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Eating Disorders : Eating Disorder

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Eating Disorders
Even though eating disorders are less prevalent in society today than they have been in the past, they are still one of the most diagnosed mental illnesses today. These three illnesses have short term as well as long term effects that can leave a damaging toll on the patients’ lives and are very hard to overcome. This is shown through not only the characteristics of Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-eating Disease, but also through the psychological and physical harm these diseases leave on the body.
History
Eating disorders have been charted throughout history; some of the oldest discoveries come from as far back as 700 B.C. many cultures used imbedded the traits of eating disorders without knowing. These traits were used in terms of medicine, religion, and at times of celebration. For example, the ancient Egyptians drew hieroglyphics of their practices of vomiting. They believed that by vomiting for three days out of the month that they would avoid illness. Another example of ancient practices is found in the culture of the Romans. Around the time of Caesar’s rule (700 A.D.), wealthy romans would throw feasts, when they started to become full they would go to a vomitorium to purge, then they would return to their feasts to once again overindulge. The last examples are the women of Italy. To show their devotion to their religion these women would expose themselves to extreme means of torture. One of the most famous icons of these actions is Saint

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