Eating disorders are one of those disorders that often are over looked. In addition, as eating disorders became more prevalent, some preconceived notions about eating disorders began accuring that eating disorders there are having food problems. While that is true, an eating disorder is more of a brain disorder (mirror-mirror.org). There are many different types of eating disorders. They have different effects for different people. Eating disorders affect tens of millions of people, but the majority of those people, about eighty five to ninety percent, are women. Though there are different effects of eating disorders, I will be elaborating on three most common of the many physical effects: bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and the most common of the three, binge eating disorder (BED) (anad.org). …show more content…
In addition, I will also be explaining the different treatment options a person with an eating disorder as for his or her eating disorder. As well as how those different treatment options work to resolve or better the eating disorder.
The first eating disorder I will be elaborating on is bulimia nervosa or bulimia is eating disorders that can be described as causing one to binge eat, and then followed by purging, or intentionally getting rid of the food you just ate. This disorder also may make the person have an excessive need to exercise, take pills, or any other method to get rid of that unwanted food in their system. Although anorexia is better known than bulimia, study shows that bulimia effects more people than anorexia. The uncontrollable eating usually happens when the person is trying to limit what they eat. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders say that the binge usually happens in secret. However, the eater has feeling of guilt and regret for eating all of the food they just ate. In addition, they say the purging gives them a sense of happiness and comfort. There are many signs that show someone might suffer. Mirror-mirror.org gives an account of a few symptoms, such as, “Bathroom visits after eating (in order to purge), Weight fluctuations (usually with 10-15 lb range), and Harsh exercise regimes if the sufferer uses exercise to purge.” With purging, come physical complications such as dizziness, headaches, depression, edema, and many other, worse effects. If someone is caught in the purging cycle, it is very difficult to break out of that habit. These habits can also cause many medical complications such as dehydration, irregular heartbeats, kidney damage, liver damage, for women amenorrhea and irregular menstruation, etc. (mirror-mirror.org). The treatment options for bulimia involve mostly therapy. In addition, through the therapy the patient needs support from their family. Other treatments are antidepressants to help deal with the occasional depression following the purging (myaoclinic.org). Obvious the treatment is not going to make the person all better instantly. The patient has to be willing to go through the therapy and mentally strong to resist the temptations of eating and purging. Another eating disorder is Anorexia Nervosa or anorexia, and this disorder is a bit more serious than Bulimia. People with Anorexia experience massive weight lose and almost a sort of repulsion for food. People with anorexia may also suffer from overbearing fear of ever becoming fat. Therefore, they stick to not eating and unfortunately, ten to twenty percent of those people who suffer from anorexia sadly will die from health related complications. Anorexia also affects a person’s brain or mental state by making them think that they are not sick or they do not have a problem. The physical effects are usually drastic, on the outside there is extreme weight loss, muscle deterioration, skin problems, loss of hair, etc. In addition to the physical effects, the internal effects are far much worse and deadly, such as damaged heart tissue. In addition, heart damage could lead to cardiac arrest and possibly death. There are many signs or symptoms one should look for if they fear they are suffering from anorexia, symptoms such as; excessive exercising, being uncomfortable around food, having a pasty or pale complexion, often complaining to being fat, and wearing baggy clothes to hid the weight loss. If the anorexia is left untreated, there may be health complications such as Amenorrhea (for