eating disorder essay hooks

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Tips for Writing a Captivating Eating Disorders Essay

If you want to write a perfect essay on eating disorders, you need to focus on what to write for the three sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.

How to Write an Eating Disorders Essay

• Narrow down the essay topic
• Provide statistics on eating disorders in your background
• Write the hook and thesis statements
• Proceed to body paragraphs
• Support your claims with reputable evidence
• Make a scientific and insightful conclusion
• Add your citations in the reference page.

Eating disorders essay can take many forms. Your essay prompts could focus on one of the following plus other areas:

• Essay on meaning of eating disorders
• Essay on types of eating disorders.
• Essay on the causes of eating disorders.
• An essay on the impacts of eating disorders.
• Essay on the strategies to treat eating disorders.

Step 1: The first step is to narrow down your topic to make it as concise as possible. Eating disorders is a really large topic and there is just too much to write about it.

When the Essay is About the Impacts of Eating Disorders

With prompts on this topic, you can focus on a particular group such as adolescents.

People in their adolescence are among those who are most impacted, because at this period there is typically a greater prevalence of insecurity, which motivates the appearance of negative ideas.

Young people are under intense pressure to conform to beauty standards that are far removed from reality and that do not take into account the physical traits that are unique to them.

In order to create a better essay about eating disorders, it is necessary to grasp how the problems manifest themselves.

It is also important to take into consideration a variety of psychological, genetic, and social variables.

The family plays an important role as well, either by supporting the view that the affected person has or by assisting them in finding a solution through the involvement of health-care professionals.

Step 2: Write a relevant introduction

Introduction to eating disorder essay

No essays will score the highest marks without an introduction. In the introduction, you can provide:

• Statistics on eating disorders
• Surprising facts about the condition
• An interesting intervention that worked for certain groups
• Any other background information
• A thesis statement at the end of the introduction.

Examples of introduction of Eating Disorders Essay

Example 1: Anorexia is one of the most prevalent disorders in today’s society. The majority of instances involve girls and young women between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, although recent research have indicated that the minimum age is being lowered. A mental disease in which the person develops a neurotic fixation with weight growth, distorting his perception of reality in the mirror and always feeling obese, is what it is at its most basic level. Eating disorders have significant repercussions for the individual and, if not treated promptly, can result in death without prompt intervention.

Example 2: An eating disorder is described as a set of illnesses characterized by irregular eating patterns as well as extreme discomfort or anxiety over one’s weight or physical appearance. It is frequently characterized by an insufficient or excessive food consumption, which can result in long-term harm to one’s health and well-being if left untreated. Eating disorders may affect both males and girls, and they often begin during a person’s adolescent years, although they can manifest themselves at any point in one’s life. Typically, the most prevalent and most spoken about eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is by far the most frequent and most talked discussed eating disorder because it has the most negative impact on people’s health.

Remember that introductions need working hooks. Essay hooks should set you apart from other writers and show that you know what you’re talking about.

The hook also sets the reader for what is to come next in the entire essay.

We prepared a few hooks that you can use as guidelines.

Hook sentences for eating disorder essay

• Have you ever imagined how recovery from eating disorder is like?
• You’ve undoubtedly heard a lot about eating disorders and how life-threatening they can be, but what exactly do we mean by eating disorders?
• Spending one dollar on preventing eating disorders equals saving $100 that would be spent on treatment. This is an alarming statistic that requires urgent action.
• It is unfortunate that eating disorders affect between 5 and10 million people in the United States and 70 million people globally.

Example 3: Every little girl has a desire of being a model at some time in her life; she wants to be as thin and as beautiful as the ladies she sees in magazines. Often, these young girls have an increasing desire to appear like the models, to the point where it becomes an obsession, and they begin to believe that looking like the models is a must. Once females reach the age of adolescence, they begin to make radical alterations in order to get the appearance they have always desired. The preoccupation of these teens with their beauty and weight have resulted in a rise in the number of persons who have developed an eating problem in an attempt to reach that “perfect” appearance. The definition of an eating disorder, the varieties of eating disorders that exist, and the treatment options available for eating disorders are all critical to properly comprehending the situation these people are in.

Step 3: Write the Body

Body of Essay on Eating Disorder

The next important area for your essay on eating disorders is the body. Here is where you make your arguments.

You cannot have a good essay body without a good topic for eating disorders. We compiled some titles for you to use as guidelines.

Here are a few good titles for your next eating disorder essay.

Eating disorder essay topics

• Examine the psychological factors that contribute to eating problems in children. The preventative and corrective strategies are described in detail.
• Discuss the unique characteristics of diagnosing anorexia nervosa in children and adolescents.
• What type of diagnostic treatment is more successful for pediatric patients? 4.
• What role do eating disorders have in the physical and mental development of children and adolescents?  What are the long-term ramifications of this decision?
• Investigate the impact of the family and culture on children who suffer from anorexia nervosa.
• Describe the significance of awareness-raising classes on eating problems among adolescents.
• Adolescents and youngsters are included. What impact will it have on their social life, emotions, mindset, and overall well-being?
• Identify and analyze the effects of anorexia nervosa in teenagers.
• Describe how television shows have an impact on eating problems in children and teenagers.
• Discuss the unique challenges of treating eating disorders in children and adolescents.
• Do children from private schools have a higher risk of developing eating disorders than students from public schools?
• Examine the prevalence of self-injurious conduct among females who suffer from an eating disorder.
• In what ways can bullying contribute to the spread of eating disorders? 

The various types of eating disorders and their repercussions are an issue that mostly affects young people in the most developed nations, where they are more concerned with their appearance. It is critical for parents to report on and discuss the issue with their children, and schools and other educational institutions are required to conduct preventative efforts as a matter of course. Likewise, the mass media must renounce the employment of models that only serve to instill a false sense of reality in the public mind.

So, you might want to explore the topic from that perspective.

Step 4: Writing the Conclusion

You essay is not complete without a resounding conclusion. This section is meant to wrap up your entire arguments.

Eating disorders essay conclusion

Writing the conclusion for eating disorders also requires a meticulous approach just like the rest of the paper.

Here are the items to include in the eating disorders essay conclusion:

• Restating your thesis (argument).
• Mentioning the supporting claims you used in the essay.
• Adding your personal reflection.
• Indicating the significance of discussing that topic in general.

Eating Disorders Essay

• 3 Works Cited

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Three of the most discussed are anorexia, bulimia, and what researchers call EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Each of the eating disorders can be fatal in their own way. What are the signs, what do they do to you and your body, and what can be done to treat the problem? Researchers have studied long and hard into these three disorders so that those questions could be answered to the best of their ability. In this paper, the outcomes of the research that was done and the thesis

Eating Disorders in America Essay

With Anorexia Nervosa, there is a strong fear of weight gain and a preoccupation with body image. Those diagnosed may show a resistance in maintaining body weight or denial of their illness. Additionally, anorexics may deny their hunger, have eating rituals such as excessive chewing and arranging food on a plate, and seek privacy when they are eating. For women, they go through immediate body changes from abnormal to no menstruation periods and develop lanugo all over their bodies. Characteristics of an anorexic individual also consist of extreme exercise patterns, loosely worn clothing, and maintain very private lives. Socially, to avoid criticism or concern from others, they may distant themselves from friends and activities they once enjoyed. Instead, their primary concerns revolve around weight loss, calorie intake, and dieting. In regards to health, many will have an abnormal slow heart rate and low blood pressure, some can develop osteoporosis, severe dehydration which can result in kidney failure, and overall feel weak (Robbins, 27-29). It has been reported that Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest death rates in any mental health condition in America (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org).

Unit 21 Task 2

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and a mental health condition that could potentially be life-threatening. People with anorexia try to keep their weight as low as possible by restricting the amount of food they eat. They often have a distorted image of themselves, thinking that they're fat when they're not.  Some people with the condition also exercise excessively, and some eat a lot of food in a short space of time (binge eating) and then make themselves sick. People affected by anorexia often go to great attempts to hide their behaviour from their family and friends by lying about eating and what they have eaten. Anorexia is linked to

PSY 240 - Week 4 assignment Essay

Hello everyone. My name is Ruth and I want to talk to you guys about eating disorders. An eating disorder is essentially an illness that disrupts a person’s every day diet which can cause a person to pretty much stop eating or over eat, depending on the illness. These illnesses are more apparent in the teenage years and in to young adulthood (Pinel, 2011), which makes sense because this is when we start becoming more aware of our bodies as well as other people’s bodies. We might want to look like the model we just saw on TV and will do anything to get that body, right? But an eating disorder is not the way to go; we will get in to the effects of

Informative Speech On Eating Disorders

People with anorexia nervosa have a tendency to look in the mirror and see their body as overweight and ugly even when in reality they are dangerously thin. A sufferer of anorexia nervosa can be underweight, emaciated with protruding bones or a sunken appearance. They can experience fatigue, dizziness or even fainting. The nails become brittle, the hair can fall out, and women can even experience loss of menstruation or irregularities in their menstrual cycle (Timberline, 2005).

Dyig to Be Thin

A Look Into the Life of an Anorexic and the Health Risk That Come With It

Eating Disorders and Image Essay

• 1 Works Cited

As humans on this planet we often think about what others think about our appearance. We often, in this society, look at a person through their characteristics such as: looks, height, clarity of skin, and by how fat or thin one appears to be. In the article, The Diet Zone: A Dangerous Place, by Natascha Pocek, she states the fact that, in this society, we put a lot of emphasis on diets and appearing thin. From when we are children we tend to change our views according to the ways of man, and find ways to stay fit or to lose weight. With this constant loss of weight we tend to get into a hole of wanting to be thinner, and in my opinion that want leads to the attempts of so many girls developing some

Eating Disorders Do Not Discriminate

Anorexia has dangerous effects on the body and the mind. It has the highest rate of death of any mental illness. Between 5% and 20% of people who develop the disease eventually die from it (Lee, 2008). It may start as simple dieting, but can quickly roller coaster out of control such as not eating at all. The person’s main focus is food, dieting, and the fear of weight gain. Others see them as being very thin but they themselves see a distorted fat image when they look in the mirror.

