Eating Disorders: A Life Threatening Mental Illness

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There are 70 million individuals around the world and over 14 million Americans who are affected by eating disorders; of those 14 million Americans in the United States 200,000 live in Minnesota. According to the United States Census Bureau there are 5.4 million people living in Minnesota. Eating disorders are a big problem considering that 4 out of 100 people have an eating disorder, just in Minnesota. There are three main eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Although doctors still don’t fully understand what causes eating disorders, the disorder can affect someone's body and mind years after getting over an eating disorder (Eating Disorder). An eating disorder is a life-threatening mental illness where someone has an abnormal or dangerous eating habit, which is brought on by past and present body views, family, or mental off-balances. There are many different options for someone with an eating disorder: (Engel) nutritional rehabilitation, individual psychotherapy, group inpatient or outpatient therapy, and family therapy (Miller). Eating disorders are not abnormal in todays society….(add more here) (Engel). The three most commonly known eating disorders of today are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Anorexia nervosa is a disease connected with abnormal eating; it is not brought on by excitement, delusions, overactivity or a bad habit, it is a mental illness. Development of anorexia usually starts in the early teenage years, however it can go undiagnosed for thirty to even forty plus years. Another eating disorder is bulimia, people who are bulimic have no time to think about daily life; all that is on there mind is their next meal. Someone who has bulimia often l... ... middle of paper ... ...al Relationships and Bulimia." Familial Relationships and Bulimia. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. Engel, Bridget. "Introduction to Eating Disorders." Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating) Professional Treatment, & Help. N.p., 2 Feb. 2007. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Miller, Charlotte. "Eating Disorders." Doctors, Patient Care, Health Education, Medical Research. N.p., Oct. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Nuno, Dr. Ismael. "Learn from My Daughter's Eating Disorder." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Smith, Melinda. "Anorexia Nervosa." : Signs, Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. Smith, Melinda. "Binge Eating Disorder." : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Help. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Smith, Melinda. "Bulimia Nervosa." : Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Help. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

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