...Anorexia and Bulimia Anorexia and bulimia are not just eating disorders, they are serious diseases that carry consequential side effects, and sometimes even death. Individuals who suffer from these eating disorders can see serious effects on their health, productivity, and relationships. These diseases are at times pushed off by family and friends because it is hard to detect the severity or signs of these diseases. The signs to these diseases can often imitate other conditions that are harmless, which makes it extremely important to know all the signs. Anorexia and bulimia affect one's health, both mentally and physically. A sign that someone's mental health is being affected by anorexia or bulimia is their social behavior. A quick change in friends or family members that a person usually associates with is a sign that social behavior is changing. This may be because he/she does not want others to see or catch onto his/hers eating habits. Another sign that someone's social behavior changing is isolating themselves in a room or home, and not having contact with others they would on a normal basis. About 50% of all anorexia and bulimia sufferers have a mental anxiety disorder, such as depression. People with depression and anorexia or bulimia, may suffer from moodiness, increased irritability, loss of interest in food or sex, being awake throughout the night, and fatigue. Physical health is probably the most distinguishable sign of an eating disorder. Anorexia sufferers...
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...obsessing over achieving an unrealistically perfect body. Of these eating disorders, the two that are most well-known are anorexia and bulimia. While these two disorders are often confused for one another due to the fact that they share certain qualities, it is important to understand that they are two very different illnesses with distinct symptoms and consequences. In particular, anorexia and bulimia differ in terms of eating habits, characteristic body type of sufferers, and health consequences. The main feature of any eating disorder is clearly having irregular eating habits; however individuals suffering from anorexia have extremely dissimilar eating habits from those who suffer from bulimia. Specifically, individuals with anorexia have a constant fear of gaining weight, and therefore have an intense fear of food. In fact, it is not uncommon for someone suffering from anorexia to completely cut food from their life, or at the very least, eat in extremely small portions. In order to hide the fact that they are limiting their consumption, many people with anorexia cut their food into small pieces and arrange their food in certain ways to give the impression that they are eating enough. In general, anorexics fall way below the recommended calorie intake for the average person of their age group and gender. On the other hand, people who suffer from bulimia do not have this same fear of food. In fact, bulimics actually have a bit of an obsession with food, consuming a large amount...
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...Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Today, both anorexia and bulimia are the most common eating disorders and affect almost 15 percent of American teenagers. Eating disorders are fifteen times more likely to occur in adolescent girls than adolescent boys. They can be fatal and thousands die from every year but this is one mental illness that can be beaten. Anorexia is increasing more rapidly in developed countries than in underdeveloped countries. Bulimia is becoming the more common type of eating disorder among teens. It is difficult to diagnose because many bulimics are deeply ashamed of their rituals and few share their problems with close friends. If these two eating disorders are becoming more and more widespread around the world and occurring in a certain age group, then there is a common chemical imbalance that leads to such behavior? If so, then how can these eating disorders be handled? The distinct factor that separates anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa is the binging-vomiting/purging cycle and the role it serves in the maintenance of body weight for the sufferer. Bulimics are usually within normal weight range while anorexics are extremely underweight. The difference between anorexic and bulimic people are that bulimics can spend all day planning their next binge, while anorexics can spend all day thinking about what they can’t eat at their next meal. When recovering from the eating disorder those with anorexia work at valuing the accomplishments they’ve made, while...
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...Anorexia and Bulimia Modern Western Culture is obsessed with and emphasizes thinness. As such, media often over exploits thin models and actors. In our culture success and worth are often equated with being thin. So many people of all ages are finding themselves fighting eating disorders because of this obsession with being thin. The top two eating disorders are anorexia and bulimia. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders (ANAD), there are approximately twenty-four million people suffering from an eating disorder. (anad.org) It is amazing how these disorders are psychological. While anorexia is not really about food; it is an unhealthy way to try and cope with emotional problems. When you have it you often equate thinness with self-worth, so they have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even if they are under weight. Or they may have an extreme drive for perfectionism, which means they may never think they're thin enough. Whereas with bulimia they are preoccupied with their weight and body shape, and judge their self severely and harshly for their self-perceived flaws. Because it's related to self-image — and not just about food. (Web) (Mayoclinic.org) or (Anad.org)...
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...SPH 131 D020 Informative Speech 15 September 2014 Anorexia and Bulimia Introduction: I. Opening: Maintaining a certain weight can be hard to do. But trying to gain it can be even harder. II. Thesis: Anorexia Nervosa is a lack or loss of appetite for food, or can be emotional by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. III. Preview: I’ll be telling you some details about anorexia, and comparing it to bulimia. A. What anorexia nervosa is B. Comparing it to bulimia C. Treatment for anorexia Body I. What is Anorexia Nervosa? A. It can either be a medical condition where loss of appetite is a symptom, or an eating disorder caused by the obsession to lose weight. B. Anorexia has no particular sex, age range, ethnic background, or social class, and there is no immunity to it. Somewhere around 10% of those who have anorexia die from the disorder. 1. 2. II. Comparing Anorexia to Bulimia A. Bulimia Nervosa is a disorder where there is high concern over body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, but in this case instead of refusing food, there is overeating which is followed by depression, vomiting, and fasting. It can also be where overeating happens in a small amount of time and is then followed by feelings of guilt or shame. B. As you can see: anorexia is refusing to eat as to where bulimia is overconsumption followed by regurgitation. 1. Anorexia is of Greek origin, the A being a prefix of negation...
