...Anorexia nervosa is a disorder characterized by abnormal eating behaviors. People with anorexia have a fear of gaining weight which causes them to try and maintain a low weight. They will do anything to prevent weight gain. This includes starvation and exercising too much. They do this because not only do they have the fear of gaining weight they have a distorted body image which means even if they are extremely thin they will believe that they are overweight. (Ehrlich, 2015). Anorexia is not really about food and weight at its core. Many eating disorders are much more complicated than that and they run a lot deeper than just appearance. The real cause of the disorder could be depression, loneliness, insecurity or feeling out of control. Typically,...
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...Abstract The main purpose of this extended project dissertation is as following: to explore the causes of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, in particular the biological, psychological and societal causes. Eating disorders are becoming increasingly common in today’s society and the causes of theses disorders are not completely known. This essay explores the symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the risks and consequences of suffering from such disorders. The essay also concentrates upon how eating disorders are gradually affecting more and more men and children – something that was not often seen before. The main focus of this project is to discover whether the causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa stem from pre-dispositions which are linked with the body and mind or rather stemmed from society. The main biological reasons which the essay focuses on are; damaged hypothalamuses and genetic hereditariness. The main environmental causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that I have studied are media influences and undesirable conditions for raising children. In writing this project I believe that I have developed valuable skills that I will need in my subjects which include; being able to extract key information from large pieces of text, researching, speedy note taking and the ability to weigh up two sides of an argument fairly and without bias. I am also aware that the skills I am developing while writing this dissertation...
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...“Anorexia has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness, it’s estimated that 4% of anorexic individuals die from complications of the disease” (Eating Disorder Hope). Is anorexia nervosa an illness caused by negative social conditions or is it a mental illness/mental disorder? After reading “The Slender Trap” written by Trina Piscatelli, I don’t agree with Piscatelli when she states in her reading that negative social conditions are the cause of anorexia nervosa in young women. Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness/mental disorder. According to Mayo Clinic the definition of mental illness is “…disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating...
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...1. What is an eating disorder? Eating Disorders describe illnesses that are characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape. Eating disturbances may include inadequate or excessive food intake which can ultimately damage an individual’s well-being. The most common forms of eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder and affect both females and males. 2. What are the types of eating disorders? Types of eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for both women and men. In the eating disorders list below, you'll find these disorders typically involve starvation, purging, and binge eating behaviors. 3. What are the DSM-IV-TR criteria for Anorexia Nervosa? Criteria * Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height: Weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight <85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected. * Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. * Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape are experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial...
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...Eating Disorders What do you imagine when you think of a celebrity? What comes to mind when you imagine a magazine cover or a television commercial? The media is plagued by images of glamorous, beautiful, happy people who have perfect bodies. Anorexia is the third most common mental health disorder affecting teenagers, and close to half of the American population personally knows someone who is battling an eating disorder. Cases of eating disorders are on the rise and many blame the media for the increase. With eating disorders becoming so prevalent it is important to know the classifications, signs, and symptoms associated with this mental health disorder. Eating disorders can be classified into four categories Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (ED-NOS). Eating disorders are a serious issue that one should be knowledgeable about. Anorexia Nervosa is what many people think of when they hear about eating disorders. According to the DSM IV-TR anorexia nervosa is classified as “Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height, for example, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight, and disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence...
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...The two eating disorders that will be discussed in this paper include anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves recurring episodes of uncontrollable, excessive eating, which is following my compensatory actions to remove the food. For example, someone with bulimia nervosa would deliberately vomit, abuse laxatives, and/or excessively exercise to remove the food from their body. Anorexia nervosa is also an eating disorder, but it is characterized by recurrent food refusal that eventually leads to dangerously low body weight. In the supplemental article on these two eating disorders, the authors explored the extent to which anorexia and bulimia represented culture-bound syndromes, which is defined as a collection...
