Eating Disorders in Adolescent
Girls
Eating Disorders in Adolescent Girls
Eating disorders are a group of mental disorders that interfere with normal food consumption. They may lead to serious health problems and, in the case of both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, even death. The major recognized eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
An eating disorder is a serious psychological condition. The sufferer is obsessed with food, diet and often body image to the point where their quality of life suffers, and their health is at extreme risk from their long-term poor or inadequate diet. Most victims of an eating disorder do not recognize that they have a problem and they will refuse treatment and attempt to hide their abnormal behavior from others. Treatment of eating disorders can take decades, so early identification may be the difference between life and death for the patient.
The two major types of eating disorder which will be the most familiar to many are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia. Large amounts of food are consumed at a sitting but retained in the stomach rather than being regurgitated. Some experts consider a complaint called orthorexia to be a valid eating disorder - the sufferer is overly obsessed with the consumption of what they see as the 'right ' foods for them (vegan, raw foods, paleolithic etc), to the point where their nutrition and quality of life suffers (Gordon, et al, 1983). Some people have food phobias about what they can and can 't eat, which may also be a form of eating disorder. Another disorder which is somewhat qualitatively different from the foregoing is pica, or the habitual ingestion of inedible 's, such as dirt, wood, hair, etc.
Theses problems are faced by teens due to the un-realistic body images presented by the media and for most, fashion models that are rail thin and shown to be the epitome of beauty (Zerbe KJ, 1996). The younger girls look at these almost anemic
Eating disorders are a group of mental disorders that interfere with normal food consumption. They may lead to serious health problems and, in the case of both bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, even death. The major recognized eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
An eating disorder is a serious psychological condition. The sufferer is obsessed with food, diet and often body image to the point where their quality of life suffers, and their health is at extreme risk from their long-term poor or inadequate diet. Most victims of an eating disorder do not recognize that they have a problem and they will refuse treatment and attempt to hide their abnormal behavior from others. Treatment of eating disorders can take decades, so early identification may be the difference between life and death for the patient.
The two major types of eating disorder which will be the most familiar to many are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia. Large amounts of food are consumed at a sitting but retained in the stomach rather than being regurgitated. Some experts consider a complaint called orthorexia to be a valid eating disorder - the sufferer is overly obsessed with the consumption of what they see as the 'right ' foods for them (vegan, raw foods, paleolithic etc), to the point where their nutrition and quality of life suffers (Gordon, et al, 1983). Some people have food phobias about what they can and can 't eat, which may also be a form of eating disorder. Another disorder which is somewhat qualitatively different from the foregoing is pica, or the habitual ingestion of inedible 's, such as dirt, wood, hair, etc.
Theses problems are faced by teens due to the un-realistic body images presented by the media and for most, fashion models that are rail thin and shown to be the epitome of beauty (Zerbe KJ, 1996). The younger girls look at these almost anemic
Cited: ANRED:Aneroxia Nervosa and related eating disorders.2002.April 03 2005 Eating Disorders.2005.05 April 2005 Gordon, Donna P., Katherine A. Halmi., and Paula M. Ippolito. Psychological Evaluation Of Adolescent Patients With Anorexia Nervosa And With Conduct Disorders. Anaheim, CA, August, 1983. Katz, Nikki.Women 's Issues. About.2005. April 05 2005. http://womensissues.about.com/cs/eatingdisorders/a/edstats.htm Stark, Charlotte. All About Anorexia Nervosa. The Mental Health Foundation. April 07 2005. http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/html/content/all_about_anorexia.pdf Stark, Charlotte. All About Bulimia Nervosa. The Mental Health Foundation. April 07 2005. http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/html/content/all_about_bulimia.pdf Pzinger, Chrystal. Personal Interview. 02 April 2005. Zerbe KJ. Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia Nervosa. When The Pursuit of Bodily ‘Perfection ' Becomes A Killer. 99 (1996): 161–164, 167–169.