How Low Self-esteem Effects Anorexia

How Low Self-Esteem affects Anorexia

Outline

I. Anorexia has no certain causes, but it has been determined that psychological, enviromental, and physiological factors play a role.

A. Self-esteem is both a psychological and physiological factor of low self-esteem.

B. Girls and young women are most commonly associated with low self-esteem and anorexia.

II. “Self-Esteem is how you think and feel about yourself.';(McWilliams and Roger, 361) People can reach low self-esteem levels in a variety of ways.

A. People with low self-esteem don’t think they’re worth taking care of.

B. Young people’s self-esteem can be effected by parents and peers.

III. With low self-esteem, a young girl wants to have the confidence that it seems everyone else has.

A. They may develop anorexia because they are dissatisfied with themselves.

B. An anorexia will take drastic measures to change her body image in an attempt to fit in.

An Conclusion: It has not yet been pin-pointed what the exact cause of anorexia is. Many factors play a role, including self-esteem. Children need to be showed love and caring in order to gain the appropriate levels of self-esteem. Anorexia is a big issue in society today.

Girls and boys are developing anorexic symptoms as young as age five. While anorexia can be detected in boys, girls, men, and/or women of all ages, “the most common ages of onset [remains] between thirteen and twenty-two.';(Levenkron,1)

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder. People who develop anorexia are usually “afraid of becoming obese and [have] such a distorted image of

[their] body, that [they] steadfastly [refuse] to eat even when...hungry.';(Mathews, 29) The

“[eating] disorder [becomes] a disease...when problems of the mind create problems for the body.';

(Levenkron,5)

Scientists have been studying and researching the causes of anorexia sin...

... middle of paper ...

...tory

Approach, written by Gail E. Myers and Michele

Tolela Myers, it is said that positive self-esteem is often developed in adolescents who have attitude of acceptance by parents, clearly defined and enforced limits and respect and latitude for individual action with the defined limits. (65)

If children can maintain a healthy self-esteem level, they may not feel the need to turn to anorexia for comfort. While things like genes can be a cause of anorexia, it can be helpful for a parent to show that a child is accepted, which can raise self-esteem levels.

Works Cited

Johnson, Carol A. Self-Esteem Comes in All Sizes:

How to be Happy and Healthy at your Natural

Weight. New York: Bantam, 1995

Levenkron, Steven. Treating and Overcoming Anorexia

Nervosa. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons,

1982.

Mathews, John R. Eating Disorders. New York:

Facts on File Inc., 1991.

McWilliams, Peter and Roger, John. Life 101:

Everything we Wish we had Learned about in

School--but didn’t. California: Prelude

Press, 1990.

Myers, Gail E. and Myers, Michele The T. Dynamics of Human Communication: A Laboratory Approach.

New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1973.