Eating Disorders Research Paper

Nowadays, when people emphasis more and more on healthy lifestyles, both exercise and food intake have become a big part of the consideration. With the goals of being fit and losing weight, some people eat irregularly or do not eat at all. As a result, eating disorders seem more often on news and reports. However, some people still view it as a joke. With the increasing number of people diagnosed with eating disorders, people should raise awareness on the effects of eating disorders and treat them seriously.

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

“Twenty million women and ten million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life”(What are Eating Disorders, 2016). What can cause a person to develop an eating disorder? The type of significant amount of eating would include bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. There are other eating disorders that cause dramatic weight loss such as anorexia nervosa. “According to the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, the risk of developing an eating disorder is from fifty to eighty percent determined by genetics” (Parks 46). Thirty percent of people develop an eating disorder through a traumatic incident such as rape or abuse. There can be other causes to developing an eating disorder. This can be biological factors, sociological factors, and psychological and emotional health. Biological factors can include a person’s brain chemistry, age, gender and genetics; the genes passed on from one or both parents. Adolescents and females are most

Triggers for developing eating disorders have been found to be similar between the sexes: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulty coping with emotional and personal problems, and other existing psychological illnesses are common underlying factors in the development of disordered eating ((3)).

We know that eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior and extreme concern about body size or weight. We also know that eating disorders can be life-threatening if treatment is not provided or is not effective. But we do not completely understand what causes eating disorders. Generally, scientists believe they arise from a complex interaction of genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors (Smolin and Mary Grosvenor, 42).

There are many misconceptions in our society about eating disorders. Many people choose to have an eating disorders and others don't. Low self esteem, peer pressure, and bullying may cause people to have an eating disorder.

Abnormal eating habits can develop for many reason due to humans being very complex these can be psychological factors like low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and stress. Interpersonal factors like Physical or sexual abuse, long term ridicule about size or limited availability of food during childhood. Social factors and biological factors also have effects on eating habits, all these symptoms and signs can help anyone diagnose and help someone with an abnormal eating disorder and try to make them better. Some of the risk factors involved with abnormal eating habits can are found in teens and early 20’s and while they receive praise on their weight lose it can encourage them to lose more weight.

Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating. Negative body images can cause eating disorders. An eating disorder is any range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. Ten to fifteen percent of all Americans suffer from a serious eating disorder (“Eating Disorder Statistics”). They are present not only in women, but men. Not only in adults, but teens. Not only in celebrities, but regular people. Eating disorders are very serious and can even be fatal (“Eating Disorder Statistics”). All of this because they see themselves as something they do not want to be, so they try to change.

Despite a substantial amount of research, clinicians are unable to come to a consensus on a sole etiology of eating disorders; therefore, it is theorized that eating disorders can be viewed as multi-determined. This theory indicates that the onset of eating disorders occurs due to a variety of predisposing factors, such as the family, psychological, athleticism, biological and socio-cultural components. In other words, there is an interplay of both genetic and environmental factors which ultimately influence the onset of eating disorders.

There are many different biological approaches that explain the reasons for eating disorders they all have some validity behind them to a certain extent. An eating disorder is a psychological dysfunction that causes a person to change their eating habits to eating less, or more etc.

Scientists and doctors have no single cause why teens developed eating disorder, however many scientist and doctors feels that eating disorders are triggered by the media, peers, family, psychological. For example, America Idol finalist and actress Jennifer Hudson appeared on the front cover of People magazine going from a size 16 to a size 6. To illustrate, how the media triggers eating disorders in young teens, American Idol judge Simon Cowell said on national television Jennifer Hudson did not fit the image society are used to seeing and she would not be successful in selling records due to her size. Obviously, the message that was deliver to many young teens was that obesity is not beautiful and to be accepted you must be slim to be accepted by

Anorexia and bulimia are caused through psychological issues. Eating disorders are known by an unusual attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour and also their image. An individual with an eating disorder will

We live in a world full of images. It is all about your looks and how you dress. We are either too fat or too skinny based on societal images. No one looks within you, that's how eating disorders begin. The appearance is all that matters. People with eating disorders do not really know that it is life threatening. If they are aware they are really not worried about their life.They are worried about their images. Eating disorders are often caused by: Depression, Stress, and Physical appearances (images).

a. According to Doctor Thomas Insel and director of NIMH, eating disorder occurs most often when there is an emphasis on thinness, especially if it’s linked to success.

Eating disorders stem from a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors. Feelings of depression and anxiety along with daily stressors can contribute to