Eating Disorders: Disease or Choice?

Samantha Callahan, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Danielle Patrick, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Sara Roderick, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University; Kahla Stygar, Department of Psychology, Lindenwood University.

Thesis statement: Young adults and adolescents are the ones who are the most susceptible to develop an eating disorder. The exact causes for eating disorders might vary with every person, but the most controversial ones are social media, unhealthy eating habits and genetics.

My current view on food is that it creates a sense of comfort and fulfillment, yet this was not always the case. During my teenage years I struggled with an ongoing eating disorder. During that time I viewed food as a threat, or an enemy. As part of my recovery process, I was given a task to make friends with food. I first approached this task with a closed mind, finding a wrong with every meal I ate. My view changed completely when my friends took me out to a vegan diner for a burger and sweet potato fries meal.

There are so many statistics regarding eating disorders. In general, there are about 30 million men and women who have some type of eating disorder and only about 1 out of 10 men and women will receive some treatment for their disorder. Because of this, it is no surprise that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate out of all the mental illnesses (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2015). The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and

At present, these eating disorders have an effect on roughly 25 million Americans, of which almost 25% are of the male gender. Out of all the psychological disorders, anorexia has the highest mortality rate. The whys and wherefores include malnourishment, substance abuse and reckless suicides. Eating disorders can happen to anyone; no matter whether they’re male or female, rich or poor, old or young. According to many researchers, eating disorders are caused by more than just food. There are numerous

According to The Lisa Projects, “Eating disorders are costly, many people have trouble working with their insurance company. Some even have no insurance to support those in need of treatment.” It is also mentions “ Some insurance companies more likely to pay for physical illnesses than mental illnesses.” [7].

Eating Disorders affect 5-10 million Americans, and thousands of people die each year from their complications. Although some groups are at a greater risk than others, eating disorders occur in people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We do not know what causes eating disorders, but many factors have been identified that may play a role (Smolin and Mary Grosvenor, 40).

Eating Disorders affect over ninety percent of our population today. Yearly, they affect around nine million adults alone. Since it has such a widespread grasp it makes eating disorders the most silent killer of all psychological diseases. The psychological distortion behind it though is considered to be one of the most shrouded in mystery compared to other diseases rooted in mental instability.

Studies shows that young women with eating disorders, anorexia and bulimia, were trained at an early age to value physical perfection. These eating disorders can be fatal.

Girls are indoctrinated at a very young age that the well known Barbie doll is how a woman is supposed to look, which includes no fat, but large breasts, and due to that false view of a woman’s body, it is more than likely that young girls today will approach puberty with a negative body image. Although children can develop eating disorders as early as 6 years old, it is typically the teen years where it becomes out of control. Dr. Jonathon Rader says that “more than half of teenaged girls are, or think they should be, on diets. They want to lose all or some of the forty pounds that females naturally gain between 8 and 14. About three percent of these teens go too far, becoming anorexic or bulimic” (Rader). Almost everyone has heard of the terms “anorexic” and “bulimic” whether it was on TV or in a magazine, but not many people know the true facts and dangers that go along with them. They also might not even realize that there are other types of eating disorders that people are dealing with, some of which are not even specified. Exactly what are eating disorders?

Eating disorders may not seem like it’s that big of a deal. In America, we hear about a lot about people who contract illnesses such as cancer, but eating disorders isn’t talked about much. Over thirty million people suffer from these mental illnesses, such as anorexia or bulimia. Even though these disorders have the highest life span of any mental illness, they can lead to death due to organ failure, heart failure, starvation, or even go as far as committing suicide. Things such as peer pressure, sports, body image, and low-self esteem can drive teenagers towards eating disorders.

There is a broad spectrum of eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN) (two basic types, restrictive (ANR) and binge-purge (ANBP)), and binge eating disorder (BED). People with eating disorders often have a morphed perception of their body. Often they feel the need to be perfect, and when they do not look perfect to themselves they feel great shame. Which in effect causes suicide ideation, because they feel they do not deserve to live. It appears that eating disorders may carry the highest suicide risk of any psychiatric disorder.

Eating disorders are potentially life threatening illnesses, which are simultaneously psychological and physical in nature. Currently, there are about 20 million women and 10 million men in America suffering from a clinically significant eating disorder, including Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge-Eating disorder (Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders).

There is no question that our whole world today has been having problems with malnutrition and lack of physical activity. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare to go somewhere without seeing someone who suffers with obesity or some type of eating disorder. Authorities actually find it to be one of the economy’s biggest problems. According to a chart found on Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, from the years 1976 to now, children all around the world continue to eat unhealthy diets with an obesity percentage of 17.5 in 2006, when the percentage used to be at a low 5.0, and the issue is only continuing to become worse. A lot of people eventually form some type of eating disorder according the article, Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health: Eating Disorders, “rates for anorexia nervosa were .3% in men and 0.9% in women; for bulimia nervosa, 0.5% in men and 1.5% in women; and for binge eating disorder, 2% in men and 3.5% in women,” while more than one-third of the United States, or more than 71 million people, are obese. As a society we have to realize that this is becoming a bigger issue than we think when thousands of people are dying each year and it is time to start being good role models for our future generation. Their elders and advertisements, that we seem to find so harmless when they really are, are influencing our upcoming generations. What can we do to help our society and future, and become a healthier world so we are not living unhealthier longer?

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