Eating Disorders
Each year in the United States millions of Americans are diagnosed with an eating disorder. The vast majority of these afflicted with eating disorders are females. Many factors contribute to eating disorders including pressure from television, magazines, and athletes, feelings of low self-esteem and powerlessness. Eating disorders are more than abnormal eating habits they are also psychological problems. (Siegal 8). There are two main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, and bulimia, (McCarthy 52). Anorexia nervosa is self-starvation -- an obsession with thinness. It is a potentially life-threatening disorder that leads a person to refuse to eat enough to maintain a normal body weight. Bulimia is characterized bybinge eating followed by purging. Purging leads to many long-term heath effects. Many different factors cause eating disorders. They are a serious signal that something is wrong psychologically. If an eating disorder goes unnoticed or untreated, it can lead to health problems rang
Starvation, cardiac arrest, and suicide account for most eating related deaths. It is recommended that help is sought through a pediatrician or a family physician first. Binge eaters lose great amounts of weight by dieting but usually regain the weight quickly. The "binge-purge syndrome" usually affects young women in their twenties and thirties, but men also suffer from this disorder (Berelowite). While anorexics refuse to eat, bulimics eat too much and then feel regretful and eliminate their mistake from their body. Anorexia usually affects adolescent females, although males can also suffer from the disease. Bulimics suffer from swollen salivary glands and, increased dental problems. ing from skin irritation and deterioration, hair loss, to even more serious problems such as stunted growth, thinning bones, damage to teeth and internal organs, infertility and even death. They often excuse themselves to go to the bathroom after a meal, and become obsessed with food. If the situation is already out of control, hospitalization for more intensive treatment may be required. Eating disorders kill up to ten percent of their victims (Siegal 22). There are pictures of waif like models adorning the covers of every magazine and there are ads all over television telling viewers that their life will be so much better if they get "this" workout machine or try "that" diet. By starving themselves, anorexics gain a false sense of power. Unless they experience a significant change in self-image and end the binge-purge cycle, the person will see themselves the same way.
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