Eating Disorders in America Essays -- Anorexia, Bulimia

Food. It is essential for survival. Without it, people die. However, oddly enough, many struggle to live without it to accomplish the standards that our culture has created for us. We are taught that being thin is perfection and will lead to a happier life. However, lurking are the health risks that one pays for obtaining the â€Å"perfect body†. Still, along with a distorted body image, others struggle with keeping weight down and fall into the diet fads that the world parades. From movies, magazines, and television, the media also sends us messages that being fat is bad and unhealthy while being thin and beautiful is acceptable. The impact of such influences has increased eating disorders in America. These disorders do not discriminate. Anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or background can develop one and without help it can lead to death. Today, America is plagued with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Eating Disorders. Each has its own characteristics that distinguish the illness yet there are some similarities that they also share. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. Shockingly, they also report that in the United States, there are as many as 10 million females and 1 million males that are battling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Additionally, another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorders (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org). Typically, psychological factors such as depression and low self-esteem contribute to eating disorders... ... and attitudes. Whether it is a family or individual, they must set realistic goals that can be achieved. Consistence with their commitment is an important aspect in maintaining normal, healthy weight. Works Cited Epstein, Rachel. Eating Habits and Disorders. Chelsea House Publishers, New York, NY. 1990. Robbins Ph. D, Paul R. Anorexia and Bulimia. Enslow Publishers, Inc., Springfield, NJ. 1998. Warbick, Caroline. Just the Facts: Eating Disorders. Reed Educational and Professional Publishing, Chicago, IL. 2003. Ward, Christie L. Compulsive Eating: The Struggle to Feed the Hunger Inside. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., New York, NY. 1998. National Eating Disorder Association. What is an Eating Disorder? 2005. The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders. 2006.