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eating disorders and the effects of media
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Eating Disorders
“Food - too much of it, we suffer, and to lack of it, we will suffer.” Because of it, humans have lost their sanity and it’s the main cause of most health issues, which is eating disorder. Eating disorders are common in America today, and combined in all their various forms it is a very serious health problem that is growing into even larger problems. Because the media perpetuates a thin ideal, body dissatisfaction has escalated and eating disorders have steadily increased in both genders due to an excessive preoccupation with appearance.
Insecurities, low self-esteems, judgements from others, personal relationships, and too high expectations of the body image often cause eating disorders. According to the “National Institute of Mental Health” website, an eating disorder is an illness that causes serious disturbances to your everyday diet, such as eating extremely small amount of food or severely overeating. “Eating disorders result from a complicated interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors” (Ciotola DB) There are different types of eating disorders that are categorized, the three main eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. According to Katherine Kam on “WebMd” Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is due to a insufficient or excessive food intake. Bulimia is a condition which one overeats and then purges the food by vomiting or using laxatives to prevent weight gain. Binge Eating Disorder: according to the “National Institute of Mental Health” website, binge eating occurs when the person loses control over his/her eating. In this case, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. No matter the type or term given the disorder, they represent a serio...
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Katherine Kam “Eating Disorders in Children and Teens” WebMDfeature WebMD 25 March 2014 http://www.webmd.com/children/features/eating-disorders-children-teens
Kilbourne, Jean. “Killing Us Softly 4; Advertising’s Image of Women.” Media Education Foundation.10March2011.Web.http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?key=241&preadd=action
Nina Golgowski “How Barbies Body Size Would Look In Real-Life” Mail Online 13 April 2013 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308658/How-Barbies-body-size-look-real-life-Walking-fours-missing-half-liver-inches-intestine.html
Russo, Francine. “Your Mirror Image?” Viewpoints. Ed. W. Royce Adams, 7th ed.
“Types & Symptoms Of Eating Disorders” NEDA feeding hope Eating Recovering Center10 March 2014
In light of what is going on in the world today, eating disorders seem farfetched and frivolous. Anorexia Nervosa could be considered a classic example of a serious eating disorder as it is defined as having a fatal a...
...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
An average American is bombarded daily with random propaganda to try to sell what some would consider "perfection". Most American citizens try to emulate those fictional characters in celebrity magazines. The truth is a lot of those pictures are air-brushed and some of the individuals have had extensive cosmetic surgery and other medical procedures done to look that way. This media manipulation is the main cause for the many eating disorders and the people addicted to them. For most people eating is a satisfying experience. But for some, eating is an impulse. Men and women of all ages force themselves to eat too much or too little, and experience incredible psychological pain when they do. Body weight and image become a fixation that damages relationships and has severe health consequences. Food addiction is a disorder characterized by obsession with food, the accessibility of food and the expectancy of pleasure from the intake of food. Food addiction involves the recurring consumption of food against the individual’s better judgment resulting in loss of control and anxiety or the limitation of food and obsession with body weight and image. In today’s society the worth of a female is based upon her age, her body size and her looks. The male’s worth is based on the amount of money earned or inherited, and athleticism. These images of “perfection” have been engraved in people’s minds, forcing them to believe that if they can’t live up to the same standards it will mean that they’re not good enough. This is a main cause of most disorders and addictions. Some addictionologists believe that society contributes to the development of addictions by establishing unreasonable or unreachable criteria for worthiness. Individuals who are under chronic emotional distress like negative feelings of self and inappropriate methods for dealing with emotional stress use food disorders.
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.
No human is perfect and because of this it is no secret that there are things that humans one way or another want to change or fix about themselves. However, some take this to an extreme. When an obsession over being thin starts to rule your life, eating proportions or habits, and thoughts- you might be in the beginning stages of an eating disorder. Eating Disorders are circumstances where there are strange or peculiar eating routine where there is too much or too little food intake for the lack of benefit to the person’s mental and physical health. Linked from Anorexia are some of the most common types of eating disorders such as Bulimia, anorexia, and binging. All of these eating disorders fall back onto excessive obsessing over weight and food related situations. Once often becomes brain washed into only focusing on the main goal, which is usually to be slim and thin.
Eating Disorders are psychological disorders that result from a drive to be thin. They are broken down into three categories, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R in individuals with body weight that is significantly lower than the norm, extremely concerned with weight and shape, distorted self-image, and an absence of three consecutive menstrual periods, in women. Bulimia Nervosa is diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R in individuals who have recurrent binge eating episodes, have weight and shape concerns, have a lack of control over such behavior, and have compensatory behaviors (e.g., vomiting, fasting, misuse of laxatives, or excessive exercise). Binge eating disorder has much of the same criteria as Bulimia Nervosa with the exception of the compensatory behaviors.
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.
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.
Eating disorders come in many forms, with the three main types being Anorexia Nervosa (Anorexia), Bulimia Nervosa (Bulimia), and Binge-Eating. They each differ in the way that the person affected deals with the food presented. Anorexia, meaning without appetite according to Random History, is an eating disorder where one fears gaining weight, so one self-starves (Rust). Bulimia, the more advanced stage of anorexia, consists of a rapid consumption of food followed by purging attempts using laxatives, excessive exercise, and self-induced vomiting (Rust). Binge-eating, on the other hand, is when one periodically goes on a long binge but does not vomit afterwards (Rust). This eventually leads to obesity.
Food. It is essential for survival. Without it, people die. However, oddly enough, many struggle to live without it to accomplish the standards that our culture has created for us. We are taught that being thin is perfection and will lead to a happier life. However, lurking are the health risks that one pays for obtaining the “perfect body”. Still, along with a distorted body image, others struggle with keeping weight down and fall into the diet fads that the world parades. From movies, magazines, and television, the media also sends us messages that being fat is bad and unhealthy while being thin and beautiful is acceptable. The impact of such influences has increased eating disorders in America. These disorders do not discriminate. Anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or background can develop one and without help it can lead to death.
As one can see, eating disorders are real diseases with a biological basis that affect the brain and body and should be treated as any other disease. At least 24 million Americans suffer from eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Twenty percent of people with eating disorders will die prematurely due to complications related to the disease. Schizophrenia, depression and a...
Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources says that eating disorders "are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem." Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia "refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height" and "weighs 85 percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height." A person diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese (Anred.com).