Eating Disorders Essay

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The advertising industry has caused a dramatic increase in eating disorders among young males and females as a result of the unrealistic and unobtainable body images they portray in their advertisements. “Eating disorders are a group of serious conditions in which you are so preoccupied with food and weight that you can often focus on little else” (MAYO Clinic). Eating disorders can be serious and life treating, the treatment and diagnosis of anorexia and bulimia nervosa vary in the cause and effect on the development of the disorder. Eating disorders are mainly used to help control feelings and emotions that can be overwhelming. People with eating disorders use food to cope and control their life, which can be life threating and damage …show more content…

Anorexia is also know to damage internal body organs permitily (Smith). People can develop anorexia due to a redraw to want to eat and main and a need to maintain a healthy weight (Burby). A person with anorexia are underweight and underweight and have fears of gaining weight, and a their self image is distorted (University of Maryland Center). When someone has anorexia they can experience multiple side effects because the body functions change due to lack of vital nutrition. . Anorexia is also know to damage internal body organs permitily (Smith). “Major side effects that occur is hormonal changes, such as the reproductive, thyroid, stress and growth hormones”. “Heart problems are also prone to occur with abnormal heart rhythm, electrolyte imbalance, bone density loss, anemia, and neurological problems” are also serious side effects. Other side effects do occur with this disease that are not as life threating such as a pasty yellowish complexion with dry skin because a person can have a build up of to many A vitamins. Hypersensitivity to cold can develop due to the loss of body fat, and will cause them to wear multiple layers to keep warm and also to hide weight loss (University of Maryland Center). Poor memory and judgment, fainting spells, and in women …show more content…

People with bulimia have a secret life of binging and purging and can no longer stop and can soon take over their life styles. The cycle of binging and purging is done to get rid of the food so weight gain does not occur. When people get rid of the food they eat will mainly use diuretics or laxatives, along with excessive exercise is also used to get rid of extra calories, and vomiting (Burby). The side effects of bulimia are similar to the ones of anorexia in a way of how the body reacts to low amounts of nutrients in the body. Stomach distress will occur due to water retention and fluid lost. “Fluid lost with low potassium levels due to excessive vomiting or laxative use; can lead to extreme weakness, near paralysis, and lethal heart rhythms”. “Swallowing problems and esophagus damage can occur from forced vomiting and weakened rectal walls”. “The first step toward a diagnosis and prognosis is to admit the existence of an eating disorder”. Multiple way are used for the treatment of bulimia. Support groups are used for minor conditions when there are no health consequences. Cognitive –behavioral therapy with nutritional therapy is preferred to be the first treatment. Drug therapy is also a used in the treatment with serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, and antidepressants. A strong indicator to determine a diagnosis is the

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