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Eating disorders research paper
Eating disorders research study
Eating disorders research paper
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In today’s U.S. population, most people have an eating disorder to the extent they cannot control. Michael Pollan, a person whom someone may or may not know, creates his own theory to how people are highly considered in having such eating disorders. As a matter of fact, people are unable to access their problem and do not want to go out of their way to possibly consider to get further help to address their needs accordingly. There are many different eating disorders aggressively seen throughout society and some may have serious consequences to one’s health, nutritionism, and relationships. Health should always be a concerning risk factor no matter what one’s condition is in, it truly affects one’s overall health. For example: eating disorders can lead to the development of serious physical health problems, such Also, eating disorders tend to be serious medical illnesses. For instance: stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use. These medical illnesses, proves without question that it constantly affects an individual on an everyday basis. Above all, these serious medical illnesses coincides with one’s health are both contributing factors that affects one’s health. From the New York Times Magazine, he states,” One way to think about America’s national eating disorder is as the return, with an almost atavistic vengeance, of the omnivore’s dilemma” (Pollan). Pollan believes that one is compulsively obsessive when it comes to eating. From nationaleatingdisorders.org, it states,” In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS)” (Wade, Keski-Rahkonen, & Hudson). Due to the many
“Eating disorders are ‘about’: yes, control, and history, philosophy, society, personal strangeness, family fuck-ups, autoerotics, myth, mirrors, love and death and S&M, magazines and religion, the individual’s blindfolded stumble-walk through an ever-stranger world.” (Hornbacher, 4)
Anorexic: this word is an adjective, a label, and to some, a lifestyle. Medically speaking, it is someone who suffers from the deadly and heartbreaking disease, Anorexia Nervosa. This term translates to “nervous loss of appetite”, but anyone who has battled through this sickness is aware how that is anything but true. Eating disorder patients do not, in fact, lose their appetite; there is more to it than that. Many perceive eating disorders as a choice to be thin, a diet, or a cry for attention; they do not see the mental destruction going on inside of the mind. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, yet only 30% of people fully recover (ANAD). The general mindset that society has about eating disorders walks hand in hand with these statistics, slowing down any advances patients may be able to make. Eating disorder patients are not getting proper treatment because of ignorant misconceptions about the illness.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, emotions and ability to function in important areas of life.” In Michael Pollan’s article “Our National Eating Disorder” he argues that America as a whole has an eating disorder. His claim is supported with multiple pieces of evidence and I believe they are true. Looking deeper, Pollan’s arguments are that America’s eating habits negatively affect our health, emotions and, ability to function in important areas of life.
The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions. Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002.
Eating Disorders." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
There are countless health problems that an eating disorder can lead to. However; if caught in time, professional assistance can help a person to overcome a disorder. I personally feel invested in this topic because my best friend developed an eating disorder. It was hard for me to see how much she hated the way she looked. I watched her weight drop to an unhealthy size in a matter of months. Thankfully, with the help of therapy, she has since moved past it. Learning the signs and characteristics of an eating disorder can aid in identifying individuals at risk. If you are suspicious that someone you know could have an eating disorder, it is important you talk to them about it. The results of eating disorders being caught early on could be the difference between life and death.
Binge-eating disorder is defined as an eating disorder in which a person frequently consumes large amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. Almost everyone overeats every once in a while but for some people overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular occurrence. Many people who have this disorder may feel embarrassed about eating large amounts of food in front of others however the urge and compulsiveness of this disorder continues to affect their eating habits. Binge-eating disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-5% of the general population and also tends to affect women slightly more often than men. Binge-eating disorder is often associated with symptoms of depression and people diagnosed with this may often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.
There is substantial evidence that supports the efficacy of individual and group CBT in treating binge eating disorder (“Part A,” 2006). The CBT approach for binge eating disorder is active and directive. At the cognitive level individuals in CBT are taught to identify, test, and correct their faulty cognitions. Behavioral strategies in CBT for binge eating include monitoring binge patterns, educating the individual, and introducing incompatible activities (Parrott, 1998). One study assessed the long-term efficacy of CBT in the treatment of binge eating disorder. They assessed a sample of 68 patients with binge eating disorder and a substantial reduction of binge eating was observed during treatment. There was a decline at the three-year follow-up and at the four, five, and six-year follow up there was a slight worsening of binge eating was observed in the individuals (Ricca, Mannucci, Zucchi, Rotella, & Faravelli, 2000). Other psychosocial therapies that show efficacy in the treatment for binge eating disorder are interpersonal therapy (IPT) and dialectical behavior therapy. There is evidence that both of these therapies are effective in the improvement of behavioral and psychological symptom (“Part A,” 2006).
