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.

Thesis Statement: It is important to understand eating disorders and the types of eating disorders to overcome them and seek the proper treatment.

Eating disorders are diseases in which people have an unhealthy relationship with their food, and negative image reflecting how their body looks, such as, the fear of gaining weight. This type of body dysmorphia can lead to damaging eating habits, such as; starvation, purging, and even binging. Furthermore, there are numerous eating disorders recognized today, the most common being binge disorder, causing the affected person to eat far too much and experience pain, discomfort, and irritable bowel symptoms, bulimia which causes the affected person to purge their food through vomiting, and one of the most common eating disorders -- anorexia nervosa. (Eating Disorders, 2008) Many of these disorders can be treated in multiple ways, the most common way is through counselling with a social worker, the social worker helps develop a treatment plan for the client and aids them in their recovery.

Eating disorders have become an increasing public health problem once thought to be an affliction amongst young women, now an epidemic across culture and gender boundaries. Anorexia gives rise to serious socio-economic and bio-psychological circumstances of our ever vast, growing society. Awareness of eating disorders have increased but perhaps only in proportion to its advancement of its research and treatment. That which still leaves us in a position for a much greater demand for education and heightened awareness of this perplexing disease.

In the year 2001, Eating Disorders Awareness & Prevention (EDAP) and American Anorexia Bulimia Association (AABA) came together to form what is now the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) ("National Walk"). For over a decade this organization has expanded vastly across the country. Seeking out the fragile lives of those who are in need of personal care.

The National Institute of Mental Health: “Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions.” Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/nedspdisorder.cfm.

The three major eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating Disorder. All of these involve disturbed eating patterns and their own ways of maintaining body weight. The first is Bulimia Nervosa. The person is obsessed with their weight and body shape. They binge eat large amounts of food, then purge themselves, so they do know gain weight. The common way of purging is by gagging themselves, until they vomit. Many that suffer with this are secretive, and it comes as a shock when others find out. Treatment is very hard for all eating disorders. The most common is this disorder is CBT. It helps the patient change their thoughts about food and themselves. It offers alternatives, such as purging the food out, they can exercise, or find healthy food choices.

Everyone wants to help their loved ones, but oftentimes don’t know how to react. Firstly, being patient and realizing that changes in thinking and behavior happen slowly is important to remember. Instead of focusing on day-to-day improvement, individuals should look how far they have come. Secondly, eating together helps people with eating disorders feel more comfortable instead of feeling anxious and guilty for eating. Another activity that can be helpful to the individual suffering is grocery shopping together. Grocery shopping can expand food choices and reduce the number of foods that are considered “threatening”. Furthermore, encouraging new activities such as art classes, volunteering, clubs at school, music, or yoga replace the unhealthy, disordered eating behaviors with healthy interests. Lastly, and most importantly replace statements like “You look great”, “You look better”, and “You’ve gained weight” with statements such as “You are full of energy” or “You look well

“Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health, “… anorexia nervosa has a higher mortality rate than any other cause of death among females between ages 15 and 24” (Zhao, Encinosa 1). An eating disorder is a psychological illness distinguished by a disturbance in eating habits. Along with having a physical and mental effect on an individual, some cases of eating disorders end fatally. The well-known eating disorders include anorexia nervosa- self-starvation to achieve thinness; bulimia nervosa- vomiting to prevent weight gain; and binge eating disorder- uncontrollable eating habits leading to weight gain. According to the National Institute of Mental Health,

There is a commonly held view in the general population that eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. However, eating disorders are a group of serious conditions in which a person is preoccupied with food and weight that they often cannot focus on anything else. Amongst all the eating disorder the main types are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, which are all psychological illnesses. The disorders vary between eating extremely small amounts of food, to not eating at all, or to severely overeating. Each of these eating disorders can cause serious physical and psychological problems, and at their most severe, can even be life-threatening (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

I am now beginning to understand the proper ways that I can evaluate and help when I am faced with seeing someone struggle with the disorder. Eating disorders can be a sensitive subject and are often talked about in joking manners. I want to be prepared for facing a serious situation the needs treatment. Stunkard, A. J. & Messick, S. (1988). Eating Inventory. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

Eating disorders have existed throughout history, with only slight variances in incidence and distribution. However, the frequency of eating disorders in the general population has been steadily increasing since the 20th century (Crash Course). More than 50% of people have revealed the use of unhealthy dieting techniques and chronic disordered eating patterns while at least 10% of people (in the United States) have been diagnosed with a clinically significant eating disorder (Stice, et al). As a result of the increased

It is only when society understands the causes of eating disorders as well as their physical and emotional effects can treatment interventions be successful for the person afflicted.

This allows for the restoration of an appropriate weight through specifical meal plans and calorie requirements (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2016). Overall, recovery requires both a diet change and a change in one’s mentally. Anorexics can require the help of mental health professionals such as a psychologist or psychiatrist in their recovery. Anorexia usually has emotional causes that a mental health professional can help a patient better cope with (Anorexia Nervosa-Cause, n.d.). This helps aid the patient in developing healthier eating habits and not relapse. In individual therapy, a mental health professional can one on one “help change the patient’s distorted beliefs and thoughts that maintain the restrictive eating” (Anorexia Nervosa-Cause, n.d.). This treatment can occur either in an outpatient program once a week or in an inpatient program in a psychiatric hospital (Anorexia Nervosa-Cause, n.d.). Especially for teens, family-based therapy can be helpful. This form of therapy allows for the parents of the child to aid in treatment by helping them aid in the healthy eating and weight restoration until their child is able to continue on their own (Mayo Clinic Staff,

Researchers study eating disorders to try to understand their many complexities. “Eating disorders are complicated psychiatric illnesses in which food is used to deal with unsettling emotions and difficult life issues” (Michel & Willard, 2003, p. 2). To help those with eating disorders, one must understand the causes, effects and treatments associated with the disorders. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating are three common eating disorders found in society today. “No one knows exactly what causes eating disorders. However, all socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural groups are at risk” (Matthews, 2001, p.3). Eating disorders are difficult to diagnose but can be deadly if left untreated.