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...SPH 131 D020 Informative Speech 15 September 2014 Anorexia and Bulimia Introduction: I. Opening: Maintaining a certain weight can be hard to do. But trying to gain it can be even harder. II. Thesis: Anorexia Nervosa is a lack or loss of appetite for food, or can be emotional by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. III. Preview: I’ll be telling you some details about anorexia, and comparing it to bulimia. A. What anorexia nervosa is B. Comparing it to bulimia C. Treatment for anorexia Body I. What is Anorexia Nervosa? A. It can either be a medical condition where loss of appetite is a symptom, or an eating disorder caused by the obsession to lose weight. B. Anorexia has no particular sex, age range, ethnic background, or social class, and there is no immunity to it. Somewhere around 10% of those who have anorexia die from the disorder. 1. 2. II. Comparing Anorexia to Bulimia A. Bulimia Nervosa is a disorder where there is high concern over body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, but in this case instead of refusing food, there is overeating which is followed by depression, vomiting, and fasting. It can also be where overeating happens in a small amount of time and is then followed by feelings of guilt or shame. B. As you can see: anorexia is refusing to eat as to where bulimia is overconsumption followed by regurgitation. 1. Anorexia is of Greek origin, the A being a prefix of negation...
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...Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa Comparison Essay Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are eating disorders that involve serious eating practice that are considered to be very dangerous and even fatal if not corrected. These disorders normally occur as a result failure to lose weight through regular dieting and a desperate desire to lose weight. It is believed that eating disorders are caused by a lack of confidence and satisfaction with one’s self-image and an abnormal desire to fit into the modern day profile of perfect body shape and size. Although they are two separate disorders they share many commonalities and differences. They both are believed to have biological, sociocultural and psychological implications that motivate or stimulate the development of eating disorders (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011). A maladaptive perception of body size and shape is evident in persons suffering from both anorexia and bulimia who believe that they weigh too much and are too fat or too heavy regardless of their actual weight or appearance (Shisslak, Crago, & Pazda, 1990). The major difference between the two disorders is the criteria established by DSM-IV-TR that defines each disorder; for example with anorexia nervosa, the patient refuses to maintain body weight at or above the minimally weight based on their age and height. They have an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though they are underweight. They are in denial of the seriousness of their low body weight...
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...Abstract The main purpose of this extended project dissertation is as following: to explore the causes of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, in particular the biological, psychological and societal causes. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common in today’s society and the causes of theses disorders are not completely known. This essay explores the symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the risks and consequences of suffering from such disorders. The essay also concentrates upon how eating disorders are gradually affecting more and more men and children – something that was not often seen before. The main focus of this project is to discover whether the causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa stem from pre-dispositions which are linked with the body and mind or rather stemmed from society. The main biological reasons which the essay focuses on are; damaged hypothalamuses and genetic hereditariness. The main environmental causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that I have studied are media influences and undesirable conditions for raising children. In writing this project I believe that I have developed valuable skills that I will need in my subjects which include; being able to extract key information from large pieces of text, researching, speedy note taking and the ability to weigh up two sides of an argument fairly and without bias. I am also aware that the skills I am developing while writing this dissertation...
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...described by someone else. When we saw the two pictures we could see that how we portray ourselves is different from how other people see us. Studies show that people can be so insecure that they will get several plastic surgeries and eventually become addicted. I read about one girl who’s a model and who got lots of plastic surgery done and started to get addicted, she was unhappy with the way she looked and to make things worst she was being used by her modelling agency and was made feel like she wasn’t good enough without plastic surgery. Some people see themselves as being fat as they are looking up to people in magazines who are ridiculously skinny that it’s almost unhealthy. This can cause eating disorders, for example anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is a lack or loss of appetite for food, where someone sees themselves as...
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...glamorous, beautiful, happy people who have perfect bodies. Anorexia is the third most common mental health disorder affecting teenagers, and close to half of the American population personally knows someone who is battling an eating disorder. Cases of eating disorders are on the rise and many blame the media for the increase. With eating disorders becoming so prevalent it is important to know the classifications, signs, and symptoms associated with this mental health disorder. Eating disorders can be classified into four categories Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (ED-NOS). Eating disorders are a serious issue that one should be knowledgeable about. Anorexia Nervosa is what many people think of when they hear about eating disorders. According to the DSM IV-TR anorexia nervosa is classified as “Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height, for example, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight, and disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.” Those who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa are often perfectionists. Those who suffer from...
