Eating Disorder
Eating Disorder
April R. Gaines
Alcorn State University
Eating Disorder An eating disorder is when a person experiences severe changes in eating behavior, such as a very low dose of food intake or a high dose of overeating, or worry about body weight or shape. A person with an eating disorder begins eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual and then the situation gets out of control. Eating disorders are very complicated; the biological, behavioral and social foundations of these illnesses remain incomprehensive. Most eating disorders appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but some an develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Women and girls are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Men and boys account for an estimated 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder(Anderson, 2001). Eating disorders are treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They can arrive from psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders depression, drug or substance abuse. Eating disorders can cause a person to suffer from numerous heart conditions or kidney failure. Eating disorders can be treated psychological and medicinal treatments. Treatment plans often are tailored to the patient 's individual needs that may include medical care and monitoring. Treatment can be in the form of medications; nutritional counseling; and individual, group and/or family psychotherapy. Sometimes victim need to be hospitalized to treat malnutrition or to gain weight, or for other reasons. Anorexia usually takes its toll on girls who are the "perfect ones." Everything in their lives seems to be in order, on schedule, and, literally, perfect. Their desperate need for something to uphold and be proud of and claim as their own is manifest in their ability to control their food intake. Controlling every calorie
April R. Gaines
Alcorn State University
Eating Disorder An eating disorder is when a person experiences severe changes in eating behavior, such as a very low dose of food intake or a high dose of overeating, or worry about body weight or shape. A person with an eating disorder begins eating smaller or larger amounts of food than usual and then the situation gets out of control. Eating disorders are very complicated; the biological, behavioral and social foundations of these illnesses remain incomprehensive. Most eating disorders appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but some an develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Women and girls are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Men and boys account for an estimated 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder(Anderson, 2001). Eating disorders are treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They can arrive from psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders depression, drug or substance abuse. Eating disorders can cause a person to suffer from numerous heart conditions or kidney failure. Eating disorders can be treated psychological and medicinal treatments. Treatment plans often are tailored to the patient 's individual needs that may include medical care and monitoring. Treatment can be in the form of medications; nutritional counseling; and individual, group and/or family psychotherapy. Sometimes victim need to be hospitalized to treat malnutrition or to gain weight, or for other reasons. Anorexia usually takes its toll on girls who are the "perfect ones." Everything in their lives seems to be in order, on schedule, and, literally, perfect. Their desperate need for something to uphold and be proud of and claim as their own is manifest in their ability to control their food intake. Controlling every calorie
References: AABA-American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Inc. September 10, 2000 http://www.aabainc.org/familyfriends/index2.html. Andersen AE. Eating disorders in males.In: Brownell KD, Fairburn CG, eds. Eating disorders and obesity: a comprehensive handbook. New York: Guilford Press, 1995; 177-187. Mental Health America. (2011). Eating Disorders: Mental Health America ...... www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/eating-disorders. Mental Help Net & CMHC Systems."All About Eating Disorders." 1994. September 9, 2000 http://eatingdisorders.mentalhelp.net/.