Eating Disorders Are Affecting Adolescents With Increasing Frequency

Eating Disorders are a set of serious disorders with underlying psychiatric foundations. An eating disorder occurs when exercise, body weight and shape become an unhealthy obsession (Stein, Merrick, & Latzer, 2011). People with eating disorders take physical concerns to the extremes that they take on abnormal eating habits. There are a variety of cases that lead to an eating disorder and can affect both men and women, however its prevalence primarily occur in adolescence (Ison & Kent, 2010; Stein et al., 2011). The complexity and challenges that occur during adolescents predisposes teens to developing an eating disorder. The period of adolescence is one of intense change, which can bring with it a great deal of stress, confusion and anxiety (Allen, Byrne, Oddy & Crosby, 2013). According to Wade, Keski-Rahkonen and Hudson (2011) 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). There are three main categories of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Individuals with AN loose more weight than what is considered to be healthy for their particular height, age, gender, and development (Allen et al., 2013). In BN individuals binge eat and purge to compensate for the excessive eating. Purging may include induce vomiting or intake of laxatives that lead to bowel

In the past few decades researchers have focused on eating disorders, the causes of these disorders and how they can be treated. However, it has mainly been in the last decade that researchers have started looking at eating disorders in children, the reasons why these disorders are developing at such a young age, and the best recovery program for these young people. To understand this growing problem it is necessary to ask a few important questions:

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,

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).

Adolescence is a developmental stage, which is not defined merely by age. Some may even argue that many young adults with eating disorders are still in the midst of addressing the challenges of adolescence and indeed adolescent developmental difficulties have been thought to underlie the etiology of anorexia nervosa in particular. The essential features of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are consistent across the age spectrum – in terms of characteristic behaviors (dieting, bingeing, purging), specific psycho- pathology (over-evaluation of the self in terms of weight and shape) and non-specific features (low self-esteem, perfectionism, poor interpersonal confidence) (American Psychological Association, 2000). Much of the literature reports combined adolescent and adult case series without separate analysis. This makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly what differences are between children and adults as well as have an understanding of the developmental

With children as early as age 7 showing dissatisfaction with their body, and as young as 9 starting dieting, eating disorders are a serious issue in our society. Taking a look at perceptions, behaviors, and medical issues associated with the disorders of anorexia and bulimia, scholars have tried to categorize and find answers to the problems which certain adolescents suffer. In this paper I focused on the two major eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.

If a provider has a suspicion of an eating disorder or weight problem in an adolescent patient, then a discussion must take place to prevent future complications that can arise from being underweight. Unfortunately, adolescents who develop an eating disorder are likely to continue the practices into young adulthood and possibly beyond (Brauser, 2011). Due to this outcome, it makes it ever more vital that providers bring the weight issue out into the open so reasons for the patient participating in the abnormal eating behaviors can be found, and then solutions developed to help the adolescent with their weight. Anorexia and bulimia are the primary eating disorders of concern, and they are complex conditions that are very difficult to treat and are associated with significant medical and mental health comorbidities (Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, Blosser, 2013). Not only will the provider need to talk with the adolescent, but the parent of the child should be involved, as well, so there can be continual support at home if an eating disorder is discovered.

All participants in the study were females ages 16 and older. Current and former eating disorder patients were recruited at the University of Missouri Pediatric and Adolescent Specialty Clinic. Individuals for the healthy control group were recruited from the same clinic as the current and former eating disorder patients, as well as from the university campus. As stated earlier, the control group

Eating disorders seem to have become more common during the latter half of the 20th century, during a period of American beauty icons becoming thinner and women’s magazines publishing more articles on methods for weight loss (Garner, Garfinkel, Schwartz, & Thompson, 1980). Dissatisfaction with one’s own body a result of the increasingly thin depictions of female body shapes in the mass media has been mainly attributed to the Caucasian young female population (Striegel-Moore, Silberstein, & Rodin, 1986). To date, there has been relatively little empirical research investigating the prevalence, etiology, and treatment of eating disorders in ethnic minorities. Additionally, studies investigating the direct link between acculturation of Asian American individuals in Western societies and eating disorder symptomology have failed to find a consistent correlation. Intuitively, researchers have suggested a positive relationship between acculturation, the adoption of characteristics, beliefs, ideals and values of the host culture (Gowen, Hayward, Killen, Robinson, & Taylor, 1999), and disordered eating symptomology in Asian Americans but the studies have yielded mixed findings. Therefore, there appear to be other factors influencing the development of eating disorder symptomology in Asian Americans, including self-esteem and the drive for thinness.

