Many people in the U.S. have eating disorders. Overeating, binge eating, anorexia and bulimia are the most common of the eating disorders. Bulimics eat too much and vomit the food before the body can absorb the nutrients. Anorexia behavior keeps people from eating. The do not provide the body with enough caloric intake to sustain health. Researchers state that eating disorders are linked to biological, social and psychological factors. (Mayo Staff, 2013)
Eating disorders and weight management is a challenging health issue in the U.S. According to the Center for Disease Control more than a third of the adults living in the United States are obese. Additionally, obesity is the leading cause of many health problems. (CDC.GOV, 2014) The body needs a certain amount of fat to insulate organs, maintain temperature, and provide a cellular energy source. However, over consumption of food does not allow the organs to process corectly and excesses are stored as layers of fat. Additionally, too much body fat contributes to high blood pressure, cancers and heart diseases. Visceral fat is more active in releasing hormones that can contribute to disease. The longer a person carries excess fat in their body, the greater the health risk. (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2012)
Eating disorders may be difficult to identify. Obesity is noted with extreme weight gain. Other symptoms may be depression or low self esteem. Anorexic people are noticibally thinner and are obsessed with weighing themselves. They may eat very little, binge eat or use laxatives to help purge food. Bulimic people are more prone to excessive eating and inducing vomiting to purge the food. Doctors and psychologist has been working together to educate people about eating disorders. Research has found that people, who suffer from anorexics nervosas and bulimia eating disorders, have dysmorphic disorders