Body Fat and Eating Disorders
Kay Canaan
SCI/241
4/21/13
Joseph Robare

Body Fat and Eating Disorders
Introduction:
“Childhood obesity is best tackled at home through improved parental involvement, increased physical exercise, better diet and restraint from eating” (Bob Filner, 2006, pg. 1). This paper will explore the cause of unhealthy body composition, the factors that influence obesity, as well as the different types of eating disorders.
Body Composition:
Body composition is necessary for many reasons. For one body composition protects the organs in the body, two it protects the body from temperature changes and for three it gives us energy. However with all things considered you can have too much body composition. Body composition crosses the line of healthy to unhealthy when it reaches the rate of 30 pounds overweight. Unhealthy body composition refers to body fat in comparison to lean muscle mass. It is the unhealthy body composition that leads us toward obesity, and a whole host of medical problems such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, to name a few. To ensure your body composition is within normal range you need to measure your BMI (Body Mass Index). To measure BMI a formula of weigh/height^2*703 is used.
Factors that influence obesity:
Following this idea further it is important to know what causes unhealthy body composition. This can be such things as high fat diet, a diet high in sugar, lack of exercise, and simply overeating. Consequently obesity does not only increase your health risk but also can cause psychological disorders and social issues. Social issues can be especially difficult on obese children. Children tend to be teased or become social outcast. This type of bullying can lead to another set of problems such as eating disorders.
Eating disorders:
Generally speaking children bullied because of their weight typically go the other way on the spectrum. They will resort to having an eating disorder. This happens when people become concerned with the way they may look. It is important to know that “eating disorders are primarily psychological disorders that involve nutrition-related behaviors; they have nutritional and physiological complications” (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2006, pg. 1). The three eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa:
Anorexia nervosa is when people primarily starve themselves. This type of eating disorder can be deadly and typically is the fear of being fat that fuels this disorder. Individuals suffering from anorexia are never satisfied with their body image no matter how thin they become. Symptoms tend to be restricted food intake; food is typically cut in small pieces and often is pushed around on the plate. Food intake often becomes a ritual. What would take five minutes to fix a bowl of cereal, someone who is suffering from anorexia nervosa may take those thirty minutes to make. They would count each piece of cereal that is in the bowl, and they may have to count it several times before they would be able to pour a measured amount of milk on it. Another symptom is weight loss, and signs of starvation appear. It at this point that the hair may begin to fall out, lips swell, dry skin appears and depression sets in. As one can imagine health issues that can be deadly also set in at this point. For example because of lack of nutrition the bodies organ can shut down, they can develop cardiac issues, mental health problems, or even death.
Bulimia Nervosa:
Additionally bulimia is much the same as anorexia nervosa. People suffering from bulimia are in fear of gaining weight. The difference between an individual with anorexia and someone with bulimia is the bulimic person believes that anything that is wrong in their world it is because they are fat. That is why they tend to isolate themselves from social events. Typically bulimics will binge eat and then purge. They may consume an excessive amount of food in secret and then use methods of vomiting or laxatives to eliminate the calories. This disease is usually hid from family and friends for years and can lead to tooth decay, dehydration, kidney damage or abnormal heartbeat. This condition cannot be treated without help once it becomes a pattern. Binge-eating: On the other hand binge-eating is the most common form of eating disorders. This disorder differs from bulimia in that it is not usually followed by purging. Binge-eating is most common in older adult females. Females tend to binge eat to deal with stress. This is a stress reliever for a few minutes while the binge is happening then the feeling of guilt kicks in. People suffering from binge-eating suffer physical, emotional, and social issues. They often suffer from insomnia, suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. Binge-eating typically leads to obesity. There are numerous reasons a person develops an eating disorder, such as biological, social, and psychological problems. Conclusion: Finally it is clear that an unhealthy body composition can lead to obesity. Obesity can then lead to a host of health issues as well as psychological issues such as eating disorders. These disorders pertain to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating. Eating disorders lead to another whole host of psychical, emotional, and psychological problems. References: Filner, B. (2006). Famous quotes. Retrieved from http://Http:/www.famousquotes.com Grosvenor, M. B., & Smolin, L. A. (2006). Nutrition: Everyday choices. Hoboken, NJ: John wiley.