...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...
Words: 946 - Pages: 4
...ANOREXIA NERVERSO Eating disorders involve serious maladaptive disturbances in a persons’ eating behavior and patterns. These disturbances can include extreme reduction of food intake, severe bouts of overeating or the obsessive concerns about body shape or weight. The arrival of puberty is accompanied by ne w health issues relating to the young person striving to meet physical and psychological needs. Girls who reach puberty early, who are not with their body image, and who grow up in homes where concern with weight and thinness is high are at risk for serious eating problems. Severe dieting is the strongest predictor of the onset of an eating disorder in adolescence. One of the most serious eating disorders I will discuss in this paper is anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is a tragic eating disturbance in which young people starve themselves because there is compulsive fear of getting fat. There are four key features which define anorexia nervosa. First, the person refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight. With a body weight that is 15 percent or more below normal. In their attempt to reach “perfect” slimness severe anorexics loose 25-50 percent of their body weight. Second, despite being dangerously underweight, the person with anorexia is intensely afraid of gaining weight or becoming fat. Most go on self-imposed diets so strict that they struggle to avoid eating in response to hunger. To enhance weight loss, they exercise strenuously. Third is the distorted...
Words: 723 - Pages: 3
...audience about Anorexia Nervosa. Thesis Statement: Just a glance at all the horrifying aspects of Anorexia Nervosa and how it affects the mind and body. I. Introduction: A. Attention Getter: In this world there are 10 to 30 million Americans who are challenged everyday with an eating disorder (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner, P 288) B. Thesis Statement: Just a glance at all the horrifying aspects of Anorexia Nervosa and how it affects the mind and body. C. Credibility Statement: Ever since I was thirteen years old, I have had this image engraved into my mind. The perfect body type. Something I didn’t ever really have. But once of my friends took the “perfect image” to the next level, that’s when I decided to educate myself on Anorexia Nervosa. D. Importance of Topic: Unfortunately, we live in a world where if you are built “big boned” you’re ugly, if you are too skinny, you’re ugly, if you have a certain hair color, you’re ugly, and if you have acne, you’re ugly. But if you’re blonde, you’re beautiful, if you are tan, you’re beautiful, and if you are from California, you’re beautiful. In this world there is no winning unless you are Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, or Scarlett Johansson. E. Preview: The main points that I’ll be covering will give a better understanding on what leads people to become anorexic, how it effects the mind and body, and other simple signs that occur when someone is dealing with being anorexic. Transition: Anorexia is the disease...
Words: 1014 - Pages: 5
...Should Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa Have the Right to Refuse Life-Sustaining Treatment? Psych 515 March 25, 2013 Should Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa Have the Right to Refuse Life-Sustaining Treatment? There is a longstanding debate over whether treating an individual against the persons will is ethical or not. In cases of suicide most people agree that treatment with or without the person’s consent is preferable. In the case of anorexia nervosa, however, there is debate over if the person is competent enough to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment. This paper will process two differing views on the right to refuse life-sustaining treatment, one for and one against the use. The paper will cover the facts as well as opinions presented by both sides and the strengths, weaknesses, and how credible both sides were in the argument. Finally, the paper will select which side the author agrees with more as well as which side contemporary research supports. Facts and Opinions On one side of the argument is Heather Draper who believes that individuals with anorexia nervosa should be allowed to refuse life-sustaining treatment. According to Harper professionals should respect the individual’s right to refuse treatment, especially when the individual’s refusal is grounded in arguments about the quality of life and the burden of therapy (Halgin, 2009). Harper continues the argument with questions regarding the effectiveness of force feeding an individual, which...
Words: 1366 - Pages: 6
...The Control Paradox: Understanding and Working with Anorexia and Bulimia Catrina Brown, M.A., M.S.W. Anorexia and bulimia are metaphors of women’s psychological distress in the face of contradictory social expectations. Women now experience uncertainty in their social roles, with conflicting pressures to be successful in their careers and as wives and mothers. In order to feel good enough, women often feel they must be “superwoman.” In spite of changes in their social roles, women are still pressured to attain the social ideals of physical beauty. In an uncertain environment a woman with a shaky sense of self can at least hope to gain approval by being thin. Today, preoccupation with weight reflects a need to focus on the body for a tangible source of self-esteem and sense of control. Controlling the body has become a precarious substitute for real control in women’s lives. While giving voice to women’s protests, anorexia and bulimia fail to change the actual circumstances to deal with conflict. As such, anorexia and bulimia are veiled protests, ones that most often go unheard. Susie Orbach has said, “Women speak with their bodies”1. For many women the body is the arena to express dissatisfaction and unhappiness. It is the site of their struggles. Instead of transforming their real lives, their real problems, women attempt to transform their bodies. Women are promised success, happiness and control through attaining the ideal thin body. While many women feel more in control...
