Aluba – Anorexia and Bulimia Disorders

Research indicates that 1% of female adolescents have anorexia. That is 1 out of 100 females in the age range of 10 to 20 years old. Research also indicates that 4% or 4 out of every 100 women have bulimia.  More than 10% of adolescent girls binge eat and purge their food at least once a week. All to often someone’s body image is distorted because of the “average” body shown in the media. The statistics above regarding eating disorders a partly to blame because of the media. If all an impressionable teenager sees is a 5’10 model who weighs 117 pounds they are going to have a very skewed perception of their own body image. Eating disorders are he result of insecurities and a poor body image. It is important to educate people on the normalcies of a proper weight, and diet, so that eating disorders are no longer an option.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association the average women is 5’4 and 140 pounds. Statistics and facts like these are what need to promoted in order to allow young women and men to have a better body image. Voicing the right information will help the fight against eating disorders and let individuals begin to accept and embrace their own body and no that not every body image is the same. The Unites States especially has a social and cultural view on body image and extreme thinness. In the United States women define themselves by what they look like and what type of body image they are portraying. This pressure and need for acceptance is a main indicator in women developing eating disorders.

The main thing anyone looks for as a young adult is acceptance. The media makes it very hard for young people to embrace and accept their own body image if it is not close to when it portrayed on TV and in magazines. Eating disorders are preventable.

Two of the most common eating disorders today are bulimia and anorexia. It has been estimated that one or two out of one hundred people are struggling with either bulimia or anorexia. People with Bulimia or anorexia usually have an extreme fear of becoming overweight, and have a very skewed perception of their own body. And while no one can be exactly sure what pushes a person towards bulimia or anorexia, there are certain factors, such as the media that have played big roles in the epidemics that are known as bulimia and anorexia.

Individuals battling anorexia usually have a deeply rooted fear of becoming overweight. When dealing with anorexia individuals have a very distorted view of their own body. Everyone looks better then them according to an anorexic. A person who is twice the size of the individual battling anorexia could walk by them on the street, and they would think “if only I could look like that.” “Why do I have to look this way.” Proving anorexia is not only a physical disorder but a mental disorder as well.  People with anorexia usually limit their in take a food to next to nothing, or just starve themselves. Anorexia is a serious disorder that requires a treatment and recovery process. It is important to notify someone immediately if you think someone you no is struggling with anorexia

Bulimia is similar to anorexia in the sense that individuals suffering with bulimia have a warped perception of their bodies and live in constant fear of being overweight. However with bulimia a person will binge eat, or eat large amounts of food and then try to compensate for it by throwing up, taking laxatives, or extreme exercising. The person suffering with bulimia typically feels powerless to stop the eating and can only stop once he or she is too full to eat any more. Most people with bulimia then purge by vomiting, but may also use laxatives or excessive exercise. Although anorexia and bulimia are very similar, people with anorexia are usually very thin and underweight but those with bulimia may be a normal weight or even overweight.

Fortunately, people with anorexia or bulimia can get well and gradually learn to eat normally again. Anorexia and Bulimia involve both the mind and body. Because of this medical doctors, mental health professionals, and dietitians will often be involved in a person’s treatment and recovery for anorexia or bulimia. Therapy or counseling is a critical part of treating anorexia and bulimia. In many cases, family therapy is one of the keys to eating healthily again. Parents and other family members are important in helping a person see that his or her normal body shape is perfectly fine and that being excessively thin can be dangerous. Treatment options depend on each person and their families, but many options are available to help you overcome an bulimia and anorexia. Therapy can help you feel in charge again and learn to like your body, just as it is.