...Unlike Any Other Disease: Anorexia “I really gotta start losing weight before spring break,” a 15 year old from Long Island wrote in her blog on Xanga.com, a social networking site. “Basically today I went 24 hours without food and then I ate green beans and a little baked ziti. Frankly I’m proud of myself, not to mention the 100 sit-ups on the yoga ball and the 100 I’ll do before sleep. Yay for me.” (Williams 2). Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually occurs in teenage girls, but it can also happen to teenaged boys and adult men and women. People with anorexia nervosa are obsessed with the thought of being and remaining thin. They lose a lot of weight and are terrified of gaining it back. Anorexia nervosa isn’t just a problem with food or weight; it’s an attempt to deal with emotional problems (Siegel 1). To completely understand and comprehend this horrific disease, you must consider the media that includes pro-anorexia websites that include negative support for suffering anorexics, celebrities in Hollywood, and teenager’s peers. Background information and the effects are also vital to the cause of this disease. If we look into any teenager’s experiences throughout middle school and right through high school there are all sorts of negative pressures: to drink, smoke, use drugs. But one of the least visible one of them is all is unforgiving demands to be thin and appear as the famous stars to in Hollywood. Teenager’s peers may put pressure on the so called ‘friends’...
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...Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa Sandra Quick Dr. Kathleen Dunley, Ph.D University of Phoenix I remember the day as if it were yesterday. My Mom and I were in a room designated for the bride and her wedding party to dress for the wedding. My Mom had tears streaming down her face, tears of joy I assumed. I was wrong; she was crying because I was 28 years old, weighed only 92 pounds and was suffering from a serious disease called Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Every day since that day in June, I struggle to prevent relapse. AN is a serious disease that effects primarily American woman usually around age14. By focusing on why an individual is affected by AN, what treatment is available, and the large number of those that relapse, this essay will show why so many people do not seek treatment, additional research is needed and so many individuals relapse. Eating disorders are not followed by the Federal Government; therefore, no statistics show if there is an increase or if simply more patients are diagnosed. “It’s a national disgrace that we still don’t have published data on how many people have an eating disorder.” (Monroe-Striegel, 2006, p. 123), who heads the psychology department at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, Ninety percent of American adults are aware of at least one eating disorder. According to the Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, teachers from elementary and middle schools report that...
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...Anorexia Nervosa Name Institution Professor Course Date Anorexia Nervosa One of the most common eating disorders in the world is anorexia nervosa. A patient who suffers from anorexia nervosa loses at least fifteen percent of the normal minimum weight. Anorexia nervosa incidences are increasing these days with many cases recorded for the past few decades. In every 100,000 persons, there are between eight to thirteen cases of people suffering from anorexia disorders. For instance, statistics show that nearly seven thousand people in Hong Kong suffer from anorexia nervosa. Moreover, anorexia nervosa is more prevalent among girls under adolescent between the ages of 15 to 20 years of age who are a high risk. Moreover, more than 95% of people suffering from anorexia nervosa are females. Anorexia nervosa, and according to research it normally starts affecting adolescent girls from the age young age of around 13 years all through their entire life up to around 20 years of age. As a result, this essay will target the cases of the adolescent girls between 15 to 20 years of age as they have higher risk or have the problem already. Individuals experiencing eating disorder at times find it difficult to differentiate between what is either normal or abnormal. Anorexia nervosa has many behaviors and thoughts among them body image distortion, inability of maintaining healthy body weights, eating habits that are scarce and fear of eating...
