Eating Disorders Essay

Submitted By 14trevorcasey
Words: 1688
Pages: 7

Eating Disorders Eating at the World Eating disorders are psychological illnesses that cause abnormal or disturbed eating habits, (ANAD). There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Binge eating is the opposite of the others because it is when someone eats a large amount of food in a very short amount of time. The cycle of eating for people who binge eat is not in sync with an average person’s cycle, instead of eating three meals a day they might just eat one large feast in the afternoon. Anorexic and bulimic patients suffer from not wanting to eat or throwing up consumed foods after meals. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from eating disorders, (Ross-Flanigan). In addition, nobody is sure what causes the illness, however factors such as family dynamics and society’s preoccupation with thinness are suspected as leading causes. Eating disorders are found throughout the world, while, Anorexia is the third most common illness found in teens, (ANAD). Eating disorders have been around for hundreds of years but only recently have they been studied and identified as a threat. There has been an increase in eating disorders amongst the young population from factors such as society’s pressure and the unwillingness to seek help. The amount of people, especially those under the age of 25, suffering from an eating disorder has increased dramatically in the past decades. Minds of the youth are very easily molded and shaped into thinking certain things. Young people are more susceptible to falling to the disease, while the conditions normally begin before the age of 20. “An estimated 86% report the occurrence of the disease was at age 20,” (Robbins). The onset of the problem is obviously starting at a young age. During the first decades of every human’s life we are taught to adopt the lifestyle of what’s around us, which is for the most part good, however we pick up on standards that aren’t necessary the normal. “43% report the onset of the disease occurred between the ages of 16 to 20,” (Robbins). Eating disorders are taking over the lives of teenagers throughout the world. Some may argue that eating disorders aren’t as common as people say, and that they don’t know anyone personally with a disorder. In response, eating disorders affect more people than scientist and statistics say. By conducting surveys and polls the estimated number of cases in the United States is 8 million, (ANAD). However, that estimate is lower than the true number because only 35% seek treatment, which is what makes up the majority of the cases confirmed in the entire estimated 8 million, (Prescott). Previously stated, the minds of the youth are being formatted to fit into today’s society, which leads to the mind set that everything they see on TV must be the normal and accepted. Society plays a huge role in molding the lives of our teenage population. Through magazines and commercials the “perfect” body type is depicted. Teenagers spend their time surrounding themselves with media everyday. From watching TV to reading a fashion magazine, the illusion that you have to be skinny to have a good life is branded into the minds of many. “47% of 5th-12th graders reported that they wanted to lose weight because of magazine covers,” (ANAD). The magazine covers influenced almost half of the adolescent population to want to lose weight. In addition, “69% of 5th-12th graders wanted to lose weight from looking at pictures within the magazine,” (ANAD). The pictures are what is portrayed as the normal and wanted by society and media. In contrast, some may say that there is not anything wrong with trying to maintain a healthy body, and the people on the media look healthy as can be. Well to that I argue that, “the body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal body is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females,” (ANAD). The people who are suffering from eating disorders are striving for something