Eating Disorders Essay

Eating disorders are devastating and harmful behavioral patterns that occur within people for numerous reasons. The three types of eating disorders I will be discussing include the three most common of the disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating (known as binge eating). Though the disorders take physical damage on the body, they are not in fact physical illnesses. You cannot â€Å"catch† and eating disorder. Rather, they are mental issues that develop more frequently within females but do affect the male population somewhat as well. Eating disorders are very common in our culture many people have them or know someone who does. With our cultures unrealistic views on what is beautiful the supper skinny models that woman see everywhere makes many people think that they have to live up to those standards. Some people feel if they cannot be up to these standards that they are not good enough and this causes them to do things that a person in their normal state of mi nd would never do. When people starve themselves to like in anorexia they end up developing many different psychological problems and find excuses to keep up with their destructive habits. There are also people who are addicted to eating they use eating as a way to feel a void that they feel like they have. They lean to use eating as a cooping tool in turn they become obese then they use eating to deal with their depression which works as a double edged sword. What they love is what is destroying them physically as well as mentally. This can also be considered emotional eating this is eating when you’re angry, sad, or even anxious. Many cultures have different views as what is considered attractive these variables play a large part in what peoples diet habits are this can be seen in the magazines and television from the area to show what they culture is  expecting people to look like and what they are expected to eat. Women have been the main ones with eating disorders but men with them are on the rise this is due to the unrealistic thoughts on them as well. Men are more prone to work out more than what is really necessary that way they get lower body fat. Many men think the lower their body fat the better they are this can cause many other mental issues that were not originally perceived as a female problem. With the current changes in culture the rise in men having eating disorders will keep rising. Bulimia occurs with or without anorexia symptoms. Individuals with bulimia tend to binge eat then self induce vomiting. However, binge eating is sometimes not a component of bulimia. Individuals may eat normal a mounts, and then excuse themselves to the bathroom. Another common trait is the use of laxatives, diuretics, and enemas in thoughts that it will excrete those calories. Bulimics are not necessarily underweight. Some are even over weight if not at a normal weight, and they almost always have a swollen appearance to their stomachs. Compulsive overeating is a disorder in which individuals overeat, often using food as an addictive substance. As others may turn to alcohol, drugs, or gambling to alleviate stress, compulsive overeaters turn to food. Eating disorders can plague women, and men of any age. With treatment people can overcome eating disorders and regain a normal lifestyle. They of course will always struggle with their initial issues related to food, however the treatments can teach them and give them the strength to overcome the impulses.