Eating disorders, bulimia, and obesity

Health

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is present when a person experiences severe instability in eating behaviors. This consists of a large decrease of food intake or severe overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern about one's body weight or shape. A person with an eating disorder often begins by consuming smaller or larger amounts of food than normal. But at some point, their eating gets out of control. Eating disorders are very difficult to understand and in spite of a lot of scientific research, the biological, behavioral and social causes of these illnesses remain mysterious. There are two chief types of eating disorders. These are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third type is that known as eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). This includes several deviations of eating disorders. Most of these disorders are very similar to anorexia or bulimia but have very different natures. Binge-eating disorder is an example of an EDNOS (Eating Disorders, 2009).

Eating disorders often come to the surface during adolescence or young adulthood. There have been some reports that have indicated that they can develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Females are thought to be more likely than males to have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are very treatable but they often have complex fundamental psychological and biological causes. A person often has other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders at the same time. People who have eating disorders often also suffer from many other physical health difficulties (Eating Disorders, 2009). Eating disorders are often continuing illnesses that require a lot of treatment. The earlier that these disorders are diagnosed and treated the more likely a person is to have a full recovery (Eating Disorders, n.d.).

People who have anorexia often develop strange eating habits such as staying away from food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything that they consume. They may also be obsessed with exercising. People who have bulimia tend to eat a large amount of food at a single time and almost at once make themselves vomit in order to get rid of the food in their bodies. This behavior is known as the binge/purge cycle. People with bulimia often have a strong fear of gaining weight. People with this disorder often undergo regular episodes of obsessive overeating. All through these food binges, people often eat alone and quickly. Afterwards they often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Not like in anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder is thought to happen almost as often in men as in women (Eating Disorders, n.d.).

So far it has not been determined that there is any single cause for eating disorders. While anxiety about weight and body shape plays a part in all eating disorders, the actual cause of these disorders has not yet been determined. These are thought to include cultural and family pressures along with emotional and personality disorders. Genetics and biologic factors are also thought to be a factor. Anorexia is thought to be eight times more common in people who have relatives that suffer from the disorder. Some doctors believe that genetic factors are the core cause of a lot of eating disorders. Researchers have found specific chromosomes that may be associated with bulimia and anorexia, specifically regions on chromosome 10 that have been linked to bulimia as well as obesity. There has been evidence that has shown that there is an association with genetic factors being responsible for serotonin, the brain chemical involved with both well-being and appetite. Researchers have also determined that certain proteins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are thought to influence a person's vulnerability to developing an eating disorder (Eating disorders -- Causes, 2010).

The advance of food in Western countries has become extremely problematic. The food that is produced in the U.S. every year is enough to supply 3,800 calories to everyone on a daily basis. This is far more than is needed for good nutrition. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, and there are very few people living in this over-fed and sedentary culture that eat a meal guiltlessly. One interesting anthropologic study has reported the following observations:

During past periods or in cultures where women are financially dependent and marital ties are stronger, the standard is toward being curvaceous, possibly reflecting a cultural or economic need for greater reproduction.

During the time that female independence became possible, the average of female attractiveness has leaned toward thinness.

The reaction of the media to the cultural push for thinness and the overproduction of food both are thought to have played major roles in triggering obesity and eating disorders. Advertisers often seriously market weight-reduction programs and present anorexic young models as the example of sexual appeal. Clothes are made and exhibited for thin bodies even though there are very few women who could ever wear them effectively (Eating disorders -- Causes, 2010).