Eating Disorders In Women

Eating disorders are very dangerous disorders that affect mostly women. Women are very insecure about their bodies and will do anything to stay skinny. With women trying to remain skinny, they starve themselves or even vomit after eating. Women are taught from a very young age what their bodies are suppose to look like. From supermodels to celebrities, they portray a skinny and pretty woman, which gives little girls a false sense of what a woman should look like. A girl is very impressionable and instead of maintaining a healthy body weight, she starves herself to fit the image of what others want. Society instead of portraying healthy bodies are set on the thought that skinner is better and that healthier is not the way to go. Eating disorders

Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa or more commonly called Anorexia is a disease that is caused by any number of things including stress, self-esteem issues, and the words of other people. These things can cause someone to feel ashamed or self conscious of their weight and lead them to start dieting which in extreme cases leads to anorexia due to the intense fear of gaining weight. For anorexics, the line between dieting and malnourishment becomes blurred and most reject offers for

Anorexia Nervosa Research Paper

People with Anorexia have a desire for self control. As Demi quoted, "I think it was definitely a control thing. Some people just don't want to feel the emotions that they have. I think a lot of it is just me numbing myself out so I didn't have to deal with certain problems or trauma.” The desire for self control also goes along with puberty and growing into a certain body type that the person has. That self control allows the specific person to completely wreck their self image and self

A History Of Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorders are severe disturbances in eating behaviors, such as eating too little or eating too much. “Anorexia nervosa affects nearly one in 200 Americans in their lives (three-quarters of them female)” (Treating anorexia nervosa). Anorexia, when translated into Greek means “without appetite” which is not true for all suffering from anorexia most people with this disorder have not lost their appetite they simply have to ignore it. People with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight and have convinced themselves that they are overweight even if they are the opposite of overweight. Since the way that they view themselves is in a negative light they starve themselves and put their lives at risk. “In the most severe

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders 5th edition defines anorexia nervosa as an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss; it is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder. According to the DSM 5, the typical diagnostic symptoms of anorexia nervosa are: dramatic weight loss leading to significant low body weight for the individuals age, sex, and health; preoccupation with weight; restriction of food, calories and fat; constant dieting; feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss and fear about gaining weight or being “fat.” Many individuals with anorexia nervosa deny feeling hungry and often avoid eating meals with others, resulting in withdrawal from usual friends and activities

attractive and the media reinforces this statement." Young adolescent girls buy into this sensation and through doing so, set themselves up for failure. When these predisposing factors are combined with stressors and pressures, the cycle is begun and an eating disorder is formed.

Mayo Clinic Anorexia Nervosa

What is anorexia? According to Mayo Clinic, “anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight.” People with the disorder are insistent on having complete control of their body’s appearance no matter the cost, which ultimately results in the interference with everyday activities and routines. Anorexia not only has tremendous effects on the psychological well-being of an individual, but has a great impact on many of the body’s organ systems.

Essay on Eating Disorders

Students are often asked to write an essay on Eating Disorders in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Understanding eating disorders.

Eating disorders are serious health problems. They occur when individuals develop unhealthy eating habits that can harm their body. They often start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape.

Types of Eating Disorders

There are three main types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Each has different symptoms but all can be harmful.

Impact on Health

Eating disorders can damage important body parts like the heart and brain. They can also affect mental health, causing anxiety or depression.

Getting Help

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help. Doctors, therapists, and support groups can provide treatment and support.

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250 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Introduction.

Eating disorders, a category of mental health conditions, have been a subject of increasing concern in contemporary society. They are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions, often driven by body dissatisfaction and distorted body image.

The most common types are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Anorexia is defined by a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Bulimia involves frequent episodes of binge eating followed by behaviors like forced vomiting to avert weight gain. Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by frequent overeating episodes but without subsequent purging actions.

Sociocultural Influences

Sociocultural factors play a significant role in the onset of eating disorders. The media’s portrayal of an ‘ideal’ body size and shape can contribute to body dissatisfaction and consequently, disordered eating behaviors.

Health Implications

The health implications of eating disorders are severe, impacting both physical and mental health. These can range from malnutrition, organ damage, to increased risk of suicide.

Eating disorders, therefore, are serious conditions that require comprehensive treatment. Increased awareness, early diagnosis, and interventions can significantly improve the prognosis and quality of life for those affected.

Packed in 152 Informative Pages

500 Words Essay on Eating Disorders

Introduction to eating disorders.

Eating disorders represent a group of serious conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that can negatively affect a person’s physical and mental health. These disorders often develop from a complex interplay of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors.

The Types of Eating Disorders

The most common types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, leading to self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Bulimia Nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise. Binge Eating Disorder, the most common eating disorder in the U.S., involves recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, often very quickly and to the point of discomfort.

The Underlying Causes

Eating disorders are typically multifactorial and can’t be attributed to a single cause. They often coexist with other mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, suggesting that eating disorders can run in families. Sociocultural factors, including societal pressures to be thin, can also contribute to the development of these disorders.

The Impact on Physical and Mental Health

The physical consequences of eating disorders are profound and can be life-threatening. They range from malnutrition, heart conditions, and bone loss in anorexia, to gastrointestinal problems and electrolyte imbalances in bulimia. Binge eating disorder can lead to obesity and related complications like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

The mental health consequences are equally severe and include depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide. Eating disorders can also lead to social isolation and impaired functioning at work or school.

Treatment and Recovery

Treatment for eating disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, combining medical, psychological, and nutritional therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often effective, helping individuals to understand and change patterns of thought and behavior that lead to disordered eating.

Early intervention is crucial for recovery. However, stigma and lack of understanding about these disorders can often delay treatment. Therefore, raising awareness and promoting understanding about eating disorders is essential.

Eating disorders are serious and complex mental health conditions with significant physical and psychological consequences. Understanding their multifactorial nature is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. The importance of early intervention and the role of societal attitudes in both the development and recovery from these disorders cannot be overstated. As a society, we must strive to promote body positivity and mental health awareness to help those struggling with these debilitating conditions.

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Eating Disorders

Table of Contents

There are common beliefs that eating disorders are because of lifestyle choices made by a certain individual.  However, health studies conducted by different institutions have continued to indicate that eating disorders are actual health problems that have a major disturbance in patients eating habits. Food plays a significant role in human body. Therefore, having eating disorder means that a person is giving the body too much food or inadequate food hence causing an imbalance of the important nutrients in the human body. Some of the behaviors which may signal eating disorder in human beings include obsession to food, the shape of the body and body weight. Binge-eating behavior, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa are some of the common eating disorders depicted in the United States. In the last few years, the problem of eating disorder has been worsening with more and more people facing this problem. Decades ago, the eating disorder was being experienced mostly by teen girls and young adult women. Today, the problem is facing all genders and all ages of United States citizens. The purpose of this paper is to propose ways the United States can diagnose the problem of eating disorder by explaining some of the types of eating disorder, symptoms, and ways the Members of Congress can take action to solve the eating disorder problem in the United States. Members of Congress need to come up with a solution which will help more than million United States citizens from all ages suffering from different eating disorders. Eating disorder is a national problem that is killing us every day.

Problem statement

Eating disorders are defined as any range of psychological disorder which is characterized by disturbed or abnormal eating habit. There are different factors contributing to the rise in some persons with an eating disorder.  Firstly, increase in some women with an eating disorder has been associated with issues of self-esteem, over confidence and body image. In the last few decades, United States has experienced significant growth in media and technology (Merikangas p. 11). These development have a major influence on people’s life, and this is seen where some of the pictures used by media even though some are photoshopped are changing the attitude people have toward them self and their body. Hence they start struggling to acquire a certain body image so that they can feel fit in the society (Merikangas p. 16).  Additionally, media has increasingly emphasized on the types of clothes that individual need to wear to look good and thus, those whose bodies cannot fit this kind of clothes have generated a different attitude towards eating as a way of reducing or increasing their body size. This has created a serious problem where some are developing psychological problems when trying to change their bodies hence affecting their day to day functions (Merikangas p. 34). 

One of the major eating disorder identified with a huge number of United States citizens is the problem of self-induced vomiting as a way of preventing weight gain.  The process of ensuring they have the body size the society term as the best, huge numbers of patients develops the underweight issue. Underweight has major health problems which include anemia, infertility, and low immune because of lack of vitamins and minerals, and osteoporosis (Middleton p. 56). However, despite the risks associated with underweight, people continue to risk due to patients often carrying the mentality that there are some social benefits of looking thin and thus they are worth risking being underweight. This mentality has been emphasized by continued number of advertisement and media preferences of where they tend to like the thin people that the thick people. However, a problem that starts as a mental issue ends up becoming a life threatening issue where some become psychologically impacted by the thought of their body size and end up becoming a serious illness (Middleton p. 3). The society then needs to understand that eating disorders are not an experiment to lose weight or a fad diet, but they are serious disorders that can take the patients years to ill and cost them a huge amount of money in trying to recover. 

Research conducted by the Eating Disorder Lobby Group indicated that about 5% of United States women and 1% of United States males are suffering from eating disorder (Middleton p. 87). With the impact eating disorder has on a human being, this means that more that 30 million people in the United States are facing major life threatening issues. In most cases, eating disorder come with other psychiatric issues such as panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, alcohol, and drug abuse problems among other issues (Middleton 108). This creates a need to come up with a permanent solution to help the patients suffering from eating disorder.  Effective treatment needs to be established which will treat psychical symptoms and emotional symptoms associated with an eating disorder so that we can have a society with fewer people suffering having psychological problems as a result of eating disorders (Middleton p. 76). 

Types and symptoms of eating disorder

There are different types of eating disorder affecting the United States population. Some of the eating disordered includes:

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people see themselves as overweight even when they are dangerously underweight. People with this eating disorder trend to weigh them repeatedly and they tend to severely restrict themselves to eating different types of food or eat a small amount of certain food. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate in the United States among the mental illnesses. The largest population of individuals with this eating disorder tends to die because of famishment, while other dies because of suicide (Setnick p. 4).  For women with Anorexia nervosa, suicide is more common than any other mental disorder where they continuously fail to appreciate themselves and eventually lack meaning of living. In their lifetime, 0.9% of the American women suffer from Anorexia nervosa. Among five deaths that occur because of Anorexia nervosa, one is as a result of suicide.  However, 50-80% of risks associated with Anorexia nervosa are because of genetic (Setnick p. 6). Other conditions associated with Anorexia nervosa include comorbid mood disorder which affects 33-50% of women suffering from this eating disorder such as depression (Setnick p. 5).

Some of the symptoms associated with the Anorexia nervosa includes: First, extremely restricted eating behavior. A Huge number of patients suffering from Anorexia nervosa tend to starve them even when they have lost huge amounts of weight.  Because of extreme starvation, patients suffer from emaciation where they get extremely thin (Setnick p. 4). This is the most visible symptom, and during this time, patients tend to deny the condition. The second symptom of Anorexia nervosa is a persistent quest of slenderness and unwillingness to maintain heavy or even normal weight. 

