Anorexia

Anorexia

When food becomes more than just a nutritional necessity to survive, eating disorders emerge. Obesity is the most common eating disorder in North America. “Over 60% of North America adults are overweight, and 40% of them are obese” (Wardlaw 341). Obesity is described as a body mass index over 24.9 or over 25% body fat in men and over 35% body fat in women (350). Some other less common eating disorders may arise with food abuse. Female athlete triad occurs in appearance-based and endurance sports. It is characterized by disordered eating, lack of menstrual periods, and osteoporosis. A study of college age female athletes found that 15% of swimmers, 62% of gymnasts, and 32% of all varsity athletes exhibited disordered eating patterns. Binge-eating disorder occurs in almost 2% of the North American population ( 433). Binge-eaters binge on their favorite sweets and fatty food two or more times per week; however, unlike anorexics and bulimics binge eaters do not purge (expel food though vomiting, laxatives and/or enemas).

Anorexic and bulimic symptoms overlap in many cases, but they are very different disorders. The most reliable way to tell the disorders apart is weight. Bulimics sustain a normal body weight, and anorexics drop weight very fast and are below average body weight. Bulimia is episodes of binging and purging. Anorexia is the fear of gaining weight. To be diagnosed with anorexia a person must be fifteen percent or more below the average body weight and in women have the loss of menstruation. Bulimics must binge and purge at least two times per week for six months to be diagnosed. Bulimia and anorexia are both very dangerous disorders, but bulimia can be more dangerous because it goes untreated longer than anorexia due to normal body weight and very secretive activity. Though, anorexia has longer lasting permanent side effect than bulimia. The disorders overlap because anorexics often binge and purge, and bulimics often exercise extensively. Almost all side affects of bulimia are reversible except tooth decay, loss of potassium which causes heart attack, and death from Ipeca poisoning. Disappearing side affects include tooth erosion and swelling of the throat and esophagus. Bulimics are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease or become pregnant due to impulsive behavior than deal with the lasting side effects of bulimia. Bulimia is usually a way of dealing with other problems. “Twenty percent of bulimics suffer from several different impulse control issues of bulimia. A high percentage of bulimics also abuse drugs, alcohol, live recklessly, and are sexually promiscuous” (Hurley 29). After treatment bulimics are also more likely to relapse because of impulse control problems.

The DSM-IV defines anorexia as an individual who refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight. An individual intensely afraid of gaining weight, exhibit’s a significant disturbance in the perception of the shape of size of his or her body, is fifteen percent or more below the normal body weight and the absence of menstruation. Anorexia means the “loss of appetite”. The mean age of onset according to the DSM-IV is seventeen with peaks at fourteen and eighteen. The onset rarely occurs over the age of forty. Anorexia is more prevalent in industrialized cities because there is an abundance of food and attractiveness is linked to thinness (Harmon 18 and 30).

A North American woman suffering from anorexia has the same lifespan as a person from an impoverished country (Hurley 26). The typical anorexic is a fourteen to sixteen year old young, single female from a white middle to upper-class socioeconomic status and shown a tendency to obesity. Adolescent girls are the most at risk because body fat increases during puberty. Girls have an altered perception of their body at this age. “A study in 1991 of school age students (mean age 16, female) 60% described themselves as overweight, 75% wanted to lose weight, and 80% said they were above the weight at which they would be the happiest” (44). Dieting often starts at elementary or middle school age because they are unhappy with their bodies especially girls that mature at an early age. Eating is a stress reliever that can spiral out of control and cause girls to gain weight and then become anorexic because of body image. Athletes like figure skaters, gymnasts, ballet dancers, runners, and cheerleaders are at a greater risk of developing anorexia because the sports are appearance based. Anorexics continue the disordered eating because they feel in control, special, prove will power, and see anorexia as a friend and sense of protection against underlying emotional problems. Individuals who have been or are being sexually abused are more likely to become anorexic as well. An anorexic will count every single calorie and weight food