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...Anorexia Nervosa “Four out of ten individuals have either personally experienced an eating disorder or know someone who has.”(ANAD) One of the most common eating disorders is anorexia nervosa, or most simply known as anorexia. Anorexia and bulimia often get confused with one another. Anorexia involves starvation, while bulimia involves purging. Anorexia is an eating disorder defined by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight. Anorexia is not about food. It is more of a way to deal with emotional issues. Thinness is often correlated with self-worth. Those who have anorexia are usually athletes, models, or other figures where body image is huge. “Eating disorders are a daily struggle for 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States.”(ANAD) Women are much more likely than men to develop eating disorders. Women are also more likely to develop anorexia than men. Anorexia has a mortality rate of 4%. When developing an eating disorder there are risk factors. I have named one already, being female. But genetics and family history also play a role in developing anorexia. Having certain genes or having a direct relative with anorexia can make people more susceptible in becoming anorexic. Being young is one of the main risk factors as well. Just like with every other disease there are symptoms, both physical and emotional. Some physical symptoms are the obvious extreme weight loss and thin appearance, dizziness...
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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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...ANOREXIA NERVOSA Anorexia Nervosa: A Dangerous Eating Disorder Juliane W Heck Edison State College Anorexia Nervosa: A Dangerous Eating Disorder Introduction In a society where looking good is a synonym of “being slim”, runway models become role models for millions of thousands of teens worldwide. The pressure for being thin and looking good is everywhere around us: from magazine models to movies stars, the subliminal message is always present and has a great impact on the youth’s lives nowadays. The world’s pressure on these young people can become extremely dangerous when the obsession with their bodies gets out of control. Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common life-threatening eating disorders among young people and is defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight within 15 percent of an individual's normal weight through self-starvation (http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=102975/ Nami, 2010, para.1). Anorexia Nervosa may lead to serious health problems and potential death. Fortunately, with help from professionals, therapy, family & friends, this serious eating disorder can be treated and cured, and the patient can return to live a healthy and normal life. Who does it Anorexia Nervosa affect and why? Eating disorders are found nearly exclusively in Western or Westernized...
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...Recommended Reading - Annotated Bibliography Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge-Eating 3 Anorexia Nervosa: A Guide to Recovery 3 Beating Ana: How to Outsmart your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back 3 Beginner’s Guide to Eating Disorders Recovery 3 *Biting the Hand That Starves You 4 *Bulimia: A Guide to Recovery 4 Eating Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, 3rd Ed. 4 Eating Disorders: Journey to Recovery Workbook 4 *Desperately Seeking Self: An Inner Guidebook For People With Eating Problems 5 *Life without ED: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too 5 Overcoming Overeating 6 *Overcoming Binge Eating 6 *The Anorexia Workbook: How To Accept Yourself, Heal Your Suffering, And Reclaim Your Life 6 *The Overcoming Bulimia Workbook 7 *Skinny Boy: A Young Man’s Battle and Triumph Over Anorexia 7 When Dieting Becomes Dangerous: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Anorexia and Bulimia……………7 Body Image and Self-Esteem 8 *Body Image Workbook: An 8-step Program For Learning To Like Your Looks (2nd Ed.) 8 *Body Love: Learning to Like Our Looks and Ourselves 8 *Feeling Good About the Way You Look………………………..……………………………..8 Girls Rock: Wise Teens Offer Tweens and Moms Advice on Healthy Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Personal Empowerment.9 Life Doesn’t Begin Five Pounds From Now 9 Love your Body: Change the Way You Feel about the Body You Have 9 *Self...
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...Introduction I want to thank you and congratulate you for downloading the book, “The Most Efficient and Permanent Cure to Finally Become Anorexia Free Forever”. This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to identify, and help people overcome anorexia nervosa. The book tackles anorexia nervosa itself, its causes and risk factors, how anorexia can affect its victim’s bodily functions and lifestyles, available treatments, and different tips to help people with anorexia. Thanks again for downloading this book, I hope you enjoy it! Chapter 1: What is Anorexia? There is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve a better figure and do what we see fit to gain our goals. While it is only human to wish for a smaller figure and do what...