Bulimia nervosa

People with Bulimia nervosa eating disorder have frequent and recurrent sessions of consuming an unusual amount of food and feeling as if they are not in control of their eating behaviors during these sections. Because of overeating, the patients end up vomiting fasting, excessive use of diuretics and laxatives and excessive exercise to avoid an increase in their body size (Rhodan p. 3). However, the condition is different from Anorexia nervosa eating disorder because people with Bulimia nervosa tend to maintain the healthy or normal weight. Family members with patients suffering from Bulimia nervosa may not know if the person is suffering from this condition because patients tend to hide the binges. Additionally, the fact that they do not become extremely thin means that people around them may not notice any changes.  

Some of the symptoms that the society needs to observe in people suffering from Bulimia nervosa binge include: Firstly, they have swollen salivary glands in jaw and neck area. This may be accompanied by chronically inflamed and sore throats. These symptoms may be seen mostly during the period when they are overeating and disappear after some time (Rhodan p. 5). Secondly, patients with Bulimia nervosa eating disorder tend to have decayed and oversensitive teeth, due to huge amount stomach acid. During this condition, patients tend to produce a significant amount of stomach acids which once the tooth is exposed to it, it causes decay and even increases sensitivity. The third symptom of Bulimia nervosa is increased in acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems. Additionally, most patients develop intestinal distress which is accompanied laxative abuse. These conditions may persist hence more that they usually do (Rhodan p. 6). The last symptom identified in patients suffering from Bulimia nervosa is dehydration which occurs because of purging fluids. 

Binge-Eating Disorder

Currently, the criterions associated with Binge-eating disorder are under investigation or being defined. However, some of the issues that have been identified by researchers on patients suffering from this condition are the patient’s episodes of binge eating where they tend to consume a huge amount of food for a very short period (Streigel-moore p. 56). During this period, patients feel out of control of their eating behavior. However, unlike Bulimia nervosa, patients with this condition do not try to vomit or use other methods to get laid off the huge calories they have consumed. This makes Binge-eating disorder a serious issue in human life where it will first result in changes in body mass and other complex heath conditions such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (Streigel-moore p. 23). Currently, the United States has depicted Binge-eating as the most common eating disorder. The condition is highly associated with increased body size and is seen by many as the eating disorder with the highest effect on body image. 

Some of the symptoms of Binge-eating disorder include: Firstly, taking a huge amount of food at specific period is one of the most common conditions for patients with Binge-eating disorder.  The condition worsens, and the patients tend to eat even when they are full. Secondly, patients with Binge-eating disorder tend to eat very fast during the binge episode (Streigel-moore p. 22). In most cases, they eat until even the family members around they realize they are uncomfortable, but they tend to deny it. Lastly, they tend to diet frequently, but they do not experience any weight loss, and thus, they find their body image is ruined. 

Risks Associated With Eating Disorder

Eating disorder is a major issue in the modern society.  The number of people suffering from this condition is increasing significantly because of social changes being experienced in the modern society. Decades ago, the problem was not severe and the population identified to having this disorder according to the health literature was women during their teen years and young adults (MacDonald p. 5).  However, eating disorders have experienced significant increase with the condition being experienced in all ages and genders in the society.  The rate of women suffering from eating disorder is about two and a half time that of male, the condition is experiencing significant growth in both genders. The low number of men suffering from eating disorder is attributed to the fact that men have some other conditions such as muscle dysmorphia which is a type of disorder where men are extremely concerned with being masculine (MacDonald p. 6). 

According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, a complex interaction between psychological, biological, genetic, and social factors are a major cause to eating disorders (MacDonald p. 7).  It has been difficult to understand eating disorders because of the continued changes in these conditions. However, researchers have adopted the new technology in efforts of understanding the issue of eating disorder.  

The risks associated with an eating disorder need more attention from the society than they are receiving today. Understanding the condition is an important step. For example, eating disorders have a propensity to run in different families (MacDonald p. 9). Therefore, people suffering from these this disorder needs to help the healthcare provider or psychiatrist with his or her family medical history. Through such factors, it will be easy to understand the type of disorder a certain patient is suffering from.

Solutions for Eating Disorder

An eating disorder is a major problem in the United States society. With the issue becoming complex day by day, there is a need to find a permanent solution to assist people suffering from this problem. Use of medication is one of the solutions being offered by to eating disorder patients currently with some of the medications include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and even mood stabilizers. Patients with an eating disorder need health care support because they take many years to heal. Some of the deaths because of an eating disorder are because of lack of professional care. Treating mood and anxiety which is a common trait in people suffering from eating disorder require expensive health care services. Currently, eating disorders are offered only ten psychological sessions per year by Medicare. The problem is becoming more sensitive, and there is a need to increase these sessions to at least 20 or 30 sessions per year. Additionally, special systems need to be developed to respond to complex mental illnesses such as anorexia which contribute to suicide cases more than any other mental illness. Members of Congress need to pass legislation which will increase not only the number of sessions but also the number of professionals to deal with this disorder.

A significant number of eating disorder patients lack frequent psychological support and nutrition interventions. These are services some of the most expensive health care services in the United States hence a huge number of eating disorder patients mostly teen may lack financial capability to seek for assistance for this condition. Government intervention is required to ensure cost effective services are offered to eating disorder patients. Services such as cognitive behavior therapy would play an important role in this problem, but the government needs to intervene and ensure the services are available and are not expensive. Reducing financial barrier to treatment will encourage more eating disorder patients to seek psychological assistant and seek it early. 

The second solution to deal with the eating disorder problem is starting media campaign to create awareness about this condition. A Huge number of patients with this condition lack health literacy hence they fail to access treatment, and they eventually end up committing suicide. Mental health institutions, lobby groups, and the government need to combine efforts and come up with an awareness campaign that will target the teen women and young adult women who are the most affected by this disorder. Through an awareness campaign, the audience will be educated about the symptoms of this disorder, ways of preventing the disorder and some of the most effective treatment they can access to treat their disease. Mostly, patients with an eating disorder seek medical or psychological assistance when the condition is so severe hence treating becomes difficult. 

The third solution for eating disorder problem in the United States is making the problem a society problem rather than individual problem. The mean reason teenagers and young adult women develop the eating disorder problem is because they care what the society think about them. Congress need to come up with legislations which will regulate the use of photoshopped and edited images in advertisements that tend to advocate certain body image and rejecting certain body image. Additionally, the legislation needs to ensure the use of people in media advertisements, music videos, and movies that show their curves and thin body is regulated because of the impact it has on the people in the society.  The use of these body images in the media has created a perceptive that beautiful is having a thin body. Congress needs to pass this legislation to reduce the burden of mental health care resulting from eating disorder and which will increase in future. According to the Mental Health Institution, the number of United States citizens with an eating disorder may double in the next one decade because social changes which are embracing thinness as beauty. 

Lastly, there is a need to use different forms of psychotherapy to deal with the issue of eating disorders. Some of the psychotherapy forms that can be used include groups, family based and other individuals to help deal with any psychological issues arising due to the disorder. Different studies suggest that in order for an anorexia patient to show positive improvement and gain weight within a short period of time, family-based therapy where parents are responsible for nurturing their distressed adolescents is the most effective therapy. Additionally, Members of Congress need to pass some legislation that holds parents responsible for teen suffering from eating disorder. Some of the teen girls suffer from this disorder because their parent fails to offer the right guideline and description of what beauty they and end up imitating the body image being embraced by the media. 

Eating disorder is a national problem killing us every day. There are different types of eating disorders such as Anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder and Bulimia nervosa; that Members of Congress need to understand to develop a lasting solution to this problem affecting quite a number of people in the United States today. Some of the solutions that can enforce to deal with the issue of eating disorder include offering frequent psychological support and nutrition interventions through Medicare; create awareness about this condition, making the eating disorder a society problem by passing rules and regulations and using different forms of psychotherapy to deal with the issue of eating disorders. 

• Kathleen MacDonald. Capitol Hill and Eating Disorders: Does my voice make a difference? , 2014. Retrieved on 13/05/2017 from https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/capitol-hill-and-eating-disorders-does-my-voice-make-a-difference 
• Maya Rhodan . Lobbyists Push Congress to Curb Misleading Photoshopped Ad, 2014. Retrieved on 13/05/2017 from http://time.com/48853/lobbyists-push-congress-to-curb-misleading-photoshopped-ads/
• Merikangas, K.R., He, J., Burstein, M., Svendsen, J., Avenevoli, S., Case, B., Georgiades, K., et al. Service utilization for lifetime mental disorders in U.S. adolescents: Results of the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A ).” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2011. 50 (1): 32-45.
• Middleton, Kate. Eating Disorders: The Path to Recovery . Oxford: Lion, 2007. Internet resource.
• Reel, Justine J. Eating Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Causes, Treatment, and Prevention . Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood, 2013. Print.
• Setnick, Jessica. Ada Pocket Guide to Eating Disorders . Chicago, Ill: American Dietetic Association, 2011. Print.
• Streigel-moore rh, franko Dl. Epidemiology Of Binge Eating Disorder .  International Journal of Eating  Disorders,  2013; 21: 11-27

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A Look into The Life of People with Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa: causes, symptoms and treatment, the prevention and treatment of anorexia nervosa, food addiction: does it really exist, depiction of anorexia nervosa in the movie to the bone, a study of eating disorders in judaism and the impact of patriarchal values and pressures, the differences between anorexia and bulimia, social media as the reason of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders, the role of society in the development of anorexia in teen girls.

Eating disorders refer to a complex set of mental health conditions characterized by disturbances in one's eating behaviors and attitudes towards food, leading to severe consequences on an individual's physical and psychological well-being.

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of one's body image. People with this disorder exhibit extreme food restriction, leading to significant weight loss and the possibility of reaching dangerously low levels of body weight. Anorexia nervosa is often accompanied by obsessive thoughts about food, excessive exercise routines, and a constant preoccupation with body shape and size. Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa involves a cyclic pattern of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors aimed at preventing weight gain. During binge episodes, individuals consume large quantities of food in a short period and experience a loss of control over their eating. To counteract the caloric intake, these individuals may resort to self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, or the misuse of laxatives. It is important to note that unlike anorexia nervosa, individuals with bulimia nervosa typically maintain a body weight within the normal range or slightly above. Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming a significant amount of food in a short period, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. Unlike other eating disorders, individuals with binge eating disorder do not engage in compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise.

