Title Page: Eating disorders Anorexia Nervosa and 

Bulimia Nervosa 
 

Gabriela Lopez
1/17/18

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 Topic selection: Research about eating disorders, specifically two that are better know,

Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.Study the history of these two known eating disorders and

the factors that have contributed to their existence.Investigate how media is a large contributor to

the existence and a continuous factor for the uprise of eating disorders in today's society.Overall,

get an understanding of eating disorders and how they came to be.

Purpose: The purpose of this essay for me is to be able to get a better understanding of

eating disorders.I want to have a better understanding what they are and, how they came to be a

common mental health disorder among communities around the world. Gain knowledge about

these disorders to be able to educate myself and others about eating disorders. So that I can spread

awareness about eating disorders, to teach others about the history, the symptoms, etc.To able to

help those that might be going through one, or know someone that is

Scope: I will be covering the history of eating disorders, but will go more into depth into

the history of Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa. I will be investigating the factors that have

contributed to eating disorders, precisely the influence of the media's: books, newspapers, internet,

T.V.movies, music, etc. Although media is a factor, it's not the only factor that has contributed to

eating disorders, I will also cover about how they are a mental health disorder, so the

psychological factors will be covered as well. The demographics of Anorexia and Bulimia in the

United States. Also, I will be covering the symptoms of Anorexia and Bulimia and study the types

of therapies that are given to treat these disorders.

Research Section: Eating disorders are a psychological disorder where an individual has

abnormal eating habits.These individuals form an obsessive relationship with their food, body

shape, and weight, resulting in an unhealthy lifestyle. There are multiple types of eating disorders,

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but the three most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge

eating(Strada pg 10). Anorexia is when excessive attention is focused on dieting and thinness

leading to excessive weight loss.Bulimia nervosa is when an individual has consistent episodes of

binge eating along with purging. Binge eating is compulsive overeating without purging. Anorexia

Nervosa is when an individual has an obsession to lose weight by restricting themselves from

eating(Strada pg 10).Eating disorders can be traced back to Ancient eras.The question is what are

the causes/factors behind these eating abnormalities, what influences did these communities get

faced with. Well like today the media is a big contributor in what people do, follow and believe

and media is a big influence on societies.

Eating disorders have been around for a while and are still present on a modern day.The

''creation'' of eating disorders can be traced back to the B.C era. The historical timeline has shown

that in the 500-800 B.C, Ancient Greece has influences of eating abnormalities formed in their

society.Among Ancient Greece, having some history associated with eating disorders people today

can associate themselves with people of a closer era. The earliest recording of an eating disorder,

Anorexia Nervosa being present was in the Middle Ages(Epstein pg 33).Certainly, there are more

eras and different cultures that have, or have had an eating abnormality in their

history.Furthermore, some history fragments of Anorexia and Bulimia nervosa.These two are the

most common eating disorders(New Paragraph 3). Although there aren't only two eating disorders,

anorexia and bulimia fit into separate categories. Anorexia fits in the restrictive category, while

bulimia fits in binging category. These two have been around for quite some time now, these

eating disorders aren't new. ,''The oldest eating disorder is anorexia nervosa of the restrictive

type-that is, unremitting self-starvation in the pursuit of thinness"(Cassel & Larocca IXp4). The

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flourishing of eating disorders can be traced back to a religious practice, fasting. Fasting is when

an individual doesn't eat for a period of time. Although there is a difference between fasting in

religion and fasting to lose weight. The difference is that these religions do fasting for their

religion.Unlike an individual that does fasting to lose weight, so they fit into their social standards.

Fasting is still followed by people that follow a religion that includes fasting in their practices.Well

known religions, like Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.These religions have been around for a

while and have all had past history. Well in Ancient Judeo-Christianity they practiced it as well.

Ancient Judeo-Christians practiced fulfilling their wish to show mortification of the flesh, overall

to share a closeness to God(Cassel & Larocca IXp 5).In the Christian religion, Judeo-Christians

follow fasting, it is part of their religion, that they follow. Well as fasting originates from practices

of religion, they gave individuals the thought to try it out.To be able to lose weight in an unhealthy

way, in order to achieve a weight that fits their societies social standards. Even though this eating

disorders can be traced back to ancient times and religion.Anorexia and bulimia weren't classified

as an illness until the 17th &18th century(Cassell&Larocca xiii 6). These eating disorders have

been going on since ancient times, but ancestors didn't view it as an illness. In these societies that

saw others practice purging, or fasting they saw it as a way to get closer to their religion. They

didn't view it as a problem, simply a practice of religion. Especially during the 16th century, when

''miraculous maids'' or '' fasting girls'' came to be in the world(Cassel & Larocca xii p4). They

were women that were extremely skinny and they would eat hardly anything, but yet survive.

These women gave people the thought that God was there with these women, and that is why they

were surviving. It gave people of a sense of hope that they could do anything. This caused people

to view them as divine manifestations(Cassel Larocca xiii4). But this attention stopped when

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physicians took the task to investigate the women for validity(Cassel & Larocca xiii p5). They

found out that these women weren't here and surviving, because of God, but rather by starving

themselves for fame. Most of these women were revealed to be frauds and were imprisoned or

killed. In result, caused these followers of Christianity to view fasting as Satan's work and not

Gods( Cassell & Larocca xii p5). The influence of religion had lead follower view an illness a

Satan's work when it all started out as a practice to their God. When in reality these women had a

mental health disorder and they needed help. Eating disorders weren't being noticed as an illness

until the 17th century through the 19th century. Anorexia and Bulimia history has a strong

relationship with religion, the practices led for individuals to follow in an unhealthy way.

Therefore, religion is a major part of the history of these two eating disorders lets see how

other media are a cause for the ongoing existence of them.Multiple types of media are surrounding

the world and their societies.Whether the media being culture, religion, books, internet, T.V.or,

any form of media, they have had an influence on eating disorders. People are always following

and getting influenced by the media. Media is a major factor for eating disorders to exist.

All types of media have been present in the world, they give people information about

anything that they want to learn about. These media's can give out information that is true, it can

even show false information. And people won't even realize it because the media is, so influential

in their life. They follow and do anything the media is showing them because they see everyone

else doing it. Media has become a cultural aspect of the world for everybody. All types of media

have been present in the world, they give people information about anything that they want to

learn about. These media's can give out information that is true, it can even show false

information. And people won't even realize it because the media is, so influential in their life. They

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follow and do anything the media is showing them because they see everyone else doing it. Media

has become a cultural aspect of the world for everybody. Television, internets, books, etc have

always been a cultural aspect of American lives they influence the American culture. Although the

media has brought good to the American culture, it also has can bring bad things. These things can

affect how an individual will behave, believe or view the world on certain topics. So how does the

media affect the way someone views their body and treats their body. Well, media has always been

influencing people by pouring them with false impressions of the world. The mask the reality with

artificiality in order to persuade people that the world is this certain way. In a way implicating that

the world is perfect. With eating disorder they are quite influenced by the media, people see

someone on the T.V that is portrayed as ''perfect'' and they want to become them. So they decide to

do become that ''perfect'' person by living an unhealthy lifestyle to get there.

Eating disorders have been being influenced by the media since the Ancient era, like in

the religion of ancient Judeo-Christianity. But the earliest recording of a media influencing an

eating disorder to arise was in the 18th century when a decade after the first book in the world

about losing weight was published(Casell&Larocca ix p4). Cases of Anorexia(restrictive) started

to appear more in 1870's after the book came out. People read the book and followed it, got

influenced to lose weight.In order, to become the person that was being portrayed in the book. This

has been going on forever, but now people have more access to other media. They want to see

themselves as the person in the Magazine articles, television shows, and advertisements. The

media has created a social context that may contribute to body dissatisfaction in women and girls (

Spettigue p2). A statistic shows that they found a significant increase in advertisements for diet

foods and diet products for the years 1973–1991 (Spettigue p2). These advertisements can pressure

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an individual to want to be just like the person in the magazine. And pursuing them to buy those

products, so that they can look like the model on the product. The media is advertising towards

teens and teens become more entangled in it because they grow up with it. A survey done on

adolescent girls shows that 83% of them read fashion magazines for an average of 4.3 hours per

week(Spettigue p5). These magazines are a huge part of these girls lives and they learn, view and

form their personality from the influences of them. The media makes the girls view the world as to

how the media is portraying themselves. They make themselves be portrayed as ''perfect'' and these

people view them as that. They make people want to look like the model that the media put out,

and the person sees it and wants to look just like them. Especially if the media is portraying

someone's physical attributes, they create an image of a beautiful, perfect person. And the people

end up wanting to look like them. There was a survey done on girls ages 11-17, they were given

three wishes and they could ask for anything. The result was that they said that they wanted to lose

the weight and keep it off(Spettigue p5). These girls are young and they already want to lose

weight, there is no doubt, that they got influenced by media to lose weight. But magazines aren't

the only source of media influencing these young girls. Nowadays with the internet being such a

big part of today's society,they can look up anything they want. On the internet, they have various

websites that talk about how eating disorders,and how to get treatment.They are useful websites

for people to educate themselves on eating disorders,but there are also websites that influence

people to begin participating in a eating disorder.The websites that are influencing individuals to

have an eating disorder are called,''pro-Ana''(Abbate P1). They are websites that share information

on their website of how eating disorders,like Anorexia are good for you. Their website contains

tips on how to become anorexic.Share unhealthy diets,exercises and trends with their followers on

