Eating Disorder Case Study Essay

Diagnosing potential Anorexia nervosa is not always easy, and Alicia’s case, based on information given and her representation, is not clear cut. Researchers argue that the diagnosis has to be done carefully and potential ambiguities have to be resolved (Baer & Blais, 2010). For example, some researchers have argued that one criterion, such as a fear of being fat, can decrease significantly when the person actually loses some weight (Surgenor & Maguire, 2013). For reasons like this, selecting the primary question, namely whether or not the patient has Anorexia

"Why dissallow the trendy images of women from being plastered ubiquitously?" one may ask. Banning this perception of women, unhealthily thin, will save the women of this great nation from eating disorders. Our women will be more confident in their own skin and not feel as pressured to live up to this image. We, as people of this land, see this problem but choose not to do anything. The medical care for people with eating disorders is inadequit, and too expensive, as it is. With girls and women trying so hard today, to look like what the media portrays, it is no wonder that our country's health is in a downward spiral. Trying to live up to these unreal expectations can result in anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating.

For this interview I looked at anorexia in one of my close friends. I chose to interview a friend of mine who we will call Jessica for the sake of this paper. Jessica is a 21 year old American woman who has been diagnosed with Anorexia since she was 16. Jessica is 5’6 and when she was diagnosed with her disorder she was 5’4 and weighed 90 pounds which for her height at the time was considered to be severely underweight. Jessica still struggles with many symptoms of this disorder; however, she has been able to gain weight and is considered to be on the lower end of the average scale. In addition, Jessica faces many of the symptoms that those with anorexia experience as described by Comer in Abnormal Psychology. The main symptom that Jessica deals with as a result of anorexia is a form of anorexia called restricting-type anorexia nervosa where Jessica restricts her food

The positive outcomes of these solutions by far outweigh their negative aspects. The touchy subject of eating disorders is enough work to talk about, let alone try to prevent. Many neighbors, teachers, mothers, and friends are survivors who are willing to band together to make these solutions happen. They all deserve a chance to improve the lives of those who are going through what they have battled themselves. Students should be informed, educated, nourished, supervised, and encouraged to such a standard that they can battle whatever life throws their way, including eating disorders, because Ana numbers are more important than GPA numbers. Just like anything else in the world, some people will dislike or find flaws within the idea of eating disorder education. Parents may not be comfortable with

Over the last few generation, society has fabricated an existence where the influence of media on young adolescents and children is inexorable. Children are now broadcast by their parents on every social media platform, establishing a need for acceptance based on how “cute” the child is long before they are mature enough to voice their own thoughts. While traditionally media has been know to promote a specific body standard—proven to contribute to the development of eating disorders among young adults and pre-adolescents—a new trend in media has introduced the “body positivity” movement which has begun to successfully influence people of all generations and body types.

As the "ideal" women’s body has become progressively thinner over the past decades, the eating disorder anorexia has become progressively more prevalent. Anorexia is a disease in which a person eats nothing beyond minimal amounts of food so that her body weight drops dangerously. It is no wonder with all of the cultural messages of thinness being aimed at women, that 90-95% of anorexics are female, 25.7% of all female ballet dancers are anorexic, and that the percentages are similarly high for female models and athletes (Malson, 1998). Six to eight percent of young women have been diagnosed. For some the disease takes a devastating and irreversible course; 20% of anorexic patients will die and as many as half of those will be from suicide

Eating disorders are sweeping this country and are rampant on junior high, high school, and college campuses. These disorders are often referred to as the Deadly Diet, but are often known by their more popular names: anorexia or bulimia. They affect more than 20% of females between the age of thirteen and forty. It is very rare for a young female not to know of someone with an eating disorder. Statistics show that at least one in five young women have a serious problem with eating and weight (Bruch, 25).