Words: 2017 - Pages: 9
...COMPARE/CONTRRAST FINAL DRAFT ID 3042422866 Anorexia and Bulimia. There is a strong threat to the health of people, mostly these diseases attack chiefly to young people between 15 and 26 years. Anorexia and bulimia are two eating disorders that are increasingly common in our society; the media have the greatest influence on the decisions of individuals, as well as selling the ideal image of a woman very thin and greatly lowering the self-esteem of young people who see it every day. It is true can have similar consequences but characteristics of each are completely opposite, are diseases that occur primarily in females but also men can suffer it. This document will look for the comparison of the two diseases "anorexia and bulimia" comparing the causes, consequences, characteristics and consequences of both. Currently there is no specific cause which can be attributed either eating disorders, there are many factors that influence each of the diseases some are social and cultural. For bulimia, are the main causes such as dysfunctional families, where the family has never paid adequate attention to the person, and they have a low self-esteem. However, the main reason anorexia is social pressure, the pressure that fashion imposes adolescence to sell as role models really thin women. Women who make others think that this is the perfect body the common 90-60-90 all want to have, but yet cannot all do and that leads them to want to lose weight in any way, drifting the wrong way...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...Anorexia is an eating disorder that restricts or limits the amount of food people eat (Eating Disorder). In 1873, Charles Lasegue saw the first signs of anorexia. He saw that it affected people between the ages of 15 to 20 years old (Brumberg). Most anorexics are young women. One in every 200 American women have anorexia and only about 10% of men suffer from the disease (Eating Disorders). In 1980, anorexia was classified as a psychiatric disorder. Since then it is still becoming a growing problem. The number of anorexia cases has doubled since 1970. Anorexia is not having an impact on one particular race or social group. It is having an impact on people of all social groups and ethnic backgrounds (Anorexia Nervosa). However, there are 10 million women and 1 million men that have anorexia, the majority of them being white people (Bennett). Researchers do not know exactly what the causes are of anorexia, or other eating disorders for that matter. They say eating disorders can be caused by many things such as: biological, psychological, social, cultural and even family factors (Gowan). For many of the sufferers, anorexia becomes almost like a religion. People feel this way because, they have power over themselves. They control what they can eat and they feel in power when they do this (Bennett). A story I found off of ebsco, (academic resource website) was a girl who dreamed of being a ballerina. She saw many dancers who were thin and good at dancing and that’s...
Words: 2650 - Pages: 11
...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...
Words: 1696 - Pages: 7
...Eating disorders in America are increasing day by day. More so, the number of children, especially teenagers, with eating disorders is on the rise. As of today, anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. It has been found that 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25. (Lewis) The fact that eating disorders are becoming more common could be related to the fact that much pressure from media and peers is being exerted to have an ideal slim body. Issues of acceptance, success, recognition and personal worth are also being associated with the more lean body that society promotes. As a result, many teenagers are victims to eating disorders and with this disease comes sadness, frustration, fear, depression and loneliness (Bardnick) This highlights the need for action to be taken in addressing eating disorders and preventing them from occurring. The relationship of social work with anorexia on the rise is very significant. Schools are the number one place where teens feel the need to fit in and with a social worker being able to communicate with students about anything is extremely beneficial to most. The main approach of social workers in schools has been to counsel the child with their problems and to inform the family of the situation taking place (Morales, Sheafor, Scott 109). In order for the previous step to happen and to enable social workers to do their job, teachers need to make referrals when evident problems are...
Words: 862 - Pages: 4
...Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa is a widespread disease that many men and women are dealing with in their lives. It has affected an increasingly large number of people, especially young women. Categorized as a psychological disorder, many people assume that weight must be controlled in order to feel accepted in society. How is this disorder gaining popularity with its life-threating consequences and severe side effects? Is there any real way to fix Anorexia or will it always be part of a vicious cycle in today’s society? Anorexia Nervosa is a type of eating disorder that affects approximately 95% of teenage females (medicinenet.com). People who have anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight, therefore, limiting the amount of food they eat (webmed.com). It is a way of using food or starving oneself to feel more in control of their life and to ease tension, anger, and anxiety (womenshealth.gov). A person with anorexia often begins dieting to lose weight. Over time the weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control (medicinenet.com). The individual continues the ongoing cycle of restrictive eating, accompanied by excessive exercising or the overuse of diet pills to induce loss of appetite, or diuretics, or laxatives in order to reduce body weight, often to the point close to starvation in order to feel a sense of control over her body (medicinenet.com). Anorexics lives become focused on controlling their weight (womenshealth.gov). There is no single known cause of...
Words: 1068 - Pages: 5
...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). ...