Distorted Body Image: Individuals with eating disorders often have a distorted perception of their body, seeing themselves as overweight or unattractive, even when they are underweight or at a healthy weight. Obsession with Food and Weight: People with eating disorders may constantly think about food, calories, and their weight. They may develop strict rules and rituals around eating, such as avoiding certain food groups, restricting their intake, or engaging in excessive exercise. Emotional and Psychological Factors: Eating disorders are often associated with underlying emotional and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, or a need for control. Physical Health: Eating disorders can have severe physical health consequences, including malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, hormonal disruptions, gastrointestinal problems, and organ damage. These complications can be life-threatening and require medical intervention. Social Isolation and Withdrawal: Individuals struggling with eating disorders may experience a withdrawal from social activities, distancing themselves from others due to feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment related to their eating behaviors or body image. This social isolation can intensify the challenges they face and contribute to a sense of loneliness and emotional distress. Co-occurring Disorders: Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other mental health conditions, creating complex challenges for those affected. It is common for individuals with eating disorders to also experience anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse issues, or engage in self-harming behaviors. The coexistence of these disorders can exacerbate the severity of symptoms and necessitate comprehensive and integrated treatment approaches.

Genetic and Biological Factors: Research suggests that there is a genetic predisposition to eating disorders. Individuals with a family history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions may be at a higher risk. Biological factors, such as imbalances in brain chemicals or hormones, can also contribute to the development of eating disorders. Psychological Factors: Psychological factors play a significant role in the development of eating disorders. Factors such as diminished self-worth, a relentless pursuit of perfection, dissatisfaction with one's body, and distorted perceptions of body image can play a significant role in the onset and perpetuation of disordered eating patterns. Sociocultural Influences: Societal pressures and cultural norms surrounding body image and beauty standards can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Media portrayal of unrealistic body ideals, peer influence, and societal emphasis on thinness can impact individuals' self-perception and increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. Traumatic Experiences: The impact of traumatic events, be it physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, can heighten the vulnerability to developing eating disorders. Such distressing experiences have the potential to instigate feelings of diminished self-worth, profound body shame, and a compelling desire to exert control over one's body and eating behaviors. Dieting and Weight-related Practices: Restrictive dieting, excessive exercise, and weight-focused behaviors can serve as triggers for the development of eating disorders. These behaviors may start innocently as an attempt to improve one's health or appearance but can spiral into disordered eating patterns.

Psychotherapy: Various forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family-based therapy (FBT), are employed to address the underlying psychological factors contributing to eating disorders. These therapies aim to challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs about body image, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and improve self-esteem. Nutritional Counseling: Working with registered dietitians, individuals receive personalized guidance on developing a balanced and healthy relationship with food. Nutritional counseling focuses on establishing regular eating patterns, promoting mindful eating practices, and debunking harmful dietary myths. Medical Monitoring: This involves regular check-ups to assess physical health, monitor vital signs, and address any medical complications arising from the disorder. Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to manage associated symptoms like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medications can complement therapy and help stabilize mood, regulate eating patterns, or address co-occurring mental health conditions. Support Groups and Peer Support: Joining support groups or engaging in peer support programs can provide individuals with a sense of community and understanding. Interacting with others who have faced similar challenges can offer valuable insights, encouragement, and empathy.

Films: Movies like "To the Bone" (2017) and "Feed" (2017) shed light on the struggles individuals with eating disorders face. These films delve into the psychological and emotional aspects of the disorders, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and promoting recovery. Books: Novels such as "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson and "Paperweight" by Meg Haston offer intimate perspectives on the experiences of characters grappling with eating disorders. These books provide insights into the complexities of these conditions, including the internal battles, societal pressures, and the journey towards healing. Documentaries: Documentaries like "Thin" (2006) and "Eating Disorders: Surviving the Silence" (2019) offer real-life accounts of individuals living with eating disorders. These documentaries provide a raw and authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by those affected, raising awareness and encouraging empathy.

1. As per the data provided by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), it is estimated that around 30 million individuals residing in the United States will experience an eating disorder during their lifetime. 2. Research suggests that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Anorexia nervosa, in particular, has a mortality rate of around 10%, emphasizing the seriousness and potential life-threatening nature of these disorders. 3. Eating disorders can affect individuals of all genders and ages, contrary to the common misconception that they only affect young women. While young women are more commonly affected, studies indicate that eating disorders are increasingly prevalent among men and can also occur in older adults and children.

The topic of eating disorders is of significant importance when it comes to raising awareness, promoting understanding, and addressing the challenges faced by individuals who experience these disorders. Writing an essay on this topic allows for a deeper exploration of the complexities surrounding eating disorders and their impact on individuals, families, and society. First and foremost, studying eating disorders is crucial for shedding light on the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of these conditions. By delving into the underlying causes, risk factors, and symptoms, we can gain a better understanding of the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Furthermore, discussing eating disorders helps to challenge societal misconceptions and stereotypes. It allows us to debunk harmful beliefs, such as the notion that eating disorders only affect a specific gender or age group, and instead emphasizes the reality that anyone can be susceptible to these disorders. Writing an essay on eating disorders also provides an opportunity to explore the impact of media, societal pressures, and body image ideals on the development of disordered eating behaviors. By analyzing these influences, we can advocate for more inclusive and body-positive narratives that promote self-acceptance and well-being. Moreover, addressing the topic of eating disorders is crucial for raising awareness about the available treatment options and support systems. It highlights the importance of early intervention, comprehensive treatment approaches, and access to mental health resources for those affected by these disorders.

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing. 2. Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A. J., Wales, J., & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: A meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 724-731. 3. Brown, T. A., Keel, P. K., & Curren, A. M. (2020). Eating disorders. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (6th ed., pp. 305-357). Guilford Press. 4. Fairburn, C. G., & Harrison, P. J. (2003). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 361(9355), 407-416. 5. Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., & Zeeck, A. (2020). Eating disorders in childhood and adolescence: Epidemiology, course, comorbidity, and outcome. In M. Maj, W. Gaebel, J. J. López-Ibor, & N. Sartorius (Eds.), Eating Disorders (Vol. 11, pp. 68-82). Wiley-Blackwell. 6. Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358. 7. Jacobi, C., Hayward, C., de Zwaan, M., Kraemer, H. C., & Agras, W. S. (2004). Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: Application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 19-65. 8. Keski-Rahkonen, A., & Mustelin, L. (2016). Epidemiology of eating disorders in Europe: Prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, course, consequences, and risk factors. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 29(6), 340-345. 9. Smink, F. R. E., van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current Psychiatry Reports, 14(4), 406-414. 10. Stice, E., Marti, C. N., & Rohde, P. (2013). Prevalence, incidence, impairment, and course of the proposed DSM-5 eating disorder diagnoses in an 8-year prospective community study of young women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 445-457.

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Essay on Eating Disorders in Adolescents

Essay on eating disorders: introduction, types of eating or feeding disorders in adolescents, causes and risk factors of eating disorders in adolescents, treating eating disorders, conclusion of eating disorders essay.

There are various types of feeding or eating disorders that affect adolescents. The prevalence rate of eating or feeding disorders depends on the different types and various risk factors. Young people have issues with their body weight and image, thus often suffer from eating disorders because they have a preference for certain food types. Eating or feeding disorders have numerous associated problems that require early treatment as soon as they are diagnosed.

There are four types of eating disorders diagnosed among adolescents. Studies have established that various factors cause and predispose adolescents to the various types of eating disorders.

These causes belong to three categories, namely biological, environmental and psychological. Eating disorders are treated according to their type and symptoms. Effective treatment requires one to have a plan that will help to monitor the disappearance of various symptoms and their body weight.

A feeding or eating disorder is defined as a physical, medical or psychological condition in an individual that makes them unable to consume certain types of food (Hornbacher, 2009). They influence an individual’s emotions and behavior towards certain food groups.

There are various types of feeding or eating disorders that affect adolescents. Studies have established that the number of young adults suffering from eating disorders has been rising over the last couple of years. The prevalence rate of eating or feeding disorders depends on the different types and various risk factors. This group of people consists of people between the onset of puberty and maturity (Lock & Grange, 2005).

This illness is common among adolescents who diet and have low self esteem due to negative perceptions of their body images. According to experts, young people have issues with their body weight and image, thus often suffer from eating disorders because they have a preference for certain food types. Eating disorders have various causes, risk factors, symptoms, treatment options, and associated myths (Hornbacher, 2009).

According to experts, eating or feeding disorders have numerous associated problems that require early treatment as soon as they are diagnosed. Eating disorders that are left untreated have serious consequences.

According to nutritionists, people should have regular checkups for any disorders, especially when they start noticing body changes anytime they eat a certain type of food (Hornbacher, 2009). In addition, friends and family members should provide moral support to someone diagnosed with an eating disorder in order to aid their effective recovery.

According to experts, there are four types of eating disorders diagnosed among adolescents, namely anorexia, bulimia, binge and other specified feeding disorder (Lock & Grange, 2005). Anorexia refers to a prolonged disorder of eating due to loss of appetite.

This disorder affects adolescents who limit themselves to certain groups of foods for fear of being overweight (Hornbacher, 2009). This disorder is common among adolescents because at this stage people are very conscious about various developments in their body and the impacts they have on their image.

Some symptoms of this disorder include skipping of meals, prioritizing of exercise, making up excuses for not eating, watching ones diet, and avoiding eating food they prepare for others. Other notable red flags include obsession with nutrition shows, avoiding certain types of food, checking one’s weight regularly, and drinking a lot of water among others (Hornbacher, 2009).

The second disorder is bulimia. It refers to an eating disorder common among adolescent who engage in excessive eating, which is followed by acts of clearing their bodies from any form of stigma. This disorder is characterized by people eating a lot of food, which is followed by doing too much exercise to avoid gaining weight (Hornbacher, 2009).

Symptoms of this disorder include one using the bathroom during or after a meal, eating too much food, regular dieting, secretive disposal of used food wrappers, lack of control over the amount of food to eat and forceful vomiting (Hornbacher, 2009).

The third type of eating disorder is binge. It refers to an eating disorder that involves immoderate indulgence. Unlike in bulimia where victims engage in purging activities, binge eating disorder leads people to having feelings of culpability, despair and self-criticism (Lock & Grange, 2005).

