Effects Of Anorexia Nervosa On Adolescents

Beauty standards in the media are one of many reasons feeding and eating disorders are a rising problem. The unrealistic body types of being extremely thin, in pop culture, are influential factors for many teens, especially teen girls. According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), anorexia nervosa is a “restriction of energy intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and a disturbance in the perception of one’s body size” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Individuals diagnosed with anorexia tend to place a high value on their shape and weight, which can interfere with their daily lives. Individuals diagnosed tend to view of their body shape in a distorted representation. The motivation to become

Anorexia nervosa, a medical condition defined by an abnormal or pronounced lack of appetite, has become a household recognized condition due to its prevalence and impact. Anorexia nervosa is a major eating disorder that disrupts everyday life, resulting in extreme thinness, hormonal imbalances, behavioral signs, and health issues that can lead to death. While the disease strikes across all gender, races, and classes, the victims affected are typically young, healthy, and attractive women of successful families. The average girl affected usually ages between thirteen and nineteen years old (Landau 3). This disorder has increased rapidly over the last ten years, becoming more common each year (Landau 2-3). Women faced with both a biological

In America, many teenagers are suffering with multiple eating disorders. Once they begin to monitor what to eat, they tend to perform many exercise routines followed by the lack of not eating, these situations should be alarming to the parent that something is not right. Thus, what can we do to resolve this situation among teens? Parents should first become informed towards the issue which their child is facing and take action immediately to save their child from the dangerous activities. It is important for them to realize that their child is in great danger once they begin to do any of these tasks. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are psychological problems which mostly affect teenagers and causes them to become conscious about their

Eating disorders are subjective to each individual’s personal experiences, with that said; there are common influences which may contribute to the disorder. The transition into adolescents can be a confusing time for the individual, both physically and mentally. As the adolescent’s body begins to rapidly change during puberty, this physical transformation can lower self-esteem and raise self-consciousness. Adding to this confusing time for the adolescent is pressure from society. Adolescents are exposed to various media outlets where the ideal body image is promoted and often times reflect a thin or smaller appearance. This exposure leads to the adolescent comparing their changing physically appearance to the standard set in the media.

When it comes to disturbances in a person’s diet or food intake where the person is afraid of eating and becoming overweight, it is hard not to feel spiteful towards the media (Spettigue & Henderson, 2004). Many researches have tried to figure out who are the individuals at risk towards the media’s messages. Eating disorders are psychological disorders that are distinguished by abnormal or disturbed eating habits. The most common types of eating disorders are anorexic nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating. Victims of such disorders are usually teenagers who are unhappy with their own body shapes or sizes, especially in females. With the constant evolution of technology, media now plays a huge role in advertising and it seems to be playing a huge role in placing importance on how ideal body shapes should be like.

As many as 10 million woman and girls suffer from anorexia or bulimia in the United States (Steele). Anorexia and bulimia are very serious eating disorders. Many women and young girls feel that these disorders are the only way for them to be accepted by others. However the strive for acceptance only ends up causing pain, emotional harm, or death to those affected. Being a sufferer of anorexia, I know the emotional and physical damage this disease can cause. The root cause of having an eating disorder is still undetermined, yet some doctors and physiologist believe the new focus on a perfect body, shown by the media is to blame. Society’s portrayal and promotion of a thin body image as the ideal female body contributes to eating

Anorexia nervosa is an illness which predominately attacks teenage girls or women in their early adult years. When they look into a mirror, they don’t see athin body; they see a revoltingly overweight body. Anorexia is a mental illness and must be treated. It is also a physical illness, an illness similar to starvation. Anorexic young women may feel dizzy and tired constantly, may lack emotional warmth, develop a gloomy personality, the everlasting symptoms of this bizarre suffering are never-ending. Though its symptoms are endless, but its cause? Veiled.Some claim that the media has a vigorous affluence on society, other prevail that it is down to free will of the

Eating disorders are complex illnesses that are affecting adolescents with increasing frequency [1]. They rank as the third most common chronic illness in adolescent females, with an incidence of up to 5% 1, 2 and 3. Three major subgroups are recognized: a restrictive form in which food intake is severely limited (anorexia nervosa); a bulimic form in which binge-eating episodes are followed by attempts to minimize the effects of overeating via vomiting, catharsis, exercise, or fasting (bulimia nervosa); and a third group in which all the criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa are not met. The latter group, often called “eating disorder not otherwise specified” or EDNOS, constitutes the majority of patients seen in referral centers treating adolescents [4]. Eating disorders are associated with serious biological, psychological, and sociological morbidity and significant mortality. Unique features of adolescents and the developmental process of adolescence are critical considerations in determining the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of eating disorders in this age group. This position statement represents a consensus from Adolescent Medicine specialists from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia regarding the diagnosis and management of eating disorders in adolescents. In keeping with the practice guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association [5] and the American Academy of Pediatrics [6], this statement integrates evidence-based medicine,

