Diversity Paper- Communications

For many the term “Anorexia” conjures up memories of bone thin, weight obsessed teenage girls, models, and actresses. However, as the spotlight has been shined on Anorexia bringing this secretive and quiet disorder to a wider public perception, many still suffer in silence: either too ashamed to seek treatment, or because of an improper diagnosis.

A single father watched his daughter, 17 years old, dwindle down to 72 pounds. He begged her to eat, but she would cry and push the plate away. He was irritated and turned to his friends at work complaining his daughter was taking dieting way too far. He would scream at her “Stop! This is nonsense, just eat!”. This father, like many other Americans, did not understand that his daughter could not just stop being Anorexic. The common misconception is that Anorexia Nervosa is just someone obsessed with losing weight. Many people believe that Anorexics look in the mirror and smile at their thinness and progress. This is so untrue, they look in the mirror and wish for a way out.

Anorexia nervosa, otherwise stated as anorexia, is an eating disorder that occurs when an individual restricts themselves from necessary energy intake which leads to significantly low body weight. Other characteristics of this disorder include: intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight, persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, and disturbances of perception and experience of their own body weight and shape (DSM V, 2013). Effective treatments are still trying to be researched for this disorder, as there is not a “one size fits all” for people of all age groups, living situations, etc. Since adolescents with anorexia are such a vulnerable population,

It’s only human to wish you looked different or could fix something about yourself. But when a more serious notion with being thin takes over your eating habits, thoughts, and life, it’s a sign of an eating disorder. When you have anorexia, the desire to lose weight becomes more important than anything else. You may even lose the ability to see yourself as you truly are. Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that affects people of all ages. It can damage your health and threaten your life. But you are not alone. There’s help available when you’re ready to make a change. Everyone

Eating disorders are in no way, to be considered “no big deal”. It affects the lives of many poor unsuspecting human beings and in some cases, fatally takes lives. This topic presents many things that most people don’t know. Such as the fact that bulimia nervosa has similar symptoms to using the drug heroin! Rotten teeth, pale and dry skin, and even failing organs are usually signs that someone may have bulimia. There are always key signs and factors to recognizing an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious. We all should be aware of the affect it has on an individual, and if anyone knows or sees a person struggling with an eating disorder, outreaching and a simple hand in the right direction can save a life. Eating disorders get in the mind of an individual, then ruin the body, then finally ruin the mind.

I became anorexic at the age of 13. I lived in an abusive home with my father whose life was consumed with alcohol and drugs, and a mom who struggled to fight her way out. I have two sisters. I was the middle child and constantly begged and searched for the approval of my dad. I never really accomplished it, but I didn’t stop trying. I had meat on my bones, but was not overweight by any means. I was 13 and weighed about 110 pounds. My sisters were naturally skinny and could eat without concern of weight gain. I loved to eat a lot, and my

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

Eating disorders have become an increasing public health problem once thought to be an affliction amongst young women, now an epidemic across culture and gender boundaries. Anorexia gives rise to serious socio-economic and bio-psychological circumstances of our ever vast, growing society. Awareness of eating disorders have increased but perhaps only in proportion to its advancement of its research and treatment. That which still leaves us in a position for a much greater demand for education and heightened awareness of this perplexing disease.

Through the scanning of various pro-Ana websites and blogs, it became clear how prominent anorexia nervosa was. Not only how prominent, but how deeply rooted these beliefs are and how extreme some of the practices go. There is a societal pressure in America to push women to be thin and equate thinness with beauty and success. This pressure is enough to drive some women to starve themselves in order to feel accepted and a sense of belonging. Some pro-Ana websites and blogs are often deceivably

