The Problems of Eating Disorders

In a world that is increasingly putting standards oftrying to attain a body figure that they will never
beauty upon the our children, pre-teens,be satisfied with. It is marked by a preoccupation
teenagers and even those in their twenties, ourwith weight loss and a poor self image. In
youth are at an ever increasing risk when itadvanced cases of anorexia, women may lose
comes to the development of an eating disorders.the ability to have a period.
Our children, usually the young girls, but it canBulimia is another eating disorder that permeates
effect older women and even men, via the mediaour culture today. As opposed to anorexics, which
and print advertising are in a sense "brainwashed"use dieting techniques and weightloss pills to a high
to believe that they must look a certain way. Thedegree, bulimics find solace in 'purging'. Bulimic
celebrities in television and on the big screen asindividuals usually eat a large amount of food, then
well as printed displays of stick-thin, unhealthyretreat to a bathroom in order to regurgitate, or
figures that can create a high standard of beauty'purge' the food from their system, causing them
that can lead to many problems with an individual'sto lose the nutritional value and calories that the
body image and self esteem.food they consume offers.
When coupled with the fact that an obesityThe use of laxatives may also be employed by
epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world,bulimics, causing a case of diarrhea and eliminating
it's important to have a full understanding of thethe nutritional value that they receive. You may
eating disorders which are prevalent in societybe able to see warning signs for bulimia if an
today in order to be able to catch the warningindividual binges upon foods that are high in fat
signs when an individual you know is afflicted.and sweets, engorging as much food as possible,
Eating disorders are a mental condition, and whilethen retiring to the bathroom in order to purge
many discount the problem as situational andthe foods. Poor self image is also a leading reason
fixable if an individual desires to be fixed, they canwhy people may become bulimic, and it's an
be very difficult to overcome. In this article, we'llimportant thing to note when considering the
be giving a basic overview of some of the morehealth of a friend or family member.
common eating disorders that our culture facesThese are just a few of the eating disorders that
today. One of the most commonly occurringcan cause excessive trauma to the body and
eating disorders within our society today ismind of an individual. If you know someone who
anorexia nervosa.you suspect has an eating disorder, you may
Many are familiar with the affliction, in which onewant to discuss the problem with them with love
suffers from such an intense occupation with theirand compassion, being sure to let them know
self image that they literally starve their bodies inthat you are there for them.
hopes of attaining a slimmer figure. While dietingIn severe cases, you should speak with a doctor
and exercise are efficient ways of losing weight,in order to determine the best course of action
those with anorexia resort to drastic methods forfor helping an individual.