Eating disorders are described as an illness involving eating habits that are irregular and an extreme concern with body image or weight. Eating disorders tend to appear during teenage years, but can develop at any age. Although more common in women, eating disorders can affect any age, gender or race. In the United States, over 20 million women and 10 million men are personally affected by eating disorders. There are many different causes of eating disorders such as low self esteem, societal pressures, sexual abuse and the victims perception of food. Eating disorders are unique to the sufferer and often, their perception of themselves is so skewed, they may not be aware they have an eating disorder. Media, for quite some time now, has played a significant part in eating disorders. Magazines with headlines ‘Summer Body’, or ‘Drop LB’s Fast!’ attract the attention of girls who may be insecure with themselves. Television productions such as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show or American’s Next Top Model, show airbrushed and photoshopped women who have body types that may be unachievable. Those who are suffering from eating disorders can suffer dangerous consequences, and it is important to seek help.
In civilized societies, there are continuous prizing of thinness than ever before. Occasionally, almost everyone is watchful of their weight. Individuals with an eating disorder take extreme measures to concern where they ultimately shift their mode of eating, this abnormal eating pattern threatens their lives and their well-being. According to Reel (2013), eating disorders are continually misapprehended as all about food and eating. However, there is more to that as the dysfunction bears from emotion concealing a flawed relationship with food, physical exercise and oneself. Persons with eating disorders convey fault-finding, poor self- esteem and intense body discontent. This can lead to extreme distress of gaining weight,
There may be murmurs about that girl who only fixes herself a salad with only vinegar at dining services or suspicious glances at someone who spends 45 minutes on the treadmill and then switches to the stair stepper at the rec. On-campus eating disorders are talked about everywhere and yet are not really talked about at all. There is observation, concern, and gossip, but hushed conversation and larger scale efforts to help and change never seem to earn public attention.
Eating disorders are quite serious and can often lead to extreme disruption of normal eating behaviors. It wasn’t considered an illness till 1980, when a singer named Karen Carpenter died from complications due to anorexia. If left untreated a person can put significant stress on their body; causing the body to begin to shut down. Often the organs will begin to fail, the persons hair will start to fall out and the person whom you once knew will become completely unrecognizable. Researchers have found many reasons that can be the cause of eating disorders. If we consider Demi Lovato a once happy go lucky Disney star who started acting different from her usual self. We can see that she was struggling from some kind of internal complex. When
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness; 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from eating disorders and only 1 in 10 of those 24 million are treated (ANAD). Eating disorders do not discriminate; all ages, genders, ethnicities and races can be victim to this mental illness. It’s important to be aware of the impact eating disorders have on societies across the globe and how the media plays a role if we want to fight the source and promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. I’ve known many people in my life who have some sort of eating disorder, whether it’s anorexia(not eating enough), binge eating(eating large amounts of food rapidly), bulimia (throwing up their food) or just struggling with an unsatisfying self-image. Becoming aware of eating disorders and how they are developed is important to me because in a perfect world, I would like to see this illness become less common or diminished completely among those that I love and anyone else in today’s society. Eating disorders hit home for many people, including myself. Raising awareness may decrease the rate of eating disorders by informing the population of the harm this illness causes and hopefully promote prevention and/or rehabilitation. With the 3 theoretical approaches used by sociologists, Eating disorders can be understood which will better inform society on how to raise awareness, prevent this illness and help those who suffer from eating disorders.
Work or school can become hard to go to or even to participate in it. The fear of being fat can overtake someone’s head and can make their social life hard. This can also lead to depression with the eating disorder still at hand. Muscle weakness is another complication in eating disorders because of lack of vitamins. This will follow with pain all around the body because of the muscle weakness. With all this complication the worst one is dead because of all the loss of vitamins and minerals that are the need in your body. The body will eventually give out go into cardiac
Shapiro, C. M. (2012). Eating disorders: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments [Ebrary version]. Retrieved from http://libproxy.utdallas.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/utdallas/Doc?id=10683384&ppg=3