I’d shrunk from a waist of 36 to a 32 and sprouted from 5’4 in height to 5’10 which was taller than most boys in my grade. I still wasn't ripped like the Hollister models, but I began to grow in self-confidence which was the importance of the my journey through school . I began to care less about what others possessed that I didn't and spent more time appreciating what I naturally had all along. I can't swim, but I'm a good long distance runner. I’m not the best athlete, but I have a 4.0 GPA. Also I don't have the most expensive material to wear, but I have a keen sense of fashion that sets trends from the simplicity of thrift stores. I suppose my newly discovered confidence proved to be a success, because shortly after my realization a nice young lady felt compelled to be my girlfriend. After some sessions of texting, it became an offer I couldn't decline. In the midst of understanding myself, I began to think of the quote my grandmother use to recite by Malcolm S. Forbes which stated,“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.” when I decided to place less value upon what I wasn't and appreciate what I was. I found out I wasn't missing anything all

Back in 2005, Amy, at age 17, was diagnosed with Anorexia nervosa after dropping twenty-two pounds for a school dance. Amy had been under a great amount of stress with organizing their school ball, trying to find a partner, and getting a dress. She decided to drop weight before this special occasion. While at the ball, Amy received multiple compliments about her weight loss. This was a contributing factor to her Anorexia. Soon after, Amy’s family noticed she was still dropping weight. Amy was then given the opportunity to meet with an eating disorder therapist (Amy).

I decided my sanity was more important than attaining a body to the likings of a Victoria’s Secret model. My first step was to delete the app I used to track my calories each day. I forced myself to indulge in meals I would never even looked at and stopped myself from working out any more than my sports required. I taught myself to love every part of my body, even if it doesn't always fit into my skinny jeans. In just over a year I gained back all the weight I lost plus a few pounds. My outlook on life is positive and I take pride in having conquered this vicious disease. Every now and then I struggle with accepting weight gain but I refuse to let anorexia define me or even have a say in my

How many of you have ever battled an eating disorder or known someone with an eating disorder? One or two of every 100 students will struggle or have struggled with an eating disorder. An anonymous quote from someone who struggled an eating disorder once said “Nothing matters when I’m thin”. Anyone of us in this room is at risk of an eating disorder. Females have to maintain that ‘normal’ look to fit in with society. More guys are seeking help for eating disorders as well. Guys with eating disorders tend to focus more on athletic appearance or success than just on looking thin. I’m going to inform you today about anorexia; what it is, signs, causes, effects, and possible treatments to help it.

On the top of that, I was never satisfied with my body image. I would stand in front of the mirror and judge every aspect of my body, specifically my stomach. I want to be skinny, I want ABS, I want my collar bones to be noticeable. I would weigh myself all the time. I hate to admit it, but I have a fear of being overweight like the people in My 600 Pound Life. In addition seeing models like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner, I couldn't help but feel envious of how perfect their bodies are. And hearing girls at school say they weigh 122 or 107 pounds, while I'm over here weighing more than that. Also, I would feel self conscious when changing into my PE clothes in the girls locker room. That I would head into the bathroom stall to dress up in there considering I didn’t want my classmates to examine my body. I still struggle to form my body the best it can be.

Growing up, I was always taught that thinness meant beauty. Not only by my class peers, but by my own family members as well. I grew up as an obese kid/teen. Who would have thought? School for me was a synonym for hell on earth for many years. Waking up in the morning was the worst 30 minutes of my life followed by 7 hours of emotional torment. Making friends for me has always been very difficult because I am a hardcore introvert. I remember always sitting alone in an obnoxious lunch room and being picked on by the stereotypical mean girls and boys. Yes, they do exist. I heard insults from “How come you’re so fat?” to “What would happen if we got a needle and poked her with it? Would she explode?”. The insults are ridiculous and funny looking at it now, but as a child and young teen they killed me inside. I never said anything back because I was always told to ignore it by my teachers. My mom went to the office numerous times and complained. I remember constantly asking my mom everyday afterschool why no one liked me and why I did not have any friends. She never knew how to respond. “It’ll go away”, “They’re just kids being kids”, they said. It never actually went away till high school, when everyone had finally matured.