The Role Of Eating Disorders In Children

Many people are unaware of the background of eating disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and they usually develop in childhood before the age of 20 (Ross-Flanigan 1). Women as well as men can develop an eating disorder; it is just more likely for a woman to develop one. Eating disorders are usually developed in adolescent or childhood years when a person is influenced the most. Also “Eating disorders are psychological conditions that involve overeating, voluntary starvation, or both. Anorexia nervosa, anorexic bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known types of eating disorders” (Ross-Flanigan 1). Many people assume that an eating disorder is when a person staves themselves; they do not realize that it can involve overeating as well. Some eating disorders also involve purging, but not all. People with an eating disorder fear gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. They do not lack an appetite (Ross-Flanigan 1). These people are

Topic: What is causing young adults and teens to develop eating disorders and how can we help them?

In the past few decades researchers have focused on eating disorders, the causes of these disorders and how they can be treated. However, it has mainly been in the last decade that researchers have started looking at eating disorders in children, the reasons why these disorders are developing at such a young age, and the best recovery program for these young people. To understand this growing problem it is necessary to ask a few important questions:

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.

Many children and adolescents not only express dissatisfaction with their figure, shape and weight, but also exhibit disordered eating behavior, such as binge eating (eating a large amount of food with a sense of lack of control), food restriction, laxative abuse and vomiting. For children and adolescents, eating disorders can overlap in many instances. As an example, some children alternate between periods of anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood. However, research has shown that they can start in childhood, too. Females are much more vulnerable. Only an estimated 5% to 15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. With binge eating, the number rises to 35%

In my research, I explored the world of eating disorders. I wanted to see if there was anything specifically encouraging eating disorders and if there was a way to stop it. Eating disorders affect the community greatly because often times, they go unchecked or unrecognized. As a recovered anorexic, I feel it’s very important to address this issue. It’s a very big problem that is often not addressed at all, or is seen as normal, like counting calories. I hoped to find a way to improve the way that eating disorders are viewed and explain to people about what defines an eating disorder, because many people will never know if it is not explicitly explained to them. My study’s purpose is to bring light into the dark world of eating disorders

A combination of genetic, physical, social, and psychological factors may contribute to the development of an eating disorder, such as Anorexia. Anorexia is an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. Eating disorders effect ten million females and one million males in the United States. Also 0.3 percent of the eating disorders occur in teenage children.

The media’s false portrayal of body image has a great influence on the development of eating disorders. There are three types of eating disorders; anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating. Eating disorders are major issues in today’s society. Instead of people using the media to influence good eating habits, they use it to influence bad eating habits. The numbers of people who have an eating disorder are rising at an alarming rate. It affects not only women, but also men, teens, and young children of all ages. It is not surprising that the number of young children who have an eating disorder is increasing each year. This is an issue that people do not take seriously. The media gets the attention to continue to

Young girls are more easily attained to anorexia and said to be more influenced by an obsession of appearance and thinness. Due to fashion icons, friends and self esteem. Young boys who engage in sports where weight is a main concern and has limits, also may be compelled to restrict food intake to make “the weight.” Eating disorders are a series of emotional and physical addictions. They show conditions of food obsession, weight appearance to where it affects their job, daily routine and relationships. Causes can be mood swings, physical, and mental problems. Aswell, as death(eatingdisorderfoundation,n,p) Eating disorders has affected about 10 million females in the U.S of all ages(eatingdisorderfoundation,n,p). Whether a person restricts food intake, binges, abuses laxatives, excessively exercises or overeats, they often develop a dangerous impulsive and self destructive behavior that leads to psychological damage. THe Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published results proving that children under 12 years of age with an eating disorder doubled between 1999 and now. It is an obvious yeary growing issue that must be

The purpose of this study (Vaughan & Fotus, 2003) was to assess the relationship between girl’s media exposure and their development of eating disorder symptomatology. This study consisted of two phases conducted within a gap of 16 months. The original number of recruits were 479 female students from nine elementary and middle schools but due to certain factors such as relocation and incomplete data only 374 students with a mean age of 12 participated in this exam. They were of European (88%) and Asian (12%) ancestry with no known eating disorder.

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,

Our curriculum is largely responsible for triggering and facilitating eating disorders among teenagers. Teachers don’t notice, or don’t care, when students show signs of an eating disorder- this allows it to progress even further. Teachers talk about eating disorders like they’re hush-hush, or avoid the subject all together. When taught about eating disorders in health class, it can trigger eating disorders within students.

Different eating disorders cause different effects. A person suffering from bulimia has a normal body weight, yet it can fluctuate about by more than 10 pounds. They might also have sore/inflamed throats, worm tooth enamel, acid reflux disorder and severe dehydration. Anorexia victims lose at least 15%-60% of body weight. Also it can cause osteoporosis, lanugos, muscle weakness, blood pressure, damage to structure/function of the heart, multiorgan failure and infertility. Someone who suffers from binge eating is likely to gain weight. They also are prone to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain types of cancer. These victims tend to also suffer from an anxiety or personality disorder or depression. People with EDNOS care subject

Not only friends and family, but 11% of high school students have shown to be diagnosed with an eating disorder (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders). Based on my research, there aren’t enough treatments and also there should be more ways to detect if someone may have an eating disorder. Preventing eating disorders is also very important. Giving children good eating habits at a young age can help prevent future diagnoses of an eating disorder.

Though eating disorders are more commonly associated with girls and women it does still happen to some boys and men. Studies show that “50% of teenage girls and 30% of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives to control their weight.” (“Statistics on Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia,