Abby Reitz

College Prep Writing

Informative Essay

4 Oct. 2017

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are a serious health issue in today’s society. Eating disorders revolve

around serious mental and physical problems that can have life threatening consequences. In

order to address the issue properly, it is important to understand the inner works of eating

disorders such as what an eating disorder is, what causes eating disorders, and the signs and

symptoms of common types of eating disorders.

Eating disorders are mental illnesses characterized by irregular eating habits and acute

concern about body image or weight. Eating disorders can cause severe disturbances to a

person’s eating behaviors. Eating disorders take over a person’s life and can lead to serious and

possibly fatal medical complications (What Eating Disorder?). While eating disorders revolve

around preoccupations with food, weight, calories and exercise, there are deeper explanations

consisting of a need to be in control, loved and accepted (Ekern, Everybody Knows Somebody).

Three main types of eating disorders, anorexia Nervosa, bulimia Nervosa, and binge eating

disorder can affect anyone regardless, of gender or age.

While the exact cause of eating disorders is unknown, scientists suggest that a range of

biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors play an important role in a person’s

development on an eating disorder. Some examples of biological factors would include irregular

hormone functions, genetics, and nutritional deficiencies (Ekern, About Eating Disorder).
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Psychological factors would include negative body image and poor self-esteem (Ekern, About

Eating Disorder). Environmental factors can also contribute to the development of an eating

disorder. Some environmental factors would include a dysfunctional family dynamic,

professions and careers that promote being thin or weight loss, family and childhood traumas,

and even stressful transitions and life changes (Ekern, About Eating Disorder). Peer pressure,

such as bullying, or even a history of physical or sexual abuse are also environmental factors

that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder (Eating Disorders, NAMI). It is also

believed that eating disorders are caused by a person’s attempt to cope with overwhelming

feelings and emotions by controlling food.

Most people suffering from an eating disorder will show common signs and symptoms,

but certain eating disorders have more specific and recognizable symptoms. Someone who

suffers from Anorexia Nervosa will show signs of being extremely underweight, denying himself

or herself food, obsessing about weight loss, denying hunger and severely restricting food

intake. It is also common for a person suffering from anorexia to practice binge and purge

eating habits (Eating Disorders, NAMI).

The symptoms of anorexia cannot only be physical, such as a change in appearance, but

emotional as well. Physical symptoms can include brittle hair and nails, dry and yellowish skin,

growth of fine hair over the body, and even damage to the heart (Eating Disorders, National

Institute). Even simple things, like trouble sleeping and dehydration, are physical symptoms of

anorexia (Eating Disorders, NAMI). While the physical symptoms of anorexia are harmful, the

emotional symptoms can be just as damaging. Emotional symptoms such as irritability, social

withdraw, lack of mood and emotion, and inability to understand the severity of the situation
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can be just as imperative to a person’s health as the physical symptoms (Eating Disorders,

NAMI).

The signs and symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa are very different from those of Anorexia

Nervosa. A person suffering from bulimia will frequently consume large amounts of food in a

short amount of time, leading to the victim feeling out of control (Eating Disorders, National

Institute). A victim of bulimia will show signs of forced vomiting or excessive use of laxatives in

an attempt to rid himself or herself of the extra calories (Eating Disorders, NAMI). This will

become a repeating cycle and can take over the victim’s life.

The physical symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa can have a large impact on the function of

the body. The process of vomiting can cause damage to parts of the body connected to eating

and digesting food. Excessive purging can even lead to stroke or heart attack (Eating Disorders,

National Institute). Someone suffering from bulimia will also have emotional symptoms such as

low self-esteem linked to body image, feeling of being out of control, and guilt about eating. It

is also common for someone suffering from bulimia to withdrawal from friends and family

(Eating Disorders, NAMI).

Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating large amounts of food over a short

period. It is also common for someone suffering from binge eating disorder to eat copious

amounts of food even when the victim is not hungry. This is known as binging. These are a few

signs that a person has binge eating disorder. Unlike bulimia, someone suffering from binge

eating disorder does not purge or exercise prior to binging (Eating Disorders, NAMI).

The symptoms of binge eating disorder are commonly emotional rather than physical. A

person suffering from binge eating disorder will show signs of embarrassment, personal disgust,
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and severe depression (Eating Disorders, NAMI). Some physical symptoms would include

eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food even when the victim is

not physically hungry, and eating large amounts of food alone or in private (Eating Disorders,

National Institute). A person who suffers from binge eating disorder will likely hide while they

binge in order to prevent others from knowing. This can make it hard to tell if a person is

binging or not.

Eating disorders are a serious health issues in the world today and can have life

threatening consequences. It is important to know the basics about eating disorders.

Understanding what an eating disorder is, what causes eating disorders, and the signs and

symptoms of common types of eating disorders, can help people recognize the severity of

eating disorders and help to address the issue properly.

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Works Cited

“Eating Disorders.” NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI, www.nami.org/Learn-

More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders.

“Eating Disorders.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services, Feb. 2016. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml.

Ekern, Jacquelyn. “About an Eating Disorder: Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Articles for Treatment

Help.” Eating Disorder Hope, Rodgers Memorial Hospital. 1 May 2017.

www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/eating-disorder#Eating-Disorder-Articles.

Ekern, Jacquelyn. “Everybody Knows Somebody with an Eating Disorder.” Eating Disorder Hope,

Rodgers Memorial Hospital. 6 Feb. 2012.

www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/eating-disorder/widespread-mental-illness.

“What are Eating Disorders?” National Eating Disorders Association, NEDA Feeding Hope.

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/what-are-eating-

disorders.