Eating Disorders Research Paper

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In United States, countless people are currently suffering from eating disorder. It is difficult to determine the exact amount of people that are suffering from it; however, studies from University of Maryland Medical Center show that about 7 million women are suffering from eating disorder today. My cousin was one of the many that were suffering from eating disorder. This is the main reason I chose eating disorder as my topic because it is close to home; also because I believe many girls my age suffer from eating disorder. Eating disorder is illness that causes disruption to a person’s daily diet causing one to eat small or large amounts. Most common types of eating disorder consist of anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.…show more content…
People with anorexia view themselves as overweight even if they are overly underweight. Since they are obsessive about controlling their weight and being thin, anorexic people constantly weight themselves, carefully measure their food and eating only certain types of food. Anorexic people will eat specific and small amounts of food and over exercise, which is when someone engages in physical activity till it is harmful and unsafe to their body (Office on Women’s Health, 2009). Researches from Office on Women’s Health, U.S Department of Health and Human Services showed that the symptoms of anorexia are intense fear or gaining weight, strong desire of being extremely thin, extremely restricted eating, and missing menstrual period for 3 months straight (Office on Women’s Health, 2009). Symptoms that develop over time are: Osteoporosis, dry and yellowish skin, brittle nails and hair, severe constipation, and multi organ failure. Some people with anorexia may also engage in the act of binge eating and act of vomiting. People with anorexia are 18 times more likely to die early than the others among the same age group…show more content…
Eating disorder may be caused by many different causes such as culture and media, stressful events or life changes, emotional disorders and personality disorders. Studies appear that people with psychological personality disorders such as Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Narcissistic Personality disorder (NCD) are more at risk for eating disorder (Simons, 2013). Highly competitive athletes are examples of people who are highly at risk for eating disorder because they are often perfectionist, which is a common trait for people with eating disorder. It is also known that genetic factors play a role in eating disorder. Anorexia is eight times more common in people who have relative with this disorder. Culture and media plays a big role in the causes of the disorder. In United States, being thin is an idea body type despite the healthy weight people should maintain because women are told that their physical appearance is how they are defined. Young teens and adolescence are influenced by media that being thin is the ideal body. Emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety can effect a person’s eating

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