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...can lead to many health issues and possibly death. Eating disorders are hard to avoid and harder to overcome, for some people it seems impossible, its a way of life not a choice (source 1). According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., without treatment, up to 20% of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, 2 – 3% of people with anorexia die. Statistics on anorexia show that mortality rates from anorexia are the highest of any psychological disorder. Anorexia statistics show that with treatment, only 60% make a full recovery. About 20% make a partial recovery, meaning that they may be able to hold a job and maintain some superficial relationships but remain very focused on food and weight. They may continue to abuse laxatives or diet pills. They remain underweight. The final 20% stay dangerously underweight. They are seen frequently in emergency rooms, mental health clinics, inpatient hospital units, and eating disorder treatment programs. Statistics on anorexia show that between 1 – 5% of all female adolescents and young women are anorexic. Statistics on anorexia are not favorable as far as treatment goes. Only about 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment. Remember, anorexia statistics show that 20% of people with anorexia who do not get treatment will die. About 80% of those who do get treatment don’t get enough of it; they receive some impatient care, but are sent home before the recommended length of stay is up....
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...Psych Disorder Paper February 10, 2015 Anorexia Nervosa What is Anorexia Nervosa? Anorexia Nervosa is an Eating Disorder where the sufferer has a fear of any weight gain. Anorexia in extreme cases can be deadly due to the sufferer losing too much weight and not getting the right Vitamins and Nutrients. Anorexia if left untreated can most certainly result in death or irreversible health issues such as osteoporosis. This potentially deadly eating disorder is characterized by self starvation and excessive weight loss. Individuals are diagnosed when they are at least 15% or lower their normal healthy body weight (Goldberg 2014). The term Anorexia literally means "loss of appetite". This definition is very misleading. It's not that Anorexics lose their appetite it's that they may be hungry but refuse food. Persons with Anorexia may eat in secret or have strict rituals that pertain to eating and or food preparation. Individuals often times perceive themselves as fat even when they are extremely underweight. They have intense fears of becoming fat even if they are quite skinny. The sufferers see themselves as fat and see this as a "flaw" they try to correct it by cutting way down on their food intake and excessively exercising sometimes even in secret (WebMD). Anorexia is recognizable by the plain view of bones underneath the skin almost as if the bones are trying to break out of the individuals skin. Other common symptoms of Anorexia include; social withdrawal, rapid weight loss...
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...Week 8 Assignment Marc McDougal Chapter 15 - #1 Anxiety disorders are a class of disorders marked by feelings of excessive apprehension and anxiety. Studies suggest that anxiety disorders are quite common, and affect roughly 19% of the population. For this assignment I am focusing on a subject with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder involves enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event. My subject is now 38, and lived in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina ravished through the south. His symptoms include re-experiencing the event in the form of nightmares, emotional numbing, alienation, anxiety, anger, and guilt. Research suggests that about 7% of the population has suffered from PTSD at some point in their life, and that prevalence is twice as high among women.¹ The etiology of PTSD, like most psychological disorders, develops out of complicated interactions among a variety of biological and psychological factors. In this case, my subject had witnessed many people die, lose their homes, and devastate his city of New Orleans. There are many factors that play into the role of PTSD; I’ll briefly cover each of them. * Biological factors: In studies that assess the impact of heredity on psychological disorders, investigators look at concordance rates. A concordance rate indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same...
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...Anorexia in Adolescence Felicia N. Hill Columbus Technical College Author Note This paper was prepared for Introductory Psychology 1101 taught by Professor Cyrus. Abstract Bizarre, devastating, and baffling are three words that describe the anorexia nervosa disease. By definition, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a normal-weight person diets and becomes significantly underweight, yet, still feeling fat, continue to starve themselves. People with this disorder are suppressing a strong desire to eat, because they are afraid of becoming fat. Anorexia is characterized by extreme starvation that leads to a disastrous loss of weight. Anorexia nervosa affects a large number of people today in the world, and does not discriminate against anybody. This research paper shows how dangerous and life-threatening anorexia is on adolescence, as well as, how self-image, family issues, and the media influence anorexia. Anorexia in Adolescence Adolescence is a chaotic time in the life of a growing teenager in which he or she experiences many physical as well as emotional changes. Not knowing where they stand in the world yet and trying to figure themselves out, adolescents may fall subject to influences and become victims of such horrible things as eating disorders. During adolescence a major importance in life is to be accepted and to fit in somewhere which brings about the issue of eating disorders. In order for them to be accepted and feel as if they are able to...
