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Eating Disorders

We live in a society where thinness is considered to be a prized beauty attribute. Millions are spent each year on dieting plans, dieting pills, gyms etc. There has also been alarming increase of thinness in models and actresses has contributed to the rise in eating disorders. Eating disorders is a serious condition where one is obsessed by their physical appearance and food that it is hard for one to focus on anything else. Eating disorders affect some several million people at any given time, most often women between the ages of 12 and 35. (Powers) Eating disorders are divided into three categories which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders.

Although eating disorders are most common in younger women, boys, men and older women are also affected by these disorders. Studies also show that there has been an increase in the number of ethnic minorities who are falling into this illness as well.


Such as rape, abuse or death of a loved one; or positive such as giving birth but changes in body. Gender plays a role in eating disorders as well. Women and teenage girls are more likely to be affected by this illness than men or teenage boys. These disorders can occur at any age but is most common in teens and women in their early 20s. Studies have also shown that these disorders can be developed genetically. Tranisitions also an play a part in these disorders. When there is change or events that occur that one can’t control, one may feel that binging may be an area that they themselves can control in their lives.
People with anorexia nervosa have a distorted body image that causes them to see themselves as overweight even when they’re at the point of deadly self-starvation. Systems of anorexia include a thin appearance, fatigue, abnormal blood counts, brittle nails, dry skin or bone loss. Hair loss or thinning hair, constipation and dizziness or fainting is...