One perspective on eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa places the blame on society’s obsession with dieting and the pressure for thinness among women. A Gallup Poll showed that 31% of women and 21% of men are trying to lose weight (Wilke, 2014). Between 40%-60% of girls in elementary school are concerned with their weight (Smolak, 2011). Society’s image of the ideal women is an extremely thin form, really without shape. Barbie dolls and other toy models display unrealistic body shapes. “The standards for thinness have grown increasingly strict and have become more unrealistic over time” (Helgeson, 2017). The media normalizes dieting and excessive thinness and also encourages individuals to evaluate their bodies and to use extreme measures

Many people are not sure what it means to have or be around someone who has Anorexia Nervosa. Anorexia is one of the leading causes of death in young women, and a crippling mental illness that can potentially ruin a person’s life (Kranz and Maloney 8). About one in 250 girls has suffered with some type of eating disorder at a point in their lives. This disease is taking over the lives of many young women, and we need to help stop it.

Many of today’s adolescents are constantly worried about how they look and feel self-conscious or uncomfortable if they don’t feel that people like what they reflect. Unfortunately, for a number of kids and teens, that concern can lead to an obsession that can become an eating disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa cause dramatic weight fluctuation, interfere with normal daily life, and can permanently affect their health. Because these kids don’t feel comfortable with their bodies they try their hardest to not gain weight. A combination of psychological, genetic, social, and family factors are thought to be involved. Eating disorders can start with getting bullied and feeling self-conscious about yourself. You

An eating disorder does not have one main causative factor. There are many psychological, interpersonal, and social factors involved. Poor self-esteem, feelings of imperfection and depression contribute to the psychological factors. Interpersonal factors include problems with expressing emotions and feelings. Contributing social factors like media or peer pressure to be thin or have an unrealistic body image also add to this illness. Neumark-Sztainer reports, “Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives” (2005). This statistic shows alarming amounts of adolescents are affected by eating disorders. Awareness of this mental disorder is increasing, inducing American schools to address this specific illness among its students. Even though the disease is not recent, and dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, it is now explored to a much higher level than in the past. Researchers are finding that eating disorders not only affect the physical health of students, but also affect their daily lives and activities. It removes them from the usual social functions and disconnects them from their family and peers. This mental disorder weakens the student’s focus and concentration and impairs the adolescent’s ability to perform and achieve

Eating disorders are severe disturbances in eating behaviors, such as eating too little or eating too much. “Anorexia nervosa affects nearly one in 200 Americans in their lives (three-quarters of them female)” (Treating anorexia nervosa). Anorexia, when translated into Greek means “without appetite” which is not true for all suffering from anorexia most people with this disorder have not lost their appetite they simply have to ignore it. People with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight and have convinced themselves that they are overweight even if they are the opposite of overweight. Since the way that they view themselves is in a negative light they starve themselves and put their lives at risk. “In the most severe

Two of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and they have a prospective to effect on the person experiencing this disorder on lasting physical health, social, emotional, and cognitive development. These disorders can sometimes prove to be a great threat to life. Many adolescents are forced to postpone their schooling even as they search for treatment. Therefore this amplifies the likely harmful effects of their situation on their social and cognitive development. It is very much possible that with the passage of time the condition of eating disorder will aggravate and it will become more obvious and will ultimately affect their moods and physical health (Hoek & Hoeken, 2003). The imbalanced and inadequate diet affects the adolescent's brains and cognitive function

In the past two decades, the percentage of adolescents who are overweight has almost tripled, from 5 to 14 % (Neumark-Sztainer, Story, Hannan, Stat, & Rex, 2003). For many, this is an alarming statistic. Studies concerning eating disorders are showing more and more frequency in younger age groups and especially in those who are athletes, diabetics, and obese adolescents (Martin & Golden, 2014). Many studies have shed some light on the issue of eating disorders by conducting surveys and developing new programs to use in schools. The purpose of this paper is to propose more education and programs in schools to reduce and prevent the development of eating disorders.