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...Anorexia Nervosa-intro? Anorexia Nervosa is considered a psychiatric illness characterized by disturbed eating patterns and severe loss of weight with potentially serious medical complications (DSM 4, 2000; Halmi, 2005; Mehler, 2001). It is the third most common chronic illness among females in the United States, with a mortality rate that is 12 times higher than all other causes of death for females between 15 – 24 years old (cite). What usually begins as a relatively benign attempt to lose weight can turn into a life threatening disease with a persistent scope that profoundly affects the individual, the family, and society (Anorexia book). Research has shown that anorexia usually begins during late adolescence following a reduction in caloric intake due to voluntary dieting, stress, illness, or other precipitating cause (Cite). Onset is rare in individuals over 40 years old. The course is varied; some individuals have a single episode, and others experience a long-term disease process with an increased likelihood of multiple relapses and remissions (cite). Up to 16% of patients meet the criteria for anorexia but often not until approximately a decade after their initial symptoms. Prognosis is poor for patients with long-term illnesses; treatment is much more effective if initiated early in the course of the disease (cite). Approximately 20% of people with anorexia will die from complications such as heart complications, lack of nutritional needs, and suicide (cite). ...
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...1. List and explain the most common eating disorders affecting adolescents and emerging adults and why? According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, Inc., (“ANAD”), there are three recognized eating disorders: • Anorexia nervosa: a person with anorexia nervosa typically has a fear of gaining weight or becoming fat so the person restricts calories by only eating specific foods or skipping frequent meals. • Bulimia nervosa: a person with bulimia may also be afraid of becoming fat or gaining weight. This disorder is characterized by binging (eating large amounts of food) and then making themselves vomit, exercise excessively, or use laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills to purge calories. • Binge eating disorder: eating large amounts of food rapidly (even to feeling uncomfortable or sick) frequently and when the person feels that they cannot stop or control what or how much they are eating. • ED-NOS: Some other resources also include a fourth disorder, ED-NOS (Eating Disorders not otherwise specified). This disorder is characterized by having traits of other disorders. For example, a person may have periods of time where they restrict their eating and then binge. These disorders can begin for people for numerous reasons, including self esteem, psychological issues (coping skills, trauma, personality factors, family issues), social pressures, and genetics. • Psychological issues: ANAD documents that research...
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...Jennifer Salinas Nov.16, 2011 Anorexia Professional Development They say beauty is the quality of a person, that it’s not what you look like or where you come from that matters, what matters and makes a person beautiful is who you are, and that defines the grace in a person, if only it were true. Many people suffer with the pressures of their physical appearance. People, especially women fear the judgment of others and let the media set the ideal look that is accepted into our society. This is where the eating disorders such as anorexia manifest. Anorexia Nervosa is a eating disorder that is life-threating. Elements of this disorder involve of a great and intense fear of gaining weight, a body that is 15 percent lower than a normal person’s body, and most of all refuse to except they have a serious illness. People with anorexia keep an extreme low body weight using different methods such as over exercising, eating very limited portions of food, overuse of laxatives, or starvation. Someone with anorexia eat less than 1,000 calories a day. The diet of an anorexic person includes low calorie foods such as carrots, celery, or lettuce, most of the time eating meat is eliminate from there diet. This disorder usually is more common in women than in males. About 90 percent who develop it are women. It tends to develop in the teen years of girls and in young women. People who are dancers, models, actors, and athletes are the most at risk for developing this disorder...
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