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...In today’s society, eating disorders have been found to affect a large number of people. The disorder does not discriminate against gender, age group, or socioeconomic status although it’s more common in the female gender. The three most common types of this psychological disorder include Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge eating. Anorexia is found in a person who refuses to eat or eats a minimal amount to cause severe weight loss. Bulimia involves a person who consumes a large amount of food and then seeks to purge himself of the caloric intake. Most commonly this is accomplished by vomiting. The third type, binge eating, is similar to bulimia accept in this particular case there is no attempt by the individual to compensate for the caloric intake. In the following research paper the causes, clinical findings, and treatment of each of these disorders will be discussed to determine how each varies from one another. Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder that is caused by self-induced starvation resulting in severe weight loss. It is considered a psychological disorder because it primarily affects healthy young individuals, mostly commonly young women, who have developed an obsession with becoming thin. It is estimated that 0.5 to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime (Stunkard, J. A., & Wilson, T., 2008.) The exact cause is not known, but attitudes towards physical appearance and family issues effect its development. Feasting on large...
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...Eating Disorders Week 14 Formal Assignment Eating Disorders Laura Thompson Cerro Coso Online College The body dissatisfaction displayed by both men and women may be due to social comparison processes involving media images of body types that few can achieve. Disordered eating patterns because of preoccupation with weight and body dimensions sometimes become extreme and lead to an eating disorder – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by low body weight, and an intense fear of becoming obese, and body image distortion. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating at least once a week for three months, during which the person loses control over eating. Binge-eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa in that it involves the consumption of large amounts of food within a two-hour period, an accompanying feeling of loss of control, and “marked distress” over eating during the episode. (Sue, 2013 Pgs. 279, 283, 285) Many people with anorexia nervosa see themselves as overweight, even when they are clearly underweight. Eating, food, and weight control become obsessions. People with anorexia nervosa typically weigh themselves repeatedly, portion food carefully, and eat very small quantities of only certain foods...
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...develop an eating disorder? Socio-cultural influences have traditionally been thought of as the leading cause of disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. However, this explanation alone doesn’t seem sufficient. We are all exposed to the same “thin is in” messaging and to live in a westernized society more or less means residing in a virtually inescapable landscape that pushes thinness as a valuable possession. Yet, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect only an estimated 0.3 to 0.7 percent, and 1.7 to 2.5 percent, respectively, of females in the general population (Berrettini, 2004). Through my research, which...
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...Anorexia Nervosa Name Institution Professor Course Date Anorexia Nervosa One of the most common eating disorders in the world is anorexia nervosa. A patient who suffers from anorexia nervosa loses at least fifteen percent of the normal minimum weight. Anorexia nervosa incidences are increasing these days with many cases recorded for the past few decades. In every 100,000 persons, there are between eight to thirteen cases of people suffering from anorexia disorders. For instance, statistics show that nearly seven thousand people in Hong Kong suffer from anorexia nervosa. Moreover, anorexia nervosa is more prevalent among girls under adolescent between the ages of 15 to 20 years of age who are a high risk. Moreover, more than 95% of people suffering from anorexia nervosa are females. Anorexia nervosa, and according to research it normally starts affecting adolescent girls from the age young age of around 13 years all through their entire life up to around 20 years of age. As a result, this essay will target the cases of the adolescent girls between 15 to 20 years of age as they have higher risk or have the problem already. Individuals experiencing eating disorder at times find it difficult to differentiate between what is either normal or abnormal. Anorexia nervosa has many behaviors and thoughts among them body image distortion, inability of maintaining healthy body weights, eating habits that are scarce and fear of eating...
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...The eating disorders—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder NOS, which includes binge eating disorder—are actually entities or syndromes and are not considered to be specific diseases. It is not known if they share a common cause and pathology; therefore, it is more appropriate to conceptualize them as syndromes on the basis of the cluster of symptoms they present to be specific diseases. It is not known if they share a common cause and pathology; therefore, it is more appropriate to conceptualize them as syndromes on the basis of the cluster of symptoms they present Genetic There is a strong genetic link for eating disorders. In fact, data from community-based twin studies have suggested that the heritability is greater than 50% Neurobiological Research demonstrates that altered brain serotonin function contributes to dysregulation of appetite, mood, and impulse control in the eating disorders Newer brain imaging capabilities allow for more research into etiological factors of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa Psychological Factors Because anorexia nervosa was observed primarily in girls approaching puberty, early psychoanalytic theories linked the symptoms to an unconscious aversion to sexuality. By maintaining a childlike body, the patient avoids the anxiety associated with developing into a mature sexual being Environmental Factors The Western cultural ideal that equates feminine beauty to tall, thin models has received much attention in the media...