According to experts, this disorder is common among adolescents suffering from depression and low self esteem. Symptoms of this disorder include eating even one is not hungry, eating alone, lack of emotional control over food, taking too much food in a single meal, as well as constant complaints from friends and family about ones eating habits. The final category is made up of other specified eating disorders.

This category involves a permutation of symptoms of all the other eating disorders (Lock & Grange, 2005). Adolescents suffering from this disorder often experience different phases in their eating habits where they are either obsessed about food or gaining weight.

Studies have established that various factors cause and predispose adolescents to the various types of eating disorders. These causes belong to three categories, namely biological, environmental and psychological. However, experts argue that factors under the three categories have not been clearly defined as the main causes of eating disorders (Hornbacher, 2009).

There are two biological factors that cause eating disorders in adolescents or predispose them to the illness. The first factor is the genetic history of a family. According to experts, a family that has a history of having any eating disorder puts people in subsequent generations at a higher risk of suffering the same (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). In addition, the kind of upbringing a family adopts can also lead to someone suffering from any type of eating disorder.

The second factor is brain activity. According to experts, the brain produces certain chemical substances that regulate important processes such as digestion, feelings of hunger, and desire for food. Depending on one’s brain activity, an individual can suffer from any of the four categories of eating disorders (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012).

Psychological factors also cause eating disorders or predispose adolescents to the illness. According to experts, the psychological condition of an adolescent can influence their eating habits, which eventually lead to a disorder (Fairburn, 2008). Some of the psychological factors that cause eating disorders include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, societal values, individual traits, lack of self control, traumatic experiences (Herrin & Larkin, 2013).

According to experts, the pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity caused by depression often make people to change their eating habits. Some people start eating too much food, while others tend to reduce the amount of food they take.

Depression also makes adolescents to skip a meal, as they lose their emotional control when around food. Anxiety is another psychological factor that can cause eating disorders in adolescents (Fairburn, 2008). Psychiatrists argue that adolescents often experience cycles of worry and nervousness, which influence their eating habits. Adolescents are also prone to suffering from low self-esteem issues.

This is mainly caused by peer pressure for one to achieve perfection (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). Societal or family values also influence on the eating habits of adolescents. Societies that hold a lot of value on elements such as body size, physical appearance and certain food types influence on the development of eating disorders among adolescents.

Environmental factors also cause eating disorders in adolescents or predispose them to the illness. In this context, the environment refers to the totality of conditions surrounding adolescents (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). The conditions surrounding adolescents, both at home and schools often affect the kind of foods they will eat.

Some of the environmental factors that cause eating disorders include societal values, cultural attitudes, troubled relationships, and nature of activities one engages in among others (Hornbacher, 2009). According to experts, the values that a society places on an individual being thin or fat create an environment that creates bias towards people with certain body types.

Cultural attitudes regarding the ideal physical image of a man or woman also cause eating disorders among adolescents. During adolescence, many people start developing a certain degree of consciousness towards their body image (Fairburn, 2008). Most adolescents aim at meeting or bettering the standards set by a society regarding how someone should look like. This affects their eating habits, which in turn results in the development of a disorder.

Troubled relationships can lead to someone suffering from effects such as depression, which often influence on an individual’s eating habits (Hornbacher, 2009). A highly stressful environment can make someone to either consume a lot of food or vice versa.

Experts also argue that the kind of activities that adolescents pick out in schools also influence their eating habits. Those who engage in sports, athletics, and dancing are often conscious about staying fit and may avoid eating certain foods (Grilo & Mitchell, 2012). Those who choose to engage in less active engagements have little worry over their eating habits.

According to experts, eating disorders are treated according to their type and symptoms. The best treatment option for eating disorders is therapy, whereby a patient gets to express themselves and learn a few things about nutrition (Herrin & Larkin, 2013). In some instances, patients can receive medication if symptoms of a disorder indicate the possibility of an underlying medical condition responsible for the illness.

Studies have established that if certain eating disorders are not treated in time, they can lead to life-threatening complications. Effective treatment requires one to have a plan that will help to monitor the disappearance of various symptoms and their body weight (Herrin & Larkin, 2013). An eating disorder patient should go for regular therapy sessions with a registered dietitian, as well as ensuring they have the support of their family and friends.

Eating disorders are among the common illnesses that affect adolescents across the world. Studies have established that eating disorders are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. Experts argue that it is important for an eating disorder to be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, because any delays can lead to life-threatening complications.

There are numerous treatment options for eating disorders that patients can take up depending on the symptoms they show. One of the most important elements for achieving effective treatment of eating disorders is ensuring the support of friends and family members. The prevalence rate of eating or feeding disorders depends on the different types and various risk factors.

Fairburn, C.G. (2008). Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders . New York: Guilford Press.

Grilo, C.M., & Mitchell, J.E. (2012). Treatment of Eating Disorders . New York: Guilford Press.

Herrin, M., & Larkin, M. (2013). Nutrition Counseling in the Treatment of Eating  Disorders. California: Routledge.

Hornbacher, M. (2009). Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia . New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Lock, J., & Grange, D.L. (2005). Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder . New York: Guilford Press.

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Eating disorders and perception of beauty.

Eating Disorders How the Perception of Beauty Influences Eating Disorders With everything changing in this society, the aspect of beauty especially when it comes to women has kept changing, sometimes desperately to the extent of individuals adopting extreme behaviors in the pursuit of the ideal 'beauty'. Instances where different kinds of media communicate the significance of physical beauty in the contemporary world and the means of achieving such traits are widespread. The attachment of food and modes of consumption of these same foods and the positive effects they produce as regards an enhanced attraction, as the society propagates goes without saying. The problem of eating disorders has increased in the contemporary world thanks to the spread of notions like these, as this paper reports. The focus of this report is to explore the influence of the idea of beauty to eating disorders with specific reference to anorexia. The discussion opens with a….

Eating Disorders Is There a Link Relationship Between

Eating Disorders Is there a link/relationship between pathological dieting and eating disorders in young adolescents? (no American quotes or stats as I'm in Australia) Eating disorders and pathological dieting: An overview According to the Australian Psychological Society (2011) it is estimated five percent of all women and girls are suffering from anorexia nervosa, and two to three per cent have bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders. Males also suffer from eating disorders, affecting an estimated ten percent of the total national eating disordered population. This translates into 0.5% and 0.5-1% of the Australian population as a whole who are identified as 'eating disordered' (Eating disorders, 2011, Women's Health). Physicians and psychologists have reported a notable increase in the past decades in eating disordered patients in Australia. In 2004-05, 14% of all hospitalisations for mental and behavioural disorders in women aged 12-24 were due to eating disorders and in 2003, according to the Australian government,….

Clark, Jill. (2007). National dieting craze blamed for rise in eating disorders.

The Age. Retrieved June 27, 2011 at  http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/dieting-craze-blamed-for-rise-in-eating-disorders/2007/04/29/1177787971251.html 

Eating Disorders. (2011). Australian Psychological Society. Retrieved June 27, 2011 at https://www.psychology.org.au/community/eating_disorders/

Eating Disorders. (2011). Women's Health. Retrieved June 27, 2011 at http://www.womhealth.org.au/studentfactsheets/eatingdisorders.htm

Eating Disorders Nutrition

Eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD) is "an unhealthy relationship with food and weight that interferes with many areas of a person's life" (ANAD). The topic of eating disorders has gained significance over the past owing to the ongoing healthy eating campaign. This text presents the causes, symptoms, and prevalence statistics of four common eating disorders among the American populace. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a complex eating disorder characterized by an obsession about the food one eats, and the weight they maintain. ANAD identifies anorexia as a leading cause of death, and the third-largest cause of long-term illness among women aged between 15 and 24. omen make up over 80% of those with the condition, which is more prevalent among teenagers and young adults between ages 15 and 24. Anorexic persons have an intense fear of gaining weight, often preferring to maintain a distorted body….

Works Cited

ANAD. "General Information." National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2014. Web. 21 September 2014  http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/general-information/ 

Helpguide. "Anorexia Nervosa: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment." Helpguide.org, 2014. Web. 20 September 2014  http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm 

Helpguide. "Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery: Tips and Strategies for Overcoming Anorexia and Bulimia." Helpguide.org, 2014. Web. 20 September 2014  http://www.helpguide.org/mental/eating_disorder_treatment.htm 

Marcason, Wendy. "Orthorexia: An Obsession with Eating Pure." Eat Right Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2014. Web. 21 September 2014  http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=6442471029

Eating Disorders Understanding the Reason for Eating

Eating Disorders Understanding the reason for eating disorders and why they can occur is important in order to intervene in the lives of sufferers. The first step in identifying the problem is to understand more about the different types of eating disorders and some of the symptoms. Bulimia nervosa is a term used to describe an eating disorder. The person suffering from Bulimia Nervosa often overeats and then afterwards purges the food eaten. The disease is considered a psychological traumatic disorder due to the reasons for indulging in such behavior. The induced vomiting of food is under the attempt to control ones weight and the amount of food eaten. Some of the characteristics of Bulimia Nervosa are fasting, using laxatives or water pills to cause the body to release water in order to reduce weight gain. Each of these type of methods are an attempt to control weight in addition to exercising….

Marsh R, Steinglass JE, Gerber AJ, Graziano O'Leary K, Wang Z, Murphy D, Walsh BT, Peterson BS. Deficient activity in the neural systems that mediate self-regulatory control in bulimia nervosa. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2009; 66(1):51 -- 63.

Le Grange D, Crosby RD, Rathouz PJ, Leventhal BL. A randomized controlled comparison of family-based treatment and supportive psychotherapy for adolescent bulimia nervosa. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2007; 64(9):1049 -- 1056.

LeGrange, D., Lock, J., and Loeb, K. 'Academy for Eating Disorders Position Paper:

The Role of the Family in Eating Disorders'. 2009.

Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa Has

5. I believe someone with disordered eating would be more likely to want to talk about eating disorders. In many cases, those who eat disorderly have no idea they themselves are on the brink of the different side of eating orders, and so don't associate any personal grief to the topic. Yet, people with eating disorders are more likely to be embarrassed or shameful of their enactment of such voluntary eating disorders which might have gotten out of hand. 6. This is a very delicate issue, and must therefore be brought up slowly in the event that you believe someone to be affected by eating disorders. I would first casually bring it up just to get a reaction in order to collect a better understanding of how the issue should be approached. After it had been brought up in casual conversation with no personal allegations, I would take the person aside….

