2014)

    Read More

  • A Life-Threatening Genetic Disorder in Cystic Fibrosis

    2633 Words  | 6 Pages

    The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa (Brownell & Fairburn, 2002).

    Read More

  • Anorexia And Bulimia Essay

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anorexia is an obsessive desire to control ones bodily appearance. It often starts with the refusal to obtain a healthy body weight. “This disorder is associated with under nutrition of varying severity with resulting secondary endocrine and metabolic changes and disruptions of bodily functions” (Kontic et al. 2013). An Anorexic person has a distorted view of themselves which can lead to devastating measures of self-starvation due to an immense fear of weight gain. In the same way, an individual suffering with Bulimia has a fear of weight gain, but goes about their technique in a different manner. Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating or, consuming a large amount of food in a short time followed by guilt. This guilt is the leading factor to the purging stage where the individual will rid themselves of the physical and emotional discomfort. The ridding stage can invo...

    Read More

  • Anorexia Essay

    1679 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anorexia has many negative effects as well. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centers article Eating Disorders, “Anorexia nervosa can increase the risk for serious health problems such as: hormonal changes including reproductive, thyroid, stress, and growth hormones, heart problems such as abnormal heart rhythm, electrolyte imbalance, fertility problems, bone density loss, anemia, and neurological problems.” Anorexia can severely affect a person internally. The continuous lack of nutrients can leave an anorexic person extremely frail. The heart in particular can grow so weak, that heart failure occurs. Eating disorders can lead too permanent health damages can stay with a person for the rest of their life.

    Read More

  • Binge Eating Disorders Essay

    766 Words  | 2 Pages

    Binge-eating disorder is defined as an eating disorder in which a person frequently consumes large amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. Almost everyone overeats every once in a while but for some people overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular occurrence. Many people who have this disorder may feel embarrassed about eating large amounts of food in front of others however the urge and compulsiveness of this disorder continues to affect their eating habits. Binge-eating disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-5% of the general population and also tends to affect women slightly more often than men. Binge-eating disorder is often associated with symptoms of depression and people diagnosed with this may often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa

    1972 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anorexia nervosa usually begins in adolescence, but can develop at any time throughout one’s life. It...

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eating disorders are described as an illness involving eating habits that are irregular and an extreme concern with body image or weight. Eating disorders tend to appear during teenage years, but can develop at any age. Although more common in women, eating disorders can affect any age, gender or race. In the United States, over 20 million women and 10 million men are personally affected by eating disorders. There are many different causes of eating disorders such as low self esteem, societal pressures, sexual abuse and the victims perception of food. Eating disorders are unique to the sufferer and often, their perception of themselves is so skewed, they may not be aware they have an eating disorder. Media, for quite some time now, has played a significant part in eating disorders. Magazines with headlines ‘Summer Body’, or ‘Drop LB’s Fast!’ attract the attention of girls who may be insecure with themselves. Television productions such as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or American’s Next Top Model, show airbrushed and photoshopped women who have body types that may be unachievable. Those who are suffering from eating disorders can suffer dangerous consequences, and it is important to seek help.

    Read More

  • Essay on Eating Disorder - Anorexia Nervosa

    1306 Words  | 3 Pages

    There may be murmurs about that girl who only fixes herself a salad with only vinegar at dining services or suspicious glances at someone who spends 45 minutes on the treadmill and then switches to the stair stepper at the rec. On-campus eating disorders are talked about everywhere and yet are not really talked about at all. There is observation, concern, and gossip, but hushed conversation and larger scale efforts to help and change never seem to earn public attention.

    Read More

  • Essay On Bulimia Nervosa

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by compulsively consuming large amounts of food and then using extreme efforts to avoid gaining weight. It affects both men and women of all ages but is most predominately seen in young women. Someone who is bulimic puts themselves at serious risks, the most dangerous of which is dehydration due to frequent vomiting, diuretics, or laxatives. These individuals often develop electrolyte imbalances, the most frequent of which is low potassium levels. Low potassium levels can lead to kidney failure, irregular heart rate and even death. Other side effects may be constant sore throat, dizziness, ruptured blood vessels in the eyes, bloating, tooth decay, acid reflux, ulcers, and many others. Bulimia does not have a single cause but many contributing factors. Body image and low self esteem are the leading causes but this individuals usually have a history of abuse or trauma, a profession which is oriented around appearance, or are experiencing major life changes. These individuals typically have a hard time dealing with stress in a ...

    Read More

  • Binge Eating Essay

    1494 Words  | 3 Pages

    Binge eating is a disorder characterized by periods of “binging.” People who are affected by binge-eating disorder, usually have binging episodes. Binging episodes are periods of when the person eats an amount of food far greater than a normal person would in the same amount of time. During these episodes, the person feels as if they have no control over how much they are eating. While binge eating is similar in many respects to another eating disorders called bulimia nervosa, particularly with respect to the amount of food eaten and the sense of loss of control experienced during the binge, they differ because binge eating disorder is not driven by thinness, and binge episodes of binge eating disorder are not followed by purging methods such as laxatives and throwing up (Comer, 2015).

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Eating Disorders

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eating disorders are a big issue in society these days. Young adults and adults are starting to have body images that are likely not reachable. More than 8 million people suffer from an eating disorder in America itself. Eating disorders are mental disorders about abnormal eating or not eating enough a day. There many eating disorders including Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia, Binge eating disorders and lots more. All these and more eating disorders is a way people thinking that they can escape their problems.

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa Essay

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Upon carefully reading Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale, & Sullivan (1999) and Serpell & Treasure (2002) research articles on Anorexia and Bulimia nervosa, I gained a lot of knowledge about the subject on previous research that was done on these two illnesses. Both Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa can be a very hard disease to live with. Serpell et al. (1999) research study was done to examine anorexics’ attitudes towards anorexia nervosa. Participants in their study was anorexic patients and they were asked to write two letters to their disorder. One letter was to address their disorder as a friend and the other as an enemy (Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale, & Sullivan, 1999). A coding scheme was established using a Grounded theory methodology to group recurrent themes (Serpell, Treasure, Teasdale, & Sullivan, 1999).

    Read More

  • Narrative Essay On Eating Disorders

    1962 Words  | 4 Pages

    One minute I am sitting at the dinner table, smiling and laughing in the company of my friends. Then there is a sudden change of thought and out of nowhere I find myself headed upstairs in a panic. I know this feeling all too well by now and I know it is a feeling I have no control over. I try to calm myself down with deep breathes, but I cannot help the tears that starts inevitably streaming down my face. In an effort to hide my emotions I lock myself in the bathroom stall and slide down to the floor, rubbing both hands against my face to whip away the tears. I tuck my knees towards my chest and wrap my legs with my arms in an attempt to find some sort of comfort. It takes all of the energy out of me to stay quiet in hopes that no one will hear. I cannot fathom the idea of my strong, perfectly projected image

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders Research Paper

    882 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mental health has always been around for years but it hasn’t always been the center of attention. Most people think of mental health as a bad thing or being crazy. In this paper I would be talking about eating disorder when is considered a mental health disorder. When your talking about eating disorder you can be talking about two different types which is anoxia and bulimia. Anoxia is when your personally starve yourself to be thin. It’s a psychological disorder with high risk of potential of death. People who suffer from this disorder or mental illness is typically has a low body weight that’s look at by a BMI chart. Which measures height to weight. Bulimia is when you binge eat and purge

    Read More

More about Eating Disorders Essay

Open Document