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...Anorexia in Adolescence Felicia N. Hill Columbus Technical College Author Note This paper was prepared for Introductory Psychology 1101 taught by Professor Cyrus. Abstract Bizarre, devastating, and baffling are three words that describe the anorexia nervosa disease. By definition, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a normal-weight person diets and becomes significantly underweight, yet, still feeling fat, continue to starve themselves. People with this disorder are suppressing a strong desire to eat, because they are afraid of becoming fat. Anorexia is characterized by extreme starvation that leads to a disastrous loss of weight. Anorexia nervosa affects a large number of people today in the world, and does not discriminate against anybody. This research paper shows how dangerous and life-threatening anorexia is on adolescence, as well as, how self-image, family issues, and the media influence anorexia. Anorexia in Adolescence Adolescence is a chaotic time in the life of a growing teenager in which he or she experiences many physical as well as emotional changes. Not knowing where they stand in the world yet and trying to figure themselves out, adolescents may fall subject to influences and become victims of such horrible things as eating disorders. During adolescence a major importance in life is to be accepted and to fit in somewhere which brings about the issue of eating disorders. In order for them to be accepted and feel as if they are able to...
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...Anorexia Nervosa Linda Price Axia College of University of Phoenix HCA/240 Joanna Puia July 20, 2011 Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can be physical, behavioral or psychological usually ending in death if not treated properly by a physician. Anorexia nervosa can take over every organ in the body. An individual (male or female) has a fear of being overweight, even if they are underweight. It is hard to realize when he or she is suffering from anorexia nervosa if you do not know the signs or symptoms of this eating disorder. It can take over an individual’s life unless they find a confidant to talk about what is going on with their eating problems. An individual (male or female) suffering from anorexia nervosa may lose weight from restricting the amount of food they intake or exercise excessively. Some even begin purging which is similar to bulimia or start taking laxatives. People with anorexia nervosa start cutting food into small pieces or moving them around the plate instead of eating (Anorexia Nervosa, 2011). They start eating alone or making meals for others instead of themselves. An individual (male or female) may have low body mass index (BMI), emaciation, abdominal pain, dehydration, dry skin or hair, muscle weakness, and dental erosion (Anorexia Nervosa, 2011). He or she becomes socially withdrawal, depressed, irritability, insomnia, impaired concentration, and suicide attempts. Anorexia nervosa is especially common...
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...Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper Andrea Muller SCI/241 September 12, 2014 Cindy Davis Body Fat and Eating Disorders Paper When a person carries too much or excess body in comparison to the lean muscle mass, it calls for an unhealthy body. As the body fat-to-lean ratio increases, so does your health risks. In fact, more often than not an unhealthy body composition can lead to obesity and lead to more critical health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and even cancer. What causes these factors of obesity? Consuming a high in fat, high in sugar, lack of exercise, overeating, and excess alcohol intake are all factors of obesity. On the other hand, eating disorders are serious illnesses that affect someone’s everyday diet by either eating extremely small amounts of food or severely overeating. Such eating disorders include: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating. Whether you are a man or woman, these disorders are very real and can be treatable. Usually, these eating disorders are associated with other mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. Each eating disorder has specific characteristics to them as well as treatments. However, these eating disorders also take a toll of a person’s health therefore many health risks are of a concern. People with anorexia nervosa analyze eating, food and their weight constantly. This obsession makes them believe that they...
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...McDougal Chapter 15 - #1 Anxiety disorders are a class of disorders marked by feelings of excessive apprehension and anxiety. Studies suggest that anxiety disorders are quite common, and affect roughly 19% of the population. For this assignment I am focusing on a subject with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder involves enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event. My subject is now 38, and lived in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina ravished through the south. His symptoms include re-experiencing the event in the form of nightmares, emotional numbing, alienation, anxiety, anger, and guilt. Research suggests that about 7% of the population has suffered from PTSD at some point in their life, and that prevalence is twice as high among women.¹ The etiology of PTSD, like most psychological disorders, develops out of complicated interactions among a variety of biological and psychological factors. In this case, my subject had witnessed many people die, lose their homes, and devastate his city of New Orleans. There are many factors that play into the role of PTSD; I’ll briefly cover each of them. * Biological factors: In studies that assess the impact of heredity on psychological disorders, investigators look at concordance rates. A concordance rate indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same disorder. The results of these studies suggest...
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