Open a magazine or turn on the television and images of thin women and muscular men are the norm in today’s society, at least in the Hollywood sense. However, the average man or woman doesn’t fit this image.

Open a magazine or turn on the television and images of thin women and muscular men are the norm in today’s society, at least in the Hollywood sense. However, the average man or woman doesn’t fit this image. Size 14 is becoming more of a norm for women than a size two. However, many people still strive to fit the image Hollywood projects. It can become easier to understand why the number of people affected by eating disorders is on the rise. In fact, statistics show that the number of cases has continued to rise for the past 30 to 40 years. As knowledge about eating disorders becomes more widely known, there are more tools and treatment options available to help others avoid being one of those statistics.

Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is sometimes referred to as the starvation disease. Unlike some of the other eating disorders, people affected by anorexia nervosa eat very small quantities of food. They are very careful with the portion size of their food and will only eat certain foods. A person with anorexia is completely consumed with thoughts of weight and food, frequently checking the scale several times a day. They may feel that they are not at an ideal weight. People who have anorexia often have a very poor self-image and refuse maintain what would be considered as a healthy weight, usually believing in the need to be thinner. The lack of sustained nutrition affects the body resulting in chemical imbalances, heart issues and many other health problems.

Bulimia

The symptoms of bulimia nervosa are almost the opposite of anorexia. A person affected by bulimia nervosa may go through recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food. This usually occurs frequently and is then followed by strong feelings of guilt about their lack of control. As a means of regaining control, the person with bulimia would typically force themselves to vomit, exercise excessively, or take laxatives to purge themselves of this binge-eating. This also takes a toll on the person’s body, causing damage to their teeth and esophagus and also depleting important nutrients.

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder is, in some ways, similar to bulimia. The biggest difference between these two disorders is that unlike a person affected by from bulimia, a person affected by binge-eating disorder does not try to compensate through purging and may exceed a healthy weight range. Guilt over binge-eating usually leads to more binge-eating, resulting in further health problems, including heart problems and high blood pressure.

Treatment for eating disorders

While each person is different, the route of treating all three of these eating disorders begins with an evaluation and assessment. In order to get the maximum benefit from treatment it is best if they are prepared to accept help.

A major component in treating all three of these disorders is psychotherapy and counseling, which address the thoughts behind a person’s behaviors and self-image.

Even though eating disorders may seem more prevalent in our society than they used to be, it’s encouraging to find a growing awareness about eating disorders and how to treat them.

More than ever, people affected by eating disorders can get the help they need before becoming just another statistic.

Resources:
Rogers Memorial Hospital is the author of this article on Anoreixa Eating Disorder.
Find more information, about Bulimia Treatment here.

Author: R McCormick.

This author has published 2 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.