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...of eating disorder symptoms have been shown to affect comorbidity. The DSM-IV should not be used by laypersons to diagnose themselves, even when used by professionals there has been considerable controversy over the diagnostic criteria used for various diagnoses, including eating disorders. There has been controversy over various editions of the DSM including the latest edition, DSM-V, due in May 2013. Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_disorder Bulimia: An eating disorder in which a person binges and purges. The person may eat a lot of food at once and then try to get rid of the food by vomiting, using laxatives, or sometimes over-exercising. People with bulimia are preoccupied with their weight and body image. Bulimia is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders. It shares some symptoms with anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder. Because many people with bulimia can maintain a normal weight, they may be able to keep their condition a secret for years. If not treated, bulimia can lead to nutritional...
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...Anorexia Nervosa is a severe eating disorder that mainly affects teenage girls, however, it can affect men and women of all ages. There are many factors that contribute to a girl becoming anorexic, including low self-esteem and depression. Common features of anorexia include weight loss and behavior changes. The weight loss is gradual and often starts with a “perfectly normal weight reducing diet.”(Rowan) Although the only person who can cure anorexia is the person that suffers from it, there are some treatment options available today. Many factors contribute to a girl becoming anorexic. A main one is an attempt to lose excess weight. Most anorexic girls do not have “excess weight” to lose, they only think they do. In fact, most often they are unhealthily thin. Oftentimes, the girl disregards the opinions of others and focuses on losing as much weight as she can. Attempts to make her stop are often met with hostility and even violence.(Rowan, Shelly) Another key factor that can lead to anorexia is depression. This can be associated with stress/pressure at school, home, or in relationships. Usually, an anorexic teenage girl comes from a family where the pressure to succeed is great. This leads to constant anxiety over big tests such as finals and S.A.T./A.C.T. exams. Because the girl has so much anxiety, problems in relationships often arise. If she has a boyfriend, he tends to feel neglected because the girl is constantly worried about her academics.(Rowan, Shelly) A...
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...BULIMIA Definition: Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise or misuse of laxatives, to prevent weight gain. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists the following diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa: * Recurrent episodes of binge eating (characterized by eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than most would eat in that period of time and/or in that situation, combined with a sense of lack of control of eating during the episode) * Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; use of laxatives diuretics, enemas or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise * The binge eating and compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for three months * Self-evaluation is highly influenced by body shape and weight. * There are two subtypes of bulimia nervosa: purging and nonpurging types. A person with bulimia nervosa, purging type, regularly engages in self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives, diuretics or enemas. A person with bulimia nervosa, non-purging type, does not engage in purging behaviors (and instead uses other compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise). Source: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition...
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...Phoenix Axia College BEH 225 February 27, 2011 Abstract Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits, which may be excessive or insufficient food intake (Wikipedia, 2011). Diagnosing Eating Disorders The disorder that I have chosen to write about is Eating Disorders. There are many disorders within this category that include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. According to eating disorders the symptoms for diagnosing eating disorders are obsessed with food, body image and weight loss (Healthline, 2011). They may have severely limited food choices, bizarre eating rituals, excessively drink fluids and chew gum, avoid eating with other people, loss of interest in sex, low blood pressure, depressed body temperature, unexplained vomiting, and hair growth of the body or face (Healthline, 2011). Treating Eating Disorders There are numerous treatment options that are used for treating this disorder. Through research, it was found that the best ways to treat eating disorders are through therapy and counseling. Therapy is crucial to treating anorexia and bulimia. A therapist can address any feelings of shame and isolation caused by the eating disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common therapy for eating disorders because it educated about nutrition, healthy weight management, and relaxation techniques (Help Guide, 2011). Nutritional counseling is important to help the person incorporate healthy eating behaviors into their...
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...body images promote dangerous eating disorders; therefore, photographers and magazine editors should not be able to photoshop pictures of women. To start out, anorexia nervosa is one of the two most common eating disorders. Anorexia is a disorder that makes one scared to gain weight, therefore, they starve themselves and go to an extreme with dieting and exercising. In fact, they are almost always hungry and thinking about food, even as the disorder impels them to deny their bodies the fuel needed to function properly. (Walsh, Cameron 62,63) It starts out as a diet, but because they have a fear of gaining weight the diet can spiral out of control. They may be bone thin but they can continue to eliminate more and more food, over time or they will eat very little or nothing at all. (Fanning n. pag.) In addition, bulimia is the second most common. Bulimia is a disorder in which one will eat an excessive amount of food, and then to get rid of the calories they purge or use laxatives to prevent weight gain. Even though both eating disorders are harmful, doctors say bulimia is the more dangerous one because it is not as noticeable. (Klein 27, 28) Bulimics often try to have their weight at an unhealthy number, because their mind is telling them they are fat, when they are not even close. Some health effects of anorexia and...
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