Eating Disorders Are On The Rise

There is an epidemic spreading amongst humans of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds; this silent invader often remaining unrecognized until significant damage has already taken place. According to Mirror Mirror Eating Disorders, an estimated 75 million people worldwide are affected by eating disorders of all types. There are five eating disorders classified by The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), each defined by various unnatural eating habits which result in an inability to maintain proper mental and physical health. These tendencies can yield irreversible physical damage; even death. One key solution to reducing the number of victims of eating disorders is through education. Despite the abundance of individuals facing eating disorders, its components are exceedingly

“Anorexia isn't really about food. It's an unhealthy way to try to cope with emotional problems. When you have anorexia, you often equate thinness with self-worth.” (Mayo clinic). They are usually in denial of their illness and have a psychological problem in which they think of themselves as overweight and obese but they believe this because they think they are perfectionist and need to have the perfect image or if they don’t they are worthless, never being satisfied with their weight (Helpguide.org). In addition, it is believed that causes of anorexia nervosa are correlated with “family and social pressures” (Helpguide.org). In addition, they are blind by this illness and are unable to see their true self, blinding them to see the problem that has emerged, in which leads to denial of there being an eating disorder. “Thoughts about dieting, food, and your body may take up most of your day—leaving little time for friends, family, and other activities you used to enjoy. Life becomes a relentless pursuit of thinness and going to extremes to lose weight.” (Helpguide.org).They are forced to withdraw from friends, family, and normal activities, which also leads to depression. Some of their thoughts come from society that focuses on the perfect image and the way someone should look that contributes to their illness and their obsession of being a certain

Eating Disorders are conditions in which involves irregular eating habits, either insufficient or excessive food, that affects inimical the body’s image and mental health (Wikipedia). It affects men and women of all ages, but it has a greater impact among adolescences and young adults. In the United States, 24 million Americans are battling eating disorders, in which 1 million are males and 23 million are females. An individual who portraits this condition may have an irrational self-image thought that impinged on an individual’s life and affects their health by disrupting body functions and daily activities (National Eating Disorders Association).

“Many kids — particularly adolescents — are concerned about how they look and can feel self-conscious about their bodies.” Eating disorders have the power to affect everyday life. Not only in just teens but all ages. They are able to cause extreme weight changes. As well as, it could affect your health for the rest of your life. (Source 1) By having an eating disorder everything becomes based off of that, if it isn’t helped or stopped it could become serious and damage your health permanently.

In our society, there has a been a significant concern of all eating disorders. This is very sensitive subject to majority of people. Everybody should be aware of the issue, it’s an issue that society should be more aware of. Eating disorders can result from genetics, environmental factors, society and social media. In today’s world, unfortunately there is so much social pressure of what beauty is. It is portrayed that being slim is the ideal. In addition, clearly the media has an influence, regardless of the gender, eating disorders and body dysmorphia can happen to both genders. I also learned that family attitudes concerning body shape and eating habits can have a profound effect too. Psychological issues such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse can also be a factor to eating disorder. Teenagers and adults also spend a great deal on social media sites that provide self-comparison of unrealistic expectations and media promotes a weight stigma by stereotyping other body types. In fact, so all this creates a controversial issue in my perspective. Throughout the years there has been a significant increase in eating disorder and body image.

Eating disorders are abolishing people day by day. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. These mental monsters are not physical, but they are mentally destroying a person’s thoughts, which effect their overall actions. Not only are eating disorders caused by unrealistic societal expectations, but the monsters come out through the psychological aspects as well.

Today we live in a world full of ridicule and expectations concerning our body image. The morphed image of a perfect body consists of a skinny and toned waist, perfect hair and makeup, and pearly white straight teeth. Models, actors, singers and other celebrities that everyone idols go to great lengths to make their body perfect. This stressed image of a perfect body has led to an enormous outbreak of mental disorders seen predominately in high school and college students, especially anorexia nervosa. Individuals suffering from this mental health disorder are not fully aware of the severe symptoms and risk factors this disorder brings, or the treatment available to them. Stigmatization and from friends, family and society like self infliction and addiction lead to an internal battle for a person suffering with anorexia.

Often, the desire to lose weight or to become thin especially in women becomes an obsession. People’s obsession over their appearance has led to a growing number of eating disorders. Eating disorders are a grave health problem. Eating disorders “are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and

Eating disorders refer to conditions where individuals have an unhealthy relationship with food, which turn negatively 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. This

         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

In the recent past, eating disorders have become prevalent in the society especially among teenagers and young adults.The rate of development of new cases of eating disorders has been increasing since 1950’s. Many have deemed the media responsible for the upsurge in cases. According to the Oxford dictionary, media is defined as ‘communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, information are disseminated’.It is very important to discern eating disorders from disordered eating.Disordered eating involves an abnormal relationship with food; while, an eating disorder is a psychiatric illness that has more to do with a complex set of emotional and psychological issues, than with food and nutrition.Eating disorders are

wealth. It highlights the idea that thinness is a good and desirable thing to be, even if

In US today, over 30 million men, women, and children suffer from an eating disorder. Research shows that 42% of first- to third-grade girls want to be thinner and 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of being fat. In fact, most kids with eating disorders began their disordered eating between the ages of 11 and 13. (Eating Dis.3) The most common eating disorders are; Anorexia, Binge eating, and Bulimia. Why do people resort to something so life threatening? Many people are turning towards eating disorders because they don’t accept who they are. Eating disorders are a mental illness that can have dangerous effects on the human body and several people are involved in this bad habit.

Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems. People do not think that eating disorders have to do with self-esteem, but body image. Bullying in school, at work, or even in your house can cause a person to develop an eating disorder. Some who have been abused by parents, friends, neighbors, or other family member can lead to an eating disorder. These behaviors can make a person feel bad about himself/herself which can lead them to eating disorder. People suffering from eating disorders do not realize what they are doing to their bodies. They feel that the only thing that they can control about themselves is their weight. Many try to control their weight by not eating. Completely stopping eating causes Anorexia Nervosa. Not eating also lead to extremely low weight which can lead to death ("Eating Disorders: About More Than Food.”). One percent of teenage girls in

Despite the latest focus on the societally born problem, I personally feel like another form of an eating disorder has gone overlooked. Now, eating disorders on the whole are a huge problem plaguing the health and minds of our society, but awareness needs to be raised about all of its cancerous ways. Anorexia Athletica is characterized by excessive or compulsive exercise and is not considered a form of a mental health issue formally. Differing opinions aside, excessive exercising frequently co-occurs with eating disorders. In addition, studies have found that