Cause and Effect of Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are very serious mental and physical health diseases. Although, contrary to popular belief, they are not started by depression or the single cause of weight loss and controlling the body shape. The causes run much deeper than just weight loss, and often include cultural and family pressures.(1) There is so much to consider when it comes to the causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which include negative family influences, genetic factors, cultural pressures and hormonal abnormalities.(1)
Before someone can list the causes and effects of an eating disorder, one must first understand them. Anorexia and bulimia are often tied together, with similarities and it is not uncommon for the person to switch between the two, depending on their current state of mind.(2) Someone who struggles with bulimia often will go long periods of time without eating before they binge and then purge, and someone with anorexia will often take laxatives to make them feel confident about getting rid of the food in their body.(2) No matter which eating disorder the person may have, they will often alienate themselves from social events, preferring to be on their own and avoiding any unnecessary contact with people their age. Both anorexics and bulimics have an irrational fear of body fat and use their eating disorder as a survival mechanism to express something that they cannot express themselves.(2) Often they use their eating disorder as a coping mechanism to deal problems they may be having in their life, because their body shape and food intake are the one thing they can control in their lives.(3)
There are differences between anorexia and bulimia, though. Anorexic’s perception is often impaired, so when they look in the mirror they see body fat that is not there.(2) Their mind is trained to see lumps and bumps in their problem areas that no one else can see. Anorexia is most often associated with perfectionists and the person is usually very pedantic about
Before someone can list the causes and effects of an eating disorder, one must first understand them. Anorexia and bulimia are often tied together, with similarities and it is not uncommon for the person to switch between the two, depending on their current state of mind.(2) Someone who struggles with bulimia often will go long periods of time without eating before they binge and then purge, and someone with anorexia will often take laxatives to make them feel confident about getting rid of the food in their body.(2) No matter which eating disorder the person may have, they will often alienate themselves from social events, preferring to be on their own and avoiding any unnecessary contact with people their age. Both anorexics and bulimics have an irrational fear of body fat and use their eating disorder as a survival mechanism to express something that they cannot express themselves.(2) Often they use their eating disorder as a coping mechanism to deal problems they may be having in their life, because their body shape and food intake are the one thing they can control in their lives.(3)
There are differences between anorexia and bulimia, though. Anorexic’s perception is often impaired, so when they look in the mirror they see body fat that is not there.(2) Their mind is trained to see lumps and bumps in their problem areas that no one else can see. Anorexia is most often associated with perfectionists and the person is usually very pedantic about