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 almost nonexistent and being of a large body size is a symbol of health, prestige, and prosperity. “A cross-cultural survey found that 81% of societies viewed plumpness or ‘being filled out’ as desirable” (52). While Americans should be thankful for abundant food and survival, they strive to be thin and fit what the media portrays as the perfect body. While some are not affected by this, others are diagnosed with eating disorders which are “potentially life-threatening illnesses that are simultaneously psychological and physical in nature” (Engel, Reiss, and Dombeck). Due to the differences in individuals, a diverse range of eating disorders are progressively consuming the nation as proven by bulimia nervosa, excessive overeating, and orthorexia nervosa.
Bulimia nervosa is a very commonly known eating disorder. Like anorexia nervosa, bulimics strive to fit a specific body image. Bulimia was noticed to be a separate illness than anorexia in the early 1970’s because of certain characteristics and sym...
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.... "Psychological Signs of Eating Disorders - Eating Disorder Expert (UK)." Eating Disorders; Diagnosis, Signs, Causes, Risks and Treatments at Eating Disorder Expert (UK). JohnRowlinson,n.p. n.d. Web.14 Feb.2011. .
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. .
National Eating Disorders. National Eating Disorders Association. 2001. Web. 8 February 2011. .
"Orthorexia Nervosa." Orthorexia: The Healthy Eating Disorder. N.p. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. < http://www.mirror-mirror.org/orthorexia-nervosa.htm>.
Smolin, Lori A., and Mary B. Grosvenor. Nutrition and Eating Disorders. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2005. Print.
Bulimia nervosa is another eating disorder that includes a behavior pattern of alternating extreme bingeing, or overeating, with self-induced vomiting, fasting or abuse of laxatives or diuretics. Eating in a short period of time and having a sense o...
...d with anorexia has increased a lot during the last 30 years which is very heavily influenced with the body image that is presented by the media. Bulimia nervosa was first used in 1979 by Russell to describe one of his patients. Later in 1988 Cooper and Fairburn described bulimia as “a profound and distressing loss of control over eating,” and “irresistible cravings for food”. Today these eating disorders are classified by the DSM V, which I mentioned earlier.
Over the years the rise in body image dissatisfaction has grown as both male and female progress to adulthood. This factor can be contributed to societal standards that the media presents to the public daily. These standards continue to rise making the body image more difficult to attain. With these standards comes the push to seek the “perfect body”. This myth of true beauty commonly found in today’s society, is the price that adolescents buy into often sacrificing their health. The perfect body can often present a distorted view of one-self leading to unhealthy methods of weight reduction. The most common methods for weight reduction are the diseases Anorexia and Bulimia. The similarities and differences between Anorexia and Bulimia will be used to prove that the society’s pressure to fit a certain mold contribute to the onset of the disease.
Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see? Most of us have come to appreciate ourselves for who we are. While other’s struggle to achieve the perfect body. They strive to be what is depicted in fashion magazines and movies. The never ending obsession to be the perfect size zero. This inevitably can lead to eating disorders. Eating disorders can cause someone to have an unhealthy image of themselves and food is the enemy. In a national survey at the Mclean Hospital in Massachusetts it was estimated that over 9 million people suffer with eating disorders. They can struggle with anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders states that most of these diseases start before the age of twenty. Another growing problem in the United States is obesity. Over 60 million Americans suffer from this disease, this according to the American Obesity Association (gale opposing viewpoints: eating disorders 2010).
Miller, Charlotte. "Eating Disorders." Doctors, Patient Care, Health Education, Medical Research. N.p., Oct. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.
Bulimia is one of the major eating disorders among teens. Bulimia is when someone binges− eats a lot of food in a short period of time− and then purges, ...
In civilized societies, there are continuous prizing of thinness than ever before. Occasionally, almost everyone is watchful of their weight. Individuals with an eating disorder take extreme measures to concern where they ultimately shift their mode of eating, this abnormal eating pattern threatens their lives and their well-being. According to Reel (2013), eating disorders are continually misapprehended as all about food and eating. However, there is more to that as the dysfunction bears from emotion concealing a flawed relationship with food, physical exercise and oneself. Persons with eating disorders convey fault-finding, poor self- esteem and intense body discontent. This can lead to extreme distress of gaining weight,
...lity Disorders in 210 Women With Eating Disorders.Jounal of Clinical Psych8atry, Vol. 53(5), 147-152. 1992.
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.
An eating disorder is a serious health condition involving extremely unhealthy dietary habits. There are a number of accepted eating disorder treatments that depend on the symptoms and severity of the illness. The most effective treatments involve both psychological as well as physical issues with the ultimate goal being a healthy dietary lifestyle. The team approach to treatment involves professionals with experience in eating disorders that usually includes a medical provider, mental health workers, registered dieticians and case managers. These individuals work together in hopes of avoiding a life threatening situation.
Bulimia nervosa is a slightly less serious version of anorexia, but can lead to some of the same horrible results. Bulimia involves an intense concern about weight (which is generally inaccurate) combined with frequent cycles of binge eating followed by purging, through self-induced vomiting, unwarranted use of laxatives, or excessive exercising. Most bulimics are of normal body weight, but they are preoccupied with their weight, feel extreme shame about their abnormal behavior, and often experience significant depression. The occurrence of bulimia has increased in many Western countries over the past few decades. Numbers are difficult to establish due to the shame of reporting incidences to health care providers (Bee and Boyd, 2001).
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness; 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from eating disorders and only 1 in 10 of those 24 million are treated (ANAD). Eating disorders do not discriminate; all ages, genders, ethnicities and races can be victim to this mental illness. It’s important to be aware of the impact eating disorders have on societies across the globe and how the media plays a role if we want to fight the source and promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. I’ve known many people in my life who have some sort of eating disorder, whether it’s anorexia(not eating enough), binge eating(eating large amounts of food rapidly), bulimia (throwing up their food) or just struggling with an unsatisfying self-image. Becoming aware of eating disorders and how they are developed is important to me because in a perfect world, I would like to see this illness become less common or diminished completely among those that I love and anyone else in today’s society. Eating disorders hit home for many people, including myself. Raising awareness may decrease the rate of eating disorders by informing the population of the harm this illness causes and hopefully promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. With the 3 theoretical approaches used by sociologists, Eating disorders can be understood which will better inform society on how to raise awareness, prevent this illness and help those who suffer from eating disorders.
Some of the negative reinforcers associated with disorder were also discussed. To name a few Anorexics felt taken over by the disorder, cheated and tired of the weight obsession; Bulimics felt shame, lack of confidence, and an obsession with weight and
Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known simply as bulimia or binge and purge disorder, is an eating disorder that affects 1 in 4 college-aged women in America, or 1 in 10,000 Americans. The most common misconception concerning bulimia is that it is simply a physical or mental problem. Many people do not understand that bulimia is a disease that affects both the mind and the body, and in its course can destroy both aspects of the diseased individual.
The Web. The Web. 10 Mar. 2011. The. http://www.umm.edu/patients/articles/what_symptoms_of_eating_disorders_000049_6.htm>. Morris, Jane, and Sara Twaddle.