         Americans obsessions with their bodies has become a hot topic lately. From personal observation and research, I have seen the obsession become more severe. Web sites dealing with eating disorders are some of the most commonly visited web sites. We have a problem. The obsessions are becoming too serious, even fatal. Americans today have become slaves to the diet and fitness industries, resulting in an increased number of eating disorder cases over the past few years. If Americans are not educated about the complicated causes and effects of eating disorders then the plague of the 90’s, eating disorders, is going to continue to kill. The following paragraphs are a start to the education. They deal

I hope everything is well in your life. We’ve been friends for over 10 years now and you and I could both agree that we know each other very well. However, I have been noticing unusual behavior from you in the past few months. Is everything alright? I want you to feel comfortable enough to talk to me about any problems that are going on in your life. I’m concerned about you.

Eating disorders refer to conditions where individuals have an unhealthy relationship with food, which in turn negatively influences various aspects of their lives. Individuals suffering from eating disorders eat either excessively large amounts of food or little food that cannot sustain their normal body functions. Such persons can equally be obsessed with thoughts of food and exercises, an aspect that may result in them having distorted bodies. Millions of American citizens suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating, as well as eating disorders that are not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The most worrying concern nonetheless, is the fact that close to 90% of those suffering from eating disorders are adolescents and young women, the former who are routinely regarded as one of the most active segments of the population (Dancyger et al., 2014). The high incidence within adolescents and young women should note be taken to denote that young men and adults do not suffer from eating disorders. The failure to adequately attend to those suffering from eating disorders predisposes them to serious mental and physical health issues, thereby routinely interfering with their personal, professional and social lives (Mehler et al., 2015). In as much as eating disorders may coexist with different mental conditions, the eating disorders tend to go undiagnosed, implying that only a small number of sufferers obtain treatment for eating disorders.

Item #1: As a nineteen-year old female college student, it is not a huge surprise that I would develop an eating disorder at one point in my adolescent years. Specifically, I have been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. With anorexia nervosa, I view myself as overweight despite the fact that I am considered underweight for my particular age and height. I have developed an intense fear of gaining weight and as a result, I diet and exercise excessively. This fear causes me to be obsessed with the thought of food consumption, leading me to abstain from eating too much and possibly gaining unwanted weight in hopes to achieve the ideal body image that I believe I need in order to be accepted. Having a distorted body

I am now beginning to understand the proper ways that I can evaluate and help when I am faced with seeing someone struggle with the disorder. Eating disorders can be a sensitive subject and are often talked about in joking manners. I want to be prepared for facing a serious situation the needs treatment. Stunkard, A. J. & Messick, S. (1988). Eating Inventory. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

No human is perfect and because of this it is no secret that there are things that humans one way or another want to change or fix about themselves. However, some take this to an extreme. When an obsession over being thin starts to rule your life, eating proportions or habits, and thoughts- you might be in the beginning stages of an eating disorder. Eating Disorders are circumstances where there are strange or peculiar eating routine where there is too much or too little food intake for the lack of benefit to the person’s mental and physical health. Linked from Anorexia are some of the most common types of eating disorders such as Bulimia, anorexia, and binging. All of these eating disorders fall back onto excessive obsessing over weight

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Anorexia Nervosa is the most prevalent eating disorder marked by an inability to maintain a healthy body weight. No matter how much weight is lost the individual continues to strive for more weight loss and see themselves as fat even when they are severely underweight. Individuals experience an intense fear of gaining weight and refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of their low body weight. Assessing individuals with eating disorders is often challenging due to denial of the illness and their ability to hide signs and symptoms (Beidel, 2014.)

A second diagnosis for Kathie is Mild Binge Eating Disorder (BED) (F50.8). BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating in which the client eats a large amount of food in a two-hour period that most people would consume in a similar situation. There is sense of lack of control over the eating. The binge episodes one to three times a week for three months. The client must meet three of the five criteria listed in the DSM-V for BED which include eating more rapidly than normal, feeling uncomfortably full after binge eating (BE), eating when not hungry, feeling embarrassed, and feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after the binge eating episode. Additionally, there is a feeling of marked distress over the binge eating episode. There are no compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, using laxatives, medications or excessive exercise (APA, 2013). Kathie has been secretly struggling with an eating disorder (ED) for the last six months. She has meets 3 of the 5 criteria listed in the DSM-V including eating excessively until she feels uncomfortably full. After binge eating, she feels ashamed and helpless, which makes her more depressed. She feels a loss of control over her eating. She eats alone and feels guilty after binge