(no subject)
Eating Disorders
Amanda Espey
Period 1
Eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia, and compulsive overeating are serious mental conditions that are harmful to the victim’s health and to their mental well being.
February 2, 2006
Eating disorders are diseases in which an individual has an excessive or an insufficient amount of food intake (Dictionary). These disorders are both physically and emotionally destructive (Eating). If an eating disorder is recognized in its early stages, it greatly increases the chance of a full recovery. If the disease is not recognized soon enough, an eating disorder can become a life-threatening situation (Eating). The three main types of eating disorders are as follows: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Overeating. These disorders usually appear in smart, attractive young women between the ages of twelve and twenty-five, however, there are both older and younger exceptions (Who). Eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia, and compulsive overeating are serious psychological conditions that are detrimental to the victim’s health and to their mental well being.
Anorexia is possibly the most dangerous and serious eating disorder that a person could have. Anorexia is defined as an eating disorder where people starve themselves (Anorexia). Another equally serious disorder is Bulimia. This disorder involves binge eating and intake of many high caloric foods followed by purging all of it, usually in privacy (What). The last eating disorder is that of Compulsive Overeating and Obesity. These disorders are usually genetic and due to underlying psychological issues. There is a specific way to treat each individual disorder which will be discussed further in the subsequent paragraphs.
Anorexia is usually recognized as a disease which causes people, usually women, to be severely underweight due to insufficient food intake (What). Individuals with anorexia continue to think they’re overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill, or near death (Anorexia). Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people (Anorexia). Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it themselves (Anorexia). Only one percent of teenage girls in the United States develop anorexia nervosa and up to ten percent of those may die as a result (Anorexia). People suffering from anorexia are unwilling or unable to maintain a body weight that is normal or expectable for their age and height (Eating). They typically display an obvious fear of weight gain and a dread of becoming fat, although they are severely underweight (Eating). The concerns they have about their weight have a very powerful influence and impact on their self-evaluation and on their self-esteem (Eating). The seriousness of the weight loss and its physical effects is minimized or denied (Eating). Usually, women diagnosed with Anorexia have missed at least three menstrual periods (Eating).
Some of the recognizable symptoms of Anorexia are severe weight loss, Amenorrhea (loss of periods), hormonal changes in men and boys, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, stomach pains, constipation, poor circulation and feeling cold (What). They also have an intense fear of gaining weight, they’re depressed and feeling emotional, have obsession with dieting, mood swings, and a distorted perception of body weight and size (What).
Anorexia is a disease that should be taken seriously. Individuals with this eating disorder need treatment as soon as possible to avoid fatalities. Sometimes, an individual may need residential treatment in order to restore and maintain a normal body weight (Anorexia Signs). Therapy may also be used in treating anorexia because it can help increase self-esteem (Anorexia Signs). If Anorexia is left untreated, it can cause many irreversible physical damages. The death rate of victims of anorexia nervosa is 5-20%, which is the highest death rate of any mental disorder (Anorexia Signs).
Bulimia is another eating disorder that is split up into two categories: the purging type and the non-purging type. The purging type is the most common, however, and is characterized by episodes of binge-eating followed by inappropriate methods of weight control, such as purging (Bulimia). A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation (Bulimia). Sufferers consume huge quantities of food, sometimes up to 20,000 calories at a time (Bulimia). The foods on which they binge tend to be foods labeled as “comfort foods” (sweet foods, high in calories, or smooth, soft foods like ice cream, cake, and pastries) (Bulimia). An individual may binge anywhere from twice a day to several times daily (Bulimia). The non-purging type of bulimia usually involves the abuse of laxatives and unnecessary vigorous exercise (Bulimia Signs). Statistics show that bulimia affects about 10% of college age women in the United States, and about 10% of individuals with bulimia are men. Ten percent of individuals suffering from bulimia will die from either starvation, cardiac arrest, other medical complications, or suicide (Bulimia).
Bulimia brings many health and emotional problems to the victim such as inflammation of the esophagus, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, chronic kidney problems or failure, shame, depression, low self-esteem, perfectionism, and impaired social relationships (Bulimia Signs). Some of the signs of Bulimia include sore throat or swollen glands, stomach pains, mouth infections, irregular menstrual cycles, dry or poor skin, difficulty sleeping, sensitive or damaged teeth, eating large quantities of food, being sick after eating, and being secretive (What).
Bulimia is usually treated through inpatient therapy and providing a support system to end the shame and isolation commonly felt by sufferers of bulimia (Bulimia Signs). Some treatment programs include a 12-step program and self-help groups (Bulimia Signs). As with Anorexia, timing is critical when it comes to the treatment of Bulimia because of the fact that the individual needs to be assisted before irreversible damage is done (Bulimia Signs).
The final eating disorder is Compulsive Overeating which is characterized as an “addiction” to food, using food and eating as a way to hide from their emotions, to fill a void they feel inside, and to cope with daily stresses and problems in their life (Compulsive). A compulsive overeater is generally overweight and therefore is at risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/or failure, arthritis and bone deterioration, and stroke (Compulsive).
Oftentimes a compulsive overeater possesses a low self-esteem and a constant need for love and validation so he/she will turn to obsessive episodes of binging and eating as a way to forget the pain and desire for affection (Compulsive). Usually this disease can be treated through health professionals such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker (Binge). It is important to get treatment for this disease just as it is important to treat anorexia and bulimia.
In conclusion, eating disorders are very dangerous mentally, physically, and emotionally to the sufferer. Victims of eating disorders can develop many irreversible damages and sometimes even death may occur which is why treatment is absolutely necessary as soon as possible. These disorders are serious psychological conditions that are extremely detrimental to the victim’s health and mental well being.
Bibliography
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