Eating Disorders
RUNNING HEAD: EATING DISORDERS
Eating Disorders
Cassandra M. Alexander
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Three of the most discussed are anorexia, bulimia, and what researchers call EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Each of the eating disorders can be fatal in their own way. What are the signs, what do they do to you and your body, and what can be done to treat the problem? Researchers have studied long and hard into these three disorders so that those questions could be answered to the best of their ability. In this paper, the outcomes of the research that was done and the thesis in which was given shall be discussed. Anorexia nervosa is the most “known” eating disorder to people. Everyone has heard about anorexia and people with it just “starve” themselves. Anorexia is actually a lot deeper than just not eating, it has more complex reasons to it. Anorexia is mainly about self-image. People with anorexia have the physical capability to tolerate extreme self-imposed weight loss, with food restriction as only one aspect of the practices to lose weight (Morris, J. & Twaddle, S., 2007) A lot of people with anorexia also over exercise and do whatever activities they can to burn calories. They often choose to stand instead of sitting, generate opportunities to be active, are drawn to sports, athletics, and dance. They also believe in self-induced vomiting, misusing laxatives, diuretics, and “slimming medicines.” They also do “body checks”, which involve constantly weighing, measuring, mirror gazing, and other obsessive behaviors to reassure themselves that they are still thin (Morris, J. & Twaddle, S., 2007). Having anorexia can cause major health issues on top of everything. Due to starvation the heart can be affected, irregular heart beat known as sinus bradycardia, it also causes dehydration and
Eating Disorders
Cassandra M. Alexander
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Three of the most discussed are anorexia, bulimia, and what researchers call EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). Each of the eating disorders can be fatal in their own way. What are the signs, what do they do to you and your body, and what can be done to treat the problem? Researchers have studied long and hard into these three disorders so that those questions could be answered to the best of their ability. In this paper, the outcomes of the research that was done and the thesis in which was given shall be discussed. Anorexia nervosa is the most “known” eating disorder to people. Everyone has heard about anorexia and people with it just “starve” themselves. Anorexia is actually a lot deeper than just not eating, it has more complex reasons to it. Anorexia is mainly about self-image. People with anorexia have the physical capability to tolerate extreme self-imposed weight loss, with food restriction as only one aspect of the practices to lose weight (Morris, J. & Twaddle, S., 2007) A lot of people with anorexia also over exercise and do whatever activities they can to burn calories. They often choose to stand instead of sitting, generate opportunities to be active, are drawn to sports, athletics, and dance. They also believe in self-induced vomiting, misusing laxatives, diuretics, and “slimming medicines.” They also do “body checks”, which involve constantly weighing, measuring, mirror gazing, and other obsessive behaviors to reassure themselves that they are still thin (Morris, J. & Twaddle, S., 2007). Having anorexia can cause major health issues on top of everything. Due to starvation the heart can be affected, irregular heart beat known as sinus bradycardia, it also causes dehydration and