Stoppler, Melissa Conrad. "Anorexia Nervosa." Medicinenet.com. 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2008 at  http://www.medicinenet.com/anorexia_nervosa/article.htm .

Eating Disorders Among Asian-Americans the

(Hall, C.C. 1995). This fact is proven by studies of Asian women outside the United States. For instance, studies in Korea and China point out that a high rate of eating disorder cases are being recorded in these countries as a direct result of economic change and the influence of Western culture. (Park, E. 2000) in Japan as many as 1 in 500 women have shown signs of an eating disorder. 3.2. Marginalization and Stereotypes The fact that Asian-American constitutes a marginal population group within the Unities States also place psychological and cultural strain on their Marginalization... 11 sense of identity. This is worsened by the fact that in some instances prejudice and discrimination can create feelings of low self-esteem and lead to symptoms of eating disorders. "... It has been suggested that the pressures of discrimination, trying to blend into Western society, and certain stereotypes compound the problem for Asian-Americans.' (Park E,….

Bibliography

Smolak, Linda, Michael P. Levine, and Ruth Striegel-Moore, eds. (1996). The Developmental Psychopathology of Eating Disorders Implications for Research, Prevention, and Treatment. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Story, M., French, S.A., Resnick, M., & Blum, R.W. (1995). Ethnic/racial differences in dieting behaviors and body image perceptions in adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 18(2), 173-179.

Vaughan, Kimberley K., and Gregory T. Fouts. (2003) Changes in Television and Magazine Exposure and Eating Disorder Symptomatology. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research 49.7-8: 313+.

Eating Disorders Contain a Series

just because they require concentration to your weight and shape. efuse wearing clothes that are painful or that you don't like. Make a promise to work out for the joy of feeling your body move and grow stronger, not to cleanse fat from your body or to recompense for calories eaten. Help children welcome and oppose the ways in which television, magazines, and other media disfigure the true diversity of human body types and mean that a slim body means power, excitement, popularity, or perfection. Teach boys and girls about many forms of prejudice, including weightism, and help them know their task of avoiding them. Do whatever you can to encourage the self-worth and self-confidence of all of your children in academic, sporty, and social activities. Give boys and girls the same prospects and support. Be cautious not to give advice that females are less significant than males, that is….

About Eating Disorder? Retrieved from https://www.sjmcmd.org/eatingdisorders/eating_eatingdisorder.cfmAccessed on 28 June 2005

Anorexia Nervosa. Retrieved at  http://www.mirror-mirror.org/anorexia.htm . Accessed on 28 June 2005

Bulimia Nervosa. Retrieved at  http://www.mirror-mirror.org/bulimia.htm . Accessed on 28 June 2005

Definitions of eating disorder on the Web. Retrieved at  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:eating+disorder . Accessed on 28 June 2005

Eating Disorders Encompass a Wide

First, which factors are most likely to influence the development of an eating disorder? What types of social environments are most conducive to healthy vs. unhealthy behavioral patterns? Social demographic issues including race, class, and gender may be taken into account to determine whether eating disorders are related to social norms. Pressure to conform to social norms about beauty and body image may also be related to how an eating disorder develops. Does the media have a direct, provable relationship to the development of distorted body image, unrealistic weight goals, or the acceptance of poor eating habits. Social psychologists might also ask why are girls more likely than boys to develop eating disorders. What factors cause boys to develop eating disorders and how are they different from those that cause girls to develop the same behavioral problems? Second, researchers may want to investigate single social psychological variables including pressure to….

Kalat, J.W. (2004). Introduction to Psychology. Thompson/Wadsworth.

Eating Disorders in Adolescents Eating

Finally, McDermott et.al also provided us with valuable clue in early detection and possibility of avoiding worsening of the condition. y identifying a positive relation between laxative use and severity of disorder the study serves as a warning, indicating treatment measures for such children who abuse laxatives. These researchers have clearly stressed the importance of early detection and treatment to minimize the chances of a full blown disorder. Medicos, nursing professionals, school counselors and most importantly parents must be attentive and detect behavioral abnormalities, negative eating behaviors and other such clues at an early stage and administer appropriate medical intervention and counseling support. Parents in particular play a major role in helping the child develop a positive self-image which is the best way to avoid these dangerous psychiatric conditions. ibliography Walsh, . Timothy, "Longitudinal Relationships etween Childhood, Adolescent, and Adult Eating Disorders.(Statistical Data Included), Journal of the American Academy of Child….

Walsh, B. Timothy, "Longitudinal Relationships Between Childhood, Adolescent, and Adult Eating Disorders.(Statistical Data Included), Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 12/1/2001

Andrew J. Winzelberg et.al, "Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Program for Reducing Risk Factors for Eating Disorders,"

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology,

April 2000 Vol. 68, No. 2, 346- 350

Eating Disorders the Media's Obsession

These conditions include maternal anemia, maternal diabetes, and maternal high blood pressure during pregnancy, which increase the risk of anorexia in the child. After-birth complications in the newborn infant such as heart problems, low response to stimuli, early difficulties in eating, and below-normal birth weight have also been found to increase the risk of anorexia and bulimia (Ibid.) Genetic easons Some experts consider genetics to be the root cause of most cases of eating disorders and anorexia has been found to be "eight times more common in people who have relatives with the disorder" (Ibid., para on Genetic Factors). Certain specific chromosomes (e.g., regions chromosome 10) have been identified that may be associated with bulimia and anorexia. In addition, genetic factors may be responsible for certain behavioral patterns such as anxiety and obsession or traits such as minimum body mass index that are precursors to development of eating disorders. Psychological easons:….

Anorexia Nervosa." (2008). National Eating Disorders Association. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 at  http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41142 

Binge Eating Disorder." (2008). Mayo Clinic.com. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 at  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/binge-eating-disorder/DS00608/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis 

Bulimia Nervosa" (2008). National Eating Disorders Association. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 at  http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41141 

Causes of Eating Disorders." (2006). University of Maryland: Medical Center. Retrieved on December 6, 2008 at  http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_eating_disorders_000049_3.htm

Eating Disorders According to the

This includes self-vomiting and/or the misuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics (water pills) excessive exercise or fasting." (2000) the American Psychiatric Association states of individuals with ulimia Nervosa, that while they may "...may frequently diet and vigorously exercise, individuals with bulimia nervosa can be slightly underweight, normal weight, overweight or even obese." (2005) the individual with this condition will consume an unbelievably high volume of food and do so by eating it quickly and with no enjoyment of eating being experienced. Upon having consumed this great amount of food, the individual with bulimia nervosa will experience guilty and a feeling of being out of control. At this point, the individual with bulimia nervosa will make themselves vomit. This cycle may repeat many times a week or during the month. Generally, the family of these individuals does not know that their loved one is affected by this disorder. The following….

Eating Disorders (2000) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office on Women's Health. February 2000.

What is an Eating Disorder? (2005) Let's Talk Facts about Eating Disorders. American Psychiatric Association. 2005.

Grohol, John M. (2006) Anorexia Nervosa. Psych Central. 7 Sep 2006. Online available at  http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx2.htm 

Farley, Dixie (1992) on the Teen Scene: Eating Disorders Require Medical Attention. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA consumer magazine. March 1992. Online available at  http://www.fda.gov/fdac/reprints/eatdis.html

Eating Disorders Among Teenage Girls

Eating Disorders Among Teenage Girls Eating disorders have become an epidemic among teenage girls. Fueled in large part by the media's promotion of thinness as a physical ideal for young women, the eating disorder problem has escalated over the past few decades. Girls are beginning to diet in elementary school and may be binging, purging, or starving before they are ten years old. Because eating disorders reflect complex psychological issues, there is no clear cause or solution to the problem. However, there are clear connections between eating disorders and media influence. Eating disorders tend to be the symptom of larger psychological distress, and they are often accompanied by severe depression, self-mutilation (as in "cutting" practices), and other addictions. hile many teenage girls eventually recover from their eating disorders to live a healthy lifestyle, many either continue their disordered eating habits. Some, up to 15%, will die. hile eating disorders affect a….

Atkins, Lucy. "Cyberspace: a Teenage Waistland." The Sydney Morning Herald 31 Jul 2002.  http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/30/1027926889644.html 

Callahan, Jean. "Cosmo's Update on Eating Disorders." Cosmopolitan 1 May 1996: 230-4.

Costin, Carolyn. Your Dieting Daughter: Is She Dying for Attention? New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1997.

Eating Disorders Definitions." National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. 2002  http://www.anad.org/definition.htm

Eating Disorders Anorexia Nervosa American Society Seems

Eating Disorders Anorexia nervosa: American society seems to have an obsession with thinness, particularly for women. Over the last two decades, the United States has seen two eating disorders become more and more common: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In both disorders, the person takes extreme measures to lose weight. The young women who develop these conditions tend to tend toward perfectionism and be high achievers who try to meet all demands placed on them. The clinical picture: the person, usually a girl, has a distorted sense of her own self-image and an exaggerated fear of becoming overweight. It often starts with a more moderate diet, but gradually they start rejecting more and more food until they are eating very little and become emaciated, but believe that they look fat. As they eat less and less, they may talk and think about food a lot, carefully planning their miniscule meals. Some people….

Eating Disorders the Argument Regarding the Medical

Eating Disorders The argument regarding the medical and ethical treatment of anorexia nervosa patients has been highly debated throughout the medical and philosophical circles. On the one side, there is the belief that doctors can only go so far before forced treatment and involuntary hospitalizations should be unethical. On the other hand, doctors have taken their oaths to do everything they possibly can to save a patient's life, even to the point of expertly deciding the fate of the patient, regardless of the patient's contrary decisions. The general argument -- pointed out by the likes of James L. Werth (2003) and Heather Draper (2002) -- lies in the premise that one inflicted with anorexia nervosa is incapable of thinking competently. This incompetency thus allows medical experts the ultimate decision of involuntarily hospitalizing the patient and/or subjecting the patient to a forced treatment for the disorder. Doctors alike have taken their respective….

Draper, Heather. (2002). Anorexia nervosa and respecting a refusal of life-prolonging therapy: a limited justification. Bioethics, 14(2), 261-278.

Werth, James L. Jr., et. al. (2003). When does the "duty to protect" apply with a client who has anorexia nervosa?. The Counseling Psychologist, 31(3).

