Eating Disorders: Behind the Scenes

Eating Disorders: Behind the scene

Many citizens in the United States and other parts of the world fight with weight and body image issues. Most exercise and eat healthy to help their problems. Some take a more unhealthy and sometimes deadly route. An estimated five million people are affected by eating disorders each year (Alters & Schiff, 2003, p.36). Eating disorders are more common among females. At least three percent of women have some type of an eating disorder (Alters & Schiff, 2003, p.36). Eating disorders are classified as persistent, abnormal eating patterns that can threaten a person?s health and well being. There are three major types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating.

When an individual refuses to eat enough food to maintain a healthy body weight, he or she is dealing with a serious illness known as anorexia nervosa. People with this illness maintain strict control over food intake. About ninety percent of anorexia nervosa cases are women, particularly teenagers. (Alters & Schiff, 2003, p.37). For every one in one hundred that develops this illness, it most commonly evolves in their high school years. The symptoms of anorexia nervosa are:

Intense fear of weight gain.

The feeling of being overweight despite weight loss.

Refusal to maintain minimally normal weight for persons height, age, body type, and activity level.

Extreme concern with body weight and shape

Loss of menstrual periods

Denial of malnourished body.

(National Eating Disorders Association, 2002)

Death from suicide or starvation occurs in fifteen to twenty percent of cases.

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...nts recover completely. Bulimia nervosa patients often do not seek help. When they do, antidepressant medication and psychotherapy are given. Women with this disorder tend to improve overtime, but 10 years after diagnosis, about thirty percent still suffer with the condition. (Alters & Schiff, 2003, pp.36-38)

I sat down and interviewed a person who has overcome bulimia nervosa and she described many of the things I have listed here today. She went through many pains and troubles through her time of ?sickness?. She asked to remain nameless, so I shall respect her wish. She was a gymnast who had to maintain a certain body weight to compete in competitions. She would self induce vomiting before her weigh in sessions so she would be under the weight limit. She let me know that this was the worst time of her life, and she is so thankful she is one of the survivors.