Today’s modern, prevalent culture is driven by media and fastidious standards of beauty and perfectionism. The demand to attain the ideal body and weight that meets the unrealistic standard encumbrances individuals in a myriad of ways. These pressures can be felt in the hallways and classrooms of our schools. Eating disorders are a potential and critical concern that students may encounter in schools. Eating disorders include the categorical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Hoek and van Hoeken (2003) reported that the prevalence of bulimia nervosa has tripled from 1988-1993 for woman ages ten to thirty-nine. Many people who develop eating disorders do not seek the essential help they need and attempt to mask the serious illness. Thus, the estimated reports of bulimia nervosa are presumably subordinate (Heok & van Hoeken, 2003). It is important for school counselors to understand bulimia nervosa in its entirety. The knowledge of the disorder’s etiology, course, gender and diversity issues, and treatment approaches will further develop school counselors’ ability to advocate for students affected by this disorder and provide adequate support services.

Lock, James. “Treatment of Adolescent Eating Disorders: Progress and Challenges.” Publish Medical Central (2011).NCBI.Web. 20 Apr. 2011. Lock believes that although eating disorders are common psychiatric disorders that they usually onset during adolescence. His research enforces the idea that family therapy is commonly clinically employed for Adolescents. Treatment aims to identify and help the family modify accommodations. Lock argues that eating disorders are either drawn out by “indulgent eating” or “vital eating” which determines obesity or anorexia. Some progress has been made in the last decade generating systematic evidence about effective treatments for adolescents are limited with very few statistics. Lock argues that the substantial

Our curriculum is largely responsible for triggering and facilitating eating disorders among teenagers. Teachers don’t notice, or don’t care, when students show signs of an eating disorder- this allows it to progress even further. Teachers talk about eating disorders like they’re hush-hush, or avoid the subject all together. When taught about eating disorders in health class, it can trigger eating disorders within students.

Today every girl wants to be “perfect” or be close to perfect. One of the requirements is to have a nice body. It is easy for any girl to reach this goal by changing their diet. Girls often have to deal with many different issues such as eating disorders, low-self esteem, body image issues and so on. Many of these issues are influenced by all the advertisement on social media. Some girls are not aware of the consequences that they will have to face after “fixing” their bodies. There are different ways teen girls harm their bodies such as eating and then purging which is called bulimia nervosa. Another eating disorder is starvation which is known as anorexia nervosa. Anorexia in teenage girls is very important to be aware of because young women

Eating disorders in children and teens cause serious changes in their health. Eating disorders are characteristics and cause by eating behaviors, also people with this disorder use eating, purging or restructuring with their issues. Eating disorders is divided into three parts as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive overeating, etc (Eating Disorders,n.d.).Eating disorders can overlap between and alternate of anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders around the adolescence, but it can also start in childhood. Girls with bulimia nervosa fall within their normal range of body weight, but to them some girls feel that they are overweight. Almost 25 percent of females have bulimia in their lifetime. There are many celebrities who suffer from eating disorders while coming up in Hollywood or currently battling the disorder. Like, former pop singer/ performer Lady Gaga struggled with bulimia and anorexia while beginning her career. Another singer name Kesha, has recently been treated for an unspecified eating disorder (n.d.). Karen Carpenter, a former singer, died from cardiac arrest at the age of 32, for years she suffer from severe anorexia. Another singer name Demi Lovato, has become one of the most outspoken about her mental issues within her eating disorder (n.d.). Sharon Osbourne, wife of Ozzy Osbourne and former ‘The Talk’ host, Sharon has struggled with bulimia for over 30 years. Another famous daytime talk show host, Oprah Winfrey is a sufferer of disordered eating.

Eating disorders are sadly a common occurrence in today’s society. These disorders are broadly defined as an illness where an individual develops irregular eating habits such as eating too much or eating too little and is categorized as a mental illness. Also, some individuals may eat selectively where they avoid eating specific foods. Eating disorders can bring about severe health complications such as severe loss of weight or excess gaining of weight (Agras, 2010). An individual may suffer from lack of immunity and if the problem is not addressed the consequences can be detrimental or even fatal (Hudson, 2007). Eating disorders can develop during any developmental stage in life. The following paper provides a detailed discussion of children