Eating Disorders Systems Theory Model Integration Article

Eating Disorders Systems Theory Model integration Article by Lisa & Owen (2008). Inputs: values: research eating disorder continuum by measuring self-esteem, perfectionism, and eating disorder behavior; offer validation evidence on the measure of eating disorder behavior, and QEDD. Resources include the EDI-2 subscale score, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, contingency tables and Kappa values, QEDD, 261 students, questionnaires, literature, and survey results. Throughput includes measurement of using tests, counterbalance results of surveys, critical analysis of literature, multivariate analysis, discussion, and interpretation. Outcomes include statistical figures, descriptive texts, and percentages of sample population with eating disorder. Increase in eating disorder on a continuum is due to decreased self-esteem, increased perfectionism, and increased scores on the seventh subscale. Article by Green et al. (2009). Input includes a comprehensive analysis of the link between psychological and unipolar depression and comorbid ED behavior. Identify etiological correlations, and compare relevant contributors of correlates. Identify key psychological factors influencing Ed unipolar depression. Resources include socio-cultural….

Dissertation or Thesis complete

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Research Proposal

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Eating Disorders Is there a link/relationship between pathological dieting and eating disorders in young adolescents? (no American quotes or stats as I'm in Australia) Eating disorders and pathological dieting: An overview According…

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Eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD) is "an unhealthy relationship with food and weight that interferes with many areas of a person's…

Eating Disorders Understanding the reason for eating disorders and why they can occur is important in order to intervene in the lives of sufferers. The first step in identifying the…

Business - Miscellaneous

5. I believe someone with disordered eating would be more likely to want to talk about eating disorders. In many cases, those who eat disorderly have no idea they…

(Hall, C.C. 1995). This fact is proven by studies of Asian women outside the United States. For instance, studies in Korea and China point out that a high rate…

just because they require concentration to your weight and shape. efuse wearing clothes that are painful or that you don't like. Make a promise to work out for…

First, which factors are most likely to influence the development of an eating disorder? What types of social environments are most conducive to healthy vs. unhealthy behavioral patterns?…

Finally, McDermott et.al also provided us with valuable clue in early detection and possibility of avoiding worsening of the condition. y identifying a positive relation between laxative use…

These conditions include maternal anemia, maternal diabetes, and maternal high blood pressure during pregnancy, which increase the risk of anorexia in the child. After-birth complications in the newborn…

Health - General Health Issues

This includes self-vomiting and/or the misuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics (water pills) excessive exercise or fasting." (2000) the American Psychiatric Association states of individuals with ulimia Nervosa,…

Eating Disorders Among Teenage Girls Eating disorders have become an epidemic among teenage girls. Fueled in large part by the media's promotion of thinness as a physical ideal for young…

Eating Disorders Anorexia nervosa: American society seems to have an obsession with thinness, particularly for women. Over the last two decades, the United States has seen two eating disorders become…

Eating Disorders The argument regarding the medical and ethical treatment of anorexia nervosa patients has been highly debated throughout the medical and philosophical circles. On the one side, there is…

Eating Disorders Systems Theory Model integration Article by Lisa & Owen (2008). Inputs: values: research eating disorder continuum by measuring self-esteem, perfectionism, and eating disorder behavior; offer validation evidence on the measure…

What Recovering From an Eating Disorder Is Really Like

By Kimberly Neil

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains sensitive content regarding eating disorders.

We all get sick – from a minor cold to an infection that requires time in the hospital, the process of our body repairing itself is part of being human. Sometimes our bones break, sometimes our organs lose their ability to function properly. The cause of some illnesses take more energy to decipher, and these cases usually inspire episodes of Grey’s Anatomy or Mystery Diagnosis. The phrase “get well soon” explains how the average person views illness. Finding a cure, regardless of how small or big the problem may be, is what those who aren’t well and the people who love them wish for. In an ideal world, getting better is the best possible outcome.

What do you picture when you think about sickness? There are usually physical symptoms. Sometimes, we have to take time off from school or work. Can you imagine days in bed, chicken noodle soup, or negative side effects from strong prescription medication? Your discomfort is usually visible to those around you; and even if people can’t see your pain they can find a way to empathize once it is described. Mental illness is different.

I want you to imagine a time where you really, truly felt ashamed of who you are. A moment where the people around you didn’t get it, and more than anything, you wished the earth would open up and swallow you whole. My eating disorder has always been the personification of that very feeling. It began around the age of 11, and by the time I was 12, it had turned into something I carried around with me daily. That feeling was constant. It was my biggest, most embarrassing secret.

Though I wouldn’t describe it as a literal voice in my head, my eating disorder started with a feeling that I wasn’t good enough. This problem needed to be fixed, and controlling what I ate seemed like the perfect solution. I had no idea how easily avoiding certain foods would lead to eliminating them entirely. Though I could not put it into words as I became a teenager, I felt dirty from the inside out. Not eating specific foods turned into skipping meals, followed by days without food, replaced by days where the rules I had created for myself didn’t matter and all I could do was eat until I physically could not anymore. One day, I pushed myself past the point I thought I was capable of. It hurt, but I kept going – until my impulse changed entirely and suddenly I knew that I just had to get what I had eaten out of me.

Purging became my way of undoing: every mistake I made in class, at dance, or even with life in general, it was always something that I knew I could use as an outlet for all of the underlying negativity. I felt more in control with each meal or mistake that I tried to erase. I internalized the idea that something about me wasn’t good enough until that framed the way I saw myself. Being a teenager, a pre-professional dancer, and attending a competitive high school with amazing, intelligent, talented friends should have made me feel empowered. Sometimes it did, but because of my eating disorder, it became too easy to see myself as inadequate.

At one point, I realized that I loved certain parts of being a dancer. Ballet classes were always something I enjoyed, and I couldn’t get enough of costumes, makeup, or being on stage. Dancing gave me a way to become someone else. The downside of wanting to dance as a career while having an eating disorder was the way that no one around me said anything until I was deep into my illness. For the longest time, my friends and teachers complimented me whenever I lost weight. I noticed that the audition season for summer intensives magnified all of my insecurities. I inevitably was accepted into more pre-professional ballet programs when I was thinner.

I can remember two summers in particular where, in retrospect, I’m honestly amazed that I did not get “caught” in the chaos of my disorder. I was absolutely not healthy enough to dance 6-7 days per week from morning until as late as midnight, considering how out of control my disordered behaviors were. During one of those intensives, I also attended a summer chemistry class three days per week in between classes and rehearsal. I reached a point where I wound up leaving both. Between passing out a few times, feeling dizzy every single day, and eventually, throwing up blood – it all became too much.

Dance seemed like the root of my disorder at the time, but I had no idea how to let it go. I fought so hard to maintain my ED without losing ballet or modern. At one point, after receiving my first professional diagnosis of bulimia nervosa I withdrew from my selective enrollment high school, because my disorder essentially meant that I had to decide between my education and my dream of being a professional dancer. I eventually became so injured that dancing en pointe was no longer physically possible for me. Looking back, I believe that injury would have happened on some level even if I had been completely healthy. But I have no way of knowing if I would have still wound up in a place where dance was too painful to make the chance of a professional career a possibility, had I never developed an ED.

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There also is no way I can know with complete certainty that I wouldn’t have struggled with an eating disorder had I never danced in the first place. After losing dance, it took me a little longer than my friends to finish high school by home schooling myself. Education had always been an important aspect of my identity, and losing both dance and my high school also meant that I became more and more isolated, wrapped up in my ED. I wound up pushing most of my high school friends away out of shame and guilt. To this day, I am not sure if my teachers (both from every studio that I’ve danced at and from school) and friends really knew what was going on with me. Did they avoid reaching out because mental illness is stigmatized, and talking about it is really scary? Did everyone just think I was very driven and committed to dance, making it pointless to intervene? Or did people really not know — did I hide it that well?

Once the raw heartbreak from losing so much because of my ED began to fade away, I decided that I wanted to attend college. Had I graduated from my selective enrollment high school and been healthy enough to put the hard work into college applications, I think that I would have been accepted to at least one of my dream colleges with financial aid. The process of applying as a home schooled student is a little different, so I decided to attend a local community college for at least a year and apply to some of my dream colleges as a transfer student.

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Healing from an eating disorder is almost as stigmatized in discussion as admitting the problem itself. From books like Wintergirls to movies like Starving in Suburbia , the media presents a consistent message that the process of healing is a continuous, upward journey. I cannot speak for everyone with an eating disorder. I can admit how difficult it has been to tell my story at times, because my illness comes and goes in waves. I’ve yet to experience recovery, full stop.

There was a period of time between the end of high school and attending my first college class where my relationship with food became easier to manage. I took a similar DIY approach to recovery as I did to earning a high school diploma. My body became healthy again, and while I still struggled with depression, I felt my confidence come back slowly. I tried out for my [first] college’s volleyball team and not only made it, but received a scholarship offer as well – and I had never played before. I became involved with student government. Out of the four colleges I decided to apply to as a transfer student, I was accepted and offered aid by all of them, including my dream school. I made new friends. All of these aspects of freshman and sophomore year were wonderful, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the perfect student.

All of this resulted in a full relapse. It didn’t happen overnight, but my esophagus was healing from a serious tear by move-in day at the college I decided to transfer to. While my first few weeks at this amazing school on the east coast were everything I’d ever wanted out of my college experience, they were also moments that were painful and terrifying. Every single day I spent on this beautiful campus with new friends from all around the world was a day I felt torn between gratitude and self-hatred, and inadequacy. I eventually asked for help, and that lit a fire under my eating disorder. I went from feeling like recovery was possible to thinking it was something I didn’t deserve. I tore my esophagus for the second time, and simultaneously fell into restricting, abusing diet substances like laxatives and water pills, and exercising too much. I also started dancing again, and didn't feel supported by my college’s dance department at all. Even if I had felt that support, I don’t think it would have made a difference.

During the first week of October 2014, I took two cabs across the state of Massachusetts to an inpatient facility outside of Boston. I was 21 years old. It took 10 years for me to be hospitalized for my eating disorder, with an updated diagnosis of Eating Disorder Non-Otherwise Specified (EDNOS – now referred to as OSFED in the DSM-5), and that month was one of the hardest ones of my life. Inpatient was both the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me. I met people that changed my life. Both staff and other patients made me realize that maybe, the thing I was meant to do with my life all along was help other people who shared my struggle. Inpatient also made me realize how much my college meant to me, and how important education would continue to be in order to achieve my goals.

In November 2014, after leaving inpatient and returning to my college campus, I posted a poem on my personal blog. Because I also helped with a shared blog about EDs (that currently has over 40,000 followers) other people spread that poem around. The poem led to me becoming a contributor for Proud2bme , an online recovery community connected with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). More recently, I even received a scholarship to attend the 2015 NEDA conference this October in San Diego, California.

