An eating disorder occurs when someone’s attitude about food changes and their eating patterns become almost non-existent. These strange eating habits jeopardize your health, happiness and safety. Recent studies show between 5% and 10% of girls suffer from an eating disorder, according to the Illinois Department of Health. The main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by excessive weight loss, and the constant fear of gaining weight. Shocking information states that Royal College Psychiatrists say that anorexia is now the third most common disorder that involves your body, after obesity and asthma. Bulimia Nervosa is binging food, then purging.
There are many different reasons as to why as somebody would be self-conscious about their body other than low self esteem. These reasons include: depression, anxiety, strong need to please others, difficulty expressing emotions, and the cultural pressure of needing to be thin. A lot of the population with eating disorders are only losing the weight to look more attractive. For instance, gymnasts, dancers, actresses, and models are often told by coaches, managers, or producers that they need to lose weight even when they are already thin.
When singer Adele was pressured by her producer she said, “’I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.” She has struggled with her size since she was young and admits to being anywhere from a size 14 to 16. She says she’s proud of her body.
The necessity to be thin starts at a young age in many humans. Polls show that 40% of first, second, and third graders said they want to be thinner. Another poll said that 80 percent of ten year olds are worried they are going to become fat.
Most people think that only women are self conscious about their bodies but about one million men are suffering from eating disorders. Eating disorders are found in all athletes because of the need to be the best or to drop weight. In both cases it can be caused by low self esteem, a need to be accepted, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, homosexual males have an increased rate of eating disorder, according to eMedTV.com.
Having anorexia is not a safe way to lose weight. Many men and women who suffer from anorexia are sent to the hospital. About 50,000 individuals will die as a direct result of their eating disorder.