An increasing number of studies have shown that eating disorders are widespread and there has been dramatic increase in Western countries from 1960-1995 (Hoek, 2002; Russell, 2009; Stieiger, Bruce & Israel, 2013). What are eating disorders? Some common eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is when an individual experiences out-of-control eating episodes followed by self-induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives, and other ways of trying to get rid of the food one has already consumed (Barlow et al., 2014). Anorexia nervosa is when an individual eats nothing and some individuals may experience a dangerous drop in their body weight. The reason for these related disorders may be the drive to be thin.
Bulimia nervosa is more common than anorexia (Barlow et al, 2014). However, there is a great deal of overlap, people with bulimia may have had a history of anorexia. Typically, individuals with bulimia nervosa eat larger portions of food and they are generally junk food as opposed to health foods. After consuming large portions of food, individuals may turn to “purging”. An attempt to vomit the food one has already consumed. However, according to Barlow et al., 2014, purging is not particularly efficient of reducing caloric intake because it actually only reduces 50% of the calories that were consumed and less if purging was delayed.
Common medical complications of eating disorders include amenorrhea, the cessation of menstruation. Other medical signs include dry skin, brittle hair or nails, low blood pressure and sensitivity to cold temperatures (Mehler et al., 2010).
Causes of eating disorders:
Biological, psychological and social factors all contribute to the likelihood of an individual developing an eating disorder. For many young women it is important to look a certain way, with social media being a main contribution to how young women should look. Some eating orders may also run in the family: studies have found that relatives of patients with eating disorders are four to five times more likely than the general population to develop an eating disorder (Strober, Freeman, Lampert, Diamond & Kaye, 2000).
Family and friends of people with eating disorders should always provide them with unconditional love and support. Through love and support individuals will recover faster. In my opinion, I think social media has been a negative aspect for young girls to be pressured into looking a certain way, thus we should all work together in telling females that any body type, any body shape is beautiful. The key to happiness is loving yourself and being confident about who you are, regardless of what the media tells you.
Written by Vivian Tse
Sources:
Barlow, D. H., Durand, M. V., Stewart, S. H., & Lalumière, M. L. (n.d.). Abnormal
Psychology: An Integrative Approach. Toronto: Nelson Education.
Mehler, P. S., Winkelman, A. B., Andersen, D. M., & Gaudiani, J. L. (2010). Nutritional
Rehabilitation: Practical Guidelines for Refeeding the Anorectic Patient. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2010, 625782. http://doi.org/10.1155/2010/625782
Strober, M., Michael Strober, Roberta Freeman, Carlyn Lampert Jane Diamond, &
Walter Kaye. (03/01/2000). The american journal of psychiatry: Controlled family study of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: Evidence of shared liability and transmission of partial syndromes American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.