My ED has given me a voice, and more importantly, it has given me a passion for helping others. It also hasn’t completely gone away. More than anything, I hope that someone out there, reading this, is able to look at their personal journey and hopefully feel less alone. I hope that someone that knows and loves someone with an eating disorder will read this, and feel inspired to really support that person through the ups and downs of recovery. Having an eating disorder is never a choice. When you’re sick, people expect you to get better. This is why compassion is essential. Healing takes nonstop effort and requires so much support, but it is possible. No one should feel ashamed of talking about the process, or receiving help along the way.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, the NEDA helpline is here to help at 1-800-931-2237.

Related: The Hidden Eating Disorder Side Effect That’s Both Extremely Dangerous and Far Too Common

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Free Anorexia and Eating Disorders Essay Sample

Eating disorder is an issue affecting most American families and its study has led to some people to carrying out studies and researches on the subject. The cases of Eating disorders are so prevalent in America to the degree that one or two of every a hundred students will grapple with one. Thousands of teens get eating disorders or problems with eating, body image, or weight. Eating disorders are majorly identifiable by extremes in eating behavior. This article is going examine this issue of eating disorders. This will involve defining an eating disorder, understanding the characteristics, signs and symptoms, types of eating disorders, and their categorization. Eating disorders have four categories including Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge, and other food related disorders.

The paper will focus its discussion on the Anorexia eating disorder, which is the crucial one of the four. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder present in many teens, and it starts with them restricting their diet. The study will also determine the signs and symptoms of Anorexia and its treatment. The major symptoms of Anorexia are weakness, shortness of breath, anxiety, and not wanting to eat in public. We will look at these issues in detail. In the last section, the paper will analyze the medical consequences of Anorexia, how the patients can control and treat the disorder.

This paper aims at coming up with information on Eating disorder and Anorexia. This information will be from different researchers done by scholars and recorded in secondary sources such as books, and journals. in research data can be from primary or secondary sources. Primary sources of information include first hand information obtained using interviews, questionnaires, and observation. Secondary information is from books, electronic database, and magazines among other records. In this paper, most or the information was from books, periodicals, and the internet.

Eating disorder is when a person eats, or declines to eat, in order to provide an inner need and not an absolute requirement. The individual does not pay attention to bodily signals or perhaps is not even aware of them. In traditional settings when a person is hungry, he eats and stops eating when he has had enough. Eating disorders are more of behavioral predicaments brought on by a composite interplay of factors, which may contain personality and emotional disorders, family demands, a probable genetic susceptibility, and many more other reasons. The most prominent reason for eating disorders in America is the philosophy of overabundance of food and an obsession with losing weight.

There are four broad categories of eating disorders specifically Bulimia nervosa, Anorexia nervosa, Binge eating and eating disorders not otherwise specified. Many elements add to the risk of developing an eating disorder. In America only approximately, seven million and one million males suffer from eating disorders. Age, gender, ethnic factors, socioeconomic factors, and personality disorders are some of the risk factors contributing to the development of eating disorders. According to several studies, adolescents and young adults experience eating disorders more than older people. Recent studies suggest that eating disorders is becoming increasingly widespread among young children. In gender, studies show that eating disorders are high among females that are girls and women. Studies show that about 90% of patients with anorexia and 80% of patients with bulimia are female.

Ethnic factors are a contributing risk factor with studies indicating that the most affected are Caucasian middle class females. Other races also suffer from eating disorders. Social economic factors are also responsible for eating disorders in America. Staying in any economically developed countries on any continent seems to pose a risk for eating disorders. Although it is obvious, that, within countries, eating disorders can be of influence to residents of all socioeconomic levels. People with eating disorders indicate the same personality and behavioral traits, which are dependency, low self-esteem, and problems with self-direction. We now look at the causes of eating disorders.

Studies indicate that there is no basis for the development of eating disorders. An individual’s concerns about body shape and weight play a significant role in all cases of eating disorders. The actual causes of these disorders appear to be because of many factors including family pressures, emotional, cultural, and personality disorders. In addition, biologic and genetic factors may also contribute to the development of eating disorders. The primary cause is the negative family influences on the patients of eating disorders. Some studies have come up several theories and observations in view of family influence. Poor parenting by both parents has led to eating disorders in their young ones. Young girls try to lose weight with the comfort of their mothers. More so, a mother with a history of eating disorder tends to contribute to the development of eating disorders in teenage girls. Family history of emotional disorders is a factor in eating disorders. Many young children with eating disorders have parents with alcoholism or abuse of substances tendencies. Another negative family influence comes from families with history of obesity.

In relation to genetic factors, eating disorders appear to be common in people whose relatives have the disease. Doctors suggest that genetic factors are the leading cause of many cases of eating disorders. Further research has come up with chromosomes that maybe associated with certain types of eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. In addition, doctors link proteins with these disorders, for example, brain derived neurotrophic factor. Lastly, cultural pressures also contribute significantly to the development of eating disorders. The move towards food in Western countries is particularly difficult. The food produced is rich in calories leading to different cases of obesity. We now turn attention on Anorexia eating disorder.

Anorexia is an eating disorder in which the sufferers deny themselves food. It usually starts in young individuals around the period of puberty. Through denying him or herself food, the sufferer of anorexia will continue to lose weight and eventually endure severe emotional and physical disturbance. For example, most anorexic people weigh about 15% lower than the standard weight for their height and age. Anorexic persons have a genuine fear for gaining weight and their view of their body shape and size is in distortion. This fear makes them not to maintain a normal body weight. Teens with anorexia limit their food consumption by fasting; dieting, or excessive exercise and this make them lose weight rapidly. In severe cases, they do not eat at all, and the small food they eat becomes an obsession. Anorexics have it in their mind that they have excess weight even when they are remarkably thin and ill.

An anorexic person is at the risk of contracting other serious problems ranging from recurrent infections and general adverse health to life threatening conditions. Having anorexia affects the person’s mind and body. Some researches propose that anorexia has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder. These deaths occur because of some conditions like being younger, being sick for more than six years, having been previously obese, having an accompanying severe psychological disorder, and being younger. Anorexia usually occurs after a significant life change. In most cases, it happens after episodes of stress, like sexual or physical abuse, procuring an abortion, change in schools, divorce, when children leave home, or losing a job.

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What causes Anorexia? Just like other eating disorders, anorexia has no one cause. Researchers claim that what triggers anorexia is a combination of many factors. The first one is genetic factors like individuality. Teens who are perfectionists or prone to depression or nervousness seem to be more likely to develop anorexia than the other teens who are normal. Relatives with people who have anorexia are more likely to develop the disorder unlike those with relatives who are in excellent health. Researchers are trying to discover the gene that might influence a person’s tendency to develop this disorder. Psychological factor can lead to the development of anorexia. Those females who have experience of assault physically and sexually are more likely to develop eating disorders unlike females who have no history of assault. The ones with an identity crisis have increased chances of developing this disorder. Social factors are also another cause of anorexia. Media and cultural beliefs play a significant role in triggering eating disorders. In this current society, there is extreme pressure on women to be slender, and this has a negative impact on some people.

Anorexic persons have several signs and symptoms. These symptoms can either be psychological, behavioral, and physical signs. The life of a person with anorexia can also have an effect on other family members. Some of the psychological and behavioral symptoms are depression, irritability, and loss of sleep, fatigue, poor concentration, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and many more. People with anorexia are normally underweight, and this imposes pressure on them making them be depressed anorexic persons are easily irritable, and get upset quickly. The lack sleep, which in turn makes them to, fatigued during the day. They have low concentration on what they do, and their attention is not steady. They lack control of their lives, and most sufferers of anorexia tend to addicts of drugs, alcohol, gambling etc. the most notable obsession is that of excessive exercise so that they can lose weight rapidly.

Some of the complications for anorexic people include gastrointestinal complications, heart and circulatory system complications, kidney functioning, the glandular system break down, and bone density loss. Physical signs and symptoms include constant checking of their weight, obsession with eating, weight control, and food, counting food carefully, a feeling of being fat, withdrawing from social scenes especially those involving food and celebrations, and remarkable loss of weight. Anorexia makes the sufferer has dry, flaky skin that takes on a yellow tinge. Their nails become fragile, and the regular vomiting erodes the dental enamel. In addition to these, the sufferers of anorexia have medical consequences, which are shrunken bones, low body temperatures, mineral loss, and irregular heartbeat. Other medical effects are development of osteoporosis and permanent failure of normal growth.

The next aspect is the treatment of anorexia. Treatment for this disorder is a continuing procedure, with several results showing that it works. Most patients who take up the treatment process recover fully from this disorder. To start the treatment, there is the need to reconstruct the health of the sufferer. This first process is through weight gain and better eating habits. It is common for the anorexics to decline treatment, and for some, the weight gain process will be a forced one. This is through hospitalization and in serious cases tubal feeding. Psychotherapy is the next step after the starvation has stopped. The second step is essential in dealing with psychological issues in relation to the eating disorder. The treatment will also involve cognitive, behavioral therapy whose purpose is to restructure negative notions and change behaviors. Another beneficial therapy is the group and family therapy and interpersonal therapy. In general, treatment of anorexia must center its energy more on weight gain. On medication, no one medication has proof of reducing the obsession to starve them. The only suggestions present in the treatment of anorexia are medications to stabilize moods, that may help in weight gain and to control some emotional signs like depression and anxiety.

Anorexia is a psychiatric condition that has the highest death rate with approximately 6% sufferers succumbing to the complications of the disease. The usual reason for these deaths of anorexic people is medical complications they develop including cardiac arrest. There have been severe cases where the anorexics commit suicide because of depression and lack of control of their lives. Mostly recovery from this eating disorder takes at least five years. It is advisable that a sufferer of anorexic visits a nearby emergency hospital for treatment.

In conclusion, it is evident that eating disorders are exceedingly common among young people and adolescents especially the females. There are several signs and symptoms of these disorders which the parents and guardians of teens need to look out. The known types of eating disorders have minimal difference and it is noteworthy that one identifies which one he or she is suffering from and gets the proper medication. The available treatment options rely on each sufferer and their families. The most valuable thing is for people learning to be comfortable with their weight and body shape. This is the main cause of eating disorders in teenagers and females across America. There is the need to advise and educate the sufferers on how like their bodies, understanding their eating habits, and accepting themselves in the way they are.

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