Words: 1562 - Pages: 7
...ALMERIA, NINA CATHY LOUISE HRM I I. Topic: Anorexia Nervosa II. Purpose: To inform the audience about anorexia nervosa III. Introduction Eating- most people do not give this a second thought. To many it comes as naturally as breathing, but for others however eating is the source of a severe psychological disorder known as Anorexia Nervosa. According to The Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, Anorexia Nervosa is a disorder typified by self-starvation. It occurs most commonly among adolescent females but is also observed in older women and men. Girls affected with this disorder have a pathological fear of being fat. The disorder may appear when a young woman leaves home, or it may develop connection with mental depression, peer pressure, or sexual temptation. The patient stops menstruating and simply refuses to eat. She/he may lose weight to the point of life threatening exhaustion. The patient remains physically active and believes she is much fatter than she actually is. The whole body and mind suffers. The medical effects are numerous and can very well lead to death. Anorexics suffer from constipation, dry skin, and bodily soreness. The heart may no longer work to its capacity. Also the blood pressure falls to abnormally low levels. There are also psychological consequences such as social withdrawal and sleeping problems. About half of all anorexic patients recover permanently. About 10% die of self starvation and the rest have repeated relapses. For most...
Words: 369 - Pages: 2
...According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, there are over 24 Million people that suffer from eating disorders. What is an eating disorder though? The simple definition of this disease is that a person exhibits abnormal eating behaviors. There are many different variations to these disorders but they share many of the same characteristics such as: fear of becoming obese, obsession with thinness, food, weight, and even calorie counting. Of the many cases though what is the main cause of this disease? Can it be psychological, an environmental, or a biological factor? In this paper I will explore some of the reasons why people develop eating disorders and how it all factors into a person’s everyday life. The two main eating disorders that I will be looking at is anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa, a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The four main symptoms are intense fear of weight gain, the struggle to maintain body weight, loss of menstrual periods, and the feeling of feeling “fat”. With developing Anorexia Nervosa, the body is denied the fundamental nutrients it needs to function properly. Therefore, it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. By slowing down the body, it can cause serious medical consequences like an unnaturally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, osteoporosis, muscle loss and weakness...
Words: 1466 - Pages: 6
...What is anorexia nervosa?(Monique) * Who becomes anorexic?(Monique) * Anorexia nervosa causes and risk factors? (Christion) * Major risk factors for anorexia nervosa(Vanity) * How many people suffer from this disease and what causes it? (Vanity) * What should I do if I think someone I know has anorexia?(vanity) * Anorexic food behavior signs and symptoms(janive) * * Anorexic appearance and body image signs and symptoms(janive) * * Purging signs and symptoms(monique) * Anorexia treatment and therapy(christion) What is anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa was first given its name in 1868, by William Withey Gull, a British physician at Guy's Hospital, London. The disease was first documented in 1873, by Charles Lasgue, when he wrote L'anorexie Hysterique. Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder with three key features: refusal to maintain a healthy body weight an intense fear of gaining weight a distorted body image Because of your dread of becoming fat or disgusted with how your body looks, eating and mealtimes may be very stressful. And yet, what you can and can’t eat is practically all you can think about.Thoughts about dieting, food, and your body may take up most of your day—leaving little time for friends, family, and other activities you used to enjoy. Life becomes a relentless pursuit of thinness and going to extremes to lose weight.But no matter how skinny you become, it’s never enough.While people with anorexia often...
Words: 1587 - Pages: 7
...Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that is characterized by the refusal to sustain a healthy weight (Kumar, Tung, & Iqbai, 2010). Many believe that anorexia is more common amongst Caucasian women, but anorexia occurs throughout all cultures and races. AN has the highest mortality rate of an psychiatric disorder (Kumar, Tung, & Iqbai, 2010). Every major organ system is affected because of the malnutrition that anorexia causes. People with anorexia look in the mirror and see a distorted image rather than what is reality. Victims of anorexia see someone that is huge when in actuality they may be average size and weight. Once a person is diagnosed with anorexia it is hard for them to recover. Not only is it hard for a person with AN to recover, it is also extremely easy to relapse. It takes intense therapy and treatment to cure someone with anorexia. AN exists in every culture and race; it varies amongst African Americans differently as opposed to other cultures. Symptoms of anorexia include an intense fear of gaining weight, refusal to keep body weight up, and amenorrhea for 3 consecutive months (Kumar, Tung, & Iqbai, 2010). Amenorrhea is the abnormal absence of menstruation. Some other symptoms of AN are lanugo, joint swelling, dental cavities, tooth loss, and abdominal distension (Kumar, Tung, & Iqbai, 2010). Lanugo is the growth of fine white hair that grows when anorexics have no body fat left to keep themselves warm (Morrisey, 2010). There also...
Words: 2531 - Pages: 11
