Eating Disorders : Deterioration Of The Mind

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

Eating disorders are alive and well in today’s world and they are a major problem. An eating disorder can look like a few different things, ranging from a severe reduction of food intake to over eating to feelings of negativity towards your body shape or weight (Lehigh University). While some disorders can only be found in specific age groups, races, etc., eating disorders can be found amongst all and it does not necessarily have to be pointed towards food (Lehigh University). In fact, the four areas primarily affect eating disorders: psychological, interpersonal, social, and biological. I am going to talk about three specific eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Keep in mind that there could be other eating disorders out there that are not found and classified just yet (Lehigh University).

Three Eating Disorders that will be discussed throughout the rest of this review will include, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. The DSM_IV_TR describes the conditions under which these three eating disorders are characterized. Anorexia Nervosa is a very serious illness with severe implications in regards to health. It is classified by the DSM-IV-TR as weighing less than the third percentile for body mass index for ones age and sex, fearing weight gain, having a disturbed perception of body image and on hormonal contraception or the absence of menstruation (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Bulimia Nervosa is a second eating disorder described by the

According to the DSM-5, eating disorders are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating–related behavior that results in non-normative eating patterns which leads to impaired physical and psychosocial functioning, (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating with inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binge eating is described as eating an amount of food definitely larger than normal with a sense of lack of control. Compensatory behaviors include misuse of laxatives, self-induced vomiting, diuretics, fasting and excessive exercise, (Comer, 2014) . Another key feature is

Thousands of people in this world struggle with eating disorders. “Gina battled bulimia for seven years—struggling on her own in secret—before she finally opened up to her mother. Gina wrote her a long letter explaining her shame and embarrassment, and gave her mother a book about how to deal with someone with an eating disorder,” (“Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery”). This is a big problem all around the world, but it can be solved. To help people with eating disorders around the world people need to work together to educate people, motivate them to change, and to create a healthy body image.

Although eating disorders have been known since the early 70s, they have become such a major health issue in today’s generation. There are three different types of eating disorders, Anorexia nervosa which is the act of self-starvation, Bulimia Nervosa which is a binge and purge process where one would eat an abnormal amount of food in one sitting the throw it back up or using laxatives to rid the body of food. Lastly there is Binge eating which is the hardest to detect because those who binge eat still look decently healthy they usually workout a lot, but when they are alone they consume large amounts of food. This disease can be found in men and women of all ages.

There are varieties of eating disorders. The main ones are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder. In one sample, the prevalence was as high as 80 % for patients diagnosed with restrictive anorexia nervosa, 43 % in anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype, 39. % in bulimia nervosa, and 32 % in eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). I am currently acquainted with a friend who has been diagnosed with, and is currently in treatment for, Anorexia Nervosa, also known as Anorexia. Anorexia is the most dangerous eating disorder because it can be unseen, it is very unhealthy, and the effect it has on the victim’s life is devastating.

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

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.

In society today, eating disorders are rapidly gaining attention due to high fashion and tabloid glorification of it. The three main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Each of these are disorders are extremely dangerous and can lead to not only physical problems, but psychological problems as well. The physical problems associated with these disorders can extend in their severity to the point of death. Eating disorders are more commonly seen in females, but men can suffer from them as well. Except for binge eating, this in terms of statistics is seen equally in men and women. There are varied treatment options for these disorders, including specialized hospitals, medication, psychotherapy, nutrition education and support groups. Eating disorders do not only take a great toll on the sufferer, but also on friends and family who surround that individual. Anorexia nervosa stands apart from the other two eating disorders aforementioned in the sense that this disorder is not solely about the food, but more so, an unhealthy way that an individual copes with emotional problems (Medline,2014).

In today’s society many people put pressure on other individuals and that can cause self-destructive tendencies to strive for the perfect body that society has deemed “perfect”. Eating disorders are commonly known among individuals, especially anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia and bulimia are similar, but they have many differences. When someone has anorexia, they starve themselves, or they eat very little in a day, contrary to that, someone that has bulimia, they will binge eat, then they will force themselves to vomit.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss behaviors driven by self-evaluations that are dependent on body weight and shape concerns (Dryer, Tyson, & Kiernan, 2013). There is a false myth that this disorder is a life choice but it is a serious illness that could cause damage to a person’s eating habits. This disorder became noticeable a few years ago with all the new technologies but it was always around. Back in time many people died from this and they didn’t have enough resources to really know what it was and what was causing it.

When looking at Mental Illness and diagnoses, I think that much of the general public do not consider eating disorders a mental illness. People today see both Bulimia and Anorexia as physical conditions and choices. Being in the field and working closely with individuals with both diseases, I see first-hand that those diagnosed with the illnesses suffer just as greatly as anyone else with a mental illness. After watching “Dying to be Thin”, I am able to make several connections to not only my personal work and field experience, but also my own personal life.

Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majorities are adolescents and young adult women. Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another two to three percent develop bulimia nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating followed by vomiting or other " purging " behaviors to control their weight. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women, but much less frequently. The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in ten anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or