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how to sustain their anorexic bodies. These websites contain trends that are shared throughout

social medias.Have created the trends,like ''thinspiration'' and ''pro-anorexia'' where they share

images or quotes within their pro-anorexia society(Abbate P 2). Among each other they share

images of their frail,thin bodies to inspire others to look like them. This is 'thinspiration'' and they

imply''pro-anorexia'' by sharing images of unhealthy individuals with anorexia,exercise

routines,quotes and diets. Pro-Ana websites are the only websites about eating disorders,there are

are pro-Mia as well.Pro-Mia is the same thing as pro-Ana,but the websites are aimed for

individuals that have bulimia nervosa. A group of researchers, did a search on these pro-eating

disorder websites,specifically pro-Ana websites.They concluded a search on Google, by searching

up keywords, "anorexia nervosa (AN) and treatment", "AN and psychotherapy", "AN and

pharmacotherapy", and then "pro-anorexia", "pro-ana sites", "thinspiration" and

"anorexicnation"(Abbate p2). Their results indicated that they gave respectively 'Anorexia nervosa

and treatment'',''pro-anorexia'','' thinspiration'' and ''anorexicnation''. The researchers found out

that,''the first group of queries gave respectively 546,000, 212,000 and 39,100 results; the second

257,000, 18,600, 14,200 and 577. Forty-seven of 100 randomly selected pro-ana websites were

thoroughly visited.

the pro-Ana websites were thoroughly visited''(Abbate p3). This information shows that

eating disorders are being researched quite often, whether it be to learn about it to get help or to

participate in it. The researcher conclusion was that the websites may increase the accessibility of

treatments,but it can also strengthen the core of psychopathological issues in anorexia

nervosa(Abbate p4). This study clearly demonstrates that the media influences eating disorders and

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individuals. Therefore media is a factor of eating disorders,but it is not the only factor,nor it will it

always be.

Yes, the media is a factor for the ''existence'' of eating disorders, but that doesn't mean it's

the only factor behind eating disorders. But eating disorders are just not sociocultural they're are

also psychological, and even genetic. Anorexia and bulimia are both an eating disorder, they are

also a mental health disorder. An eating disorder is part of abnormal psychology because of

abnormal eating habits branch from unusual patterns of behavior. The exact cause for eating

disorders are yet not revealed, the mind is a miraculous thing, there no telling why a certain thing

occurs in the mind. The simple body is a factor for eating disorders and there is no telling why

would it occur.

Even genetics are a factor for eating disorders, researchers have concluded that some

symptoms themselves also appear to be moderately heritable(Berrettini p3).To investigate this

researcher conducted Twin studies and family studies. Family studies provide data for genetic

influence by studying biologically related individuals of an individual with an eating

disorder(Berrettini p 3). The study concluded that they found an increase in rates of eating

disorders in relatives of women with AN and BN(Berrettini p3). Another study showing genetics

having an influence are twin studies. Twin studies are when identical twins are studied to whether

they share the same effect on something. In the twin studies, they saw that binge eating,

self-induced vomiting, and dietary restraint suggest that these behaviors are roughly 46 to 72

percent heritable''(Berrettini p3). The twin studies also concluded that the pathological attitudes in

eating disorders, like body dissatisfaction, eating, and weight concerns, were heritable roughly by

32 to 72%.(Bertini p3). Within these studies, they also found out that binge-eating, and vomiting

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behaviors roughly 46 to 72 % heritable (Bertini p3). Its concluded eating disorders can come from

psychological factors and genetic factors, the media isn't the only cause of eating disorders. Now

let's get into the demographics.

When it comes to eating disorders anyone can have one, no matter their demographics.

Even though women are the ones that have been known more to have them, men can also have

them. As said before anyone can develop an eating disorder at any point in their life, a statistic

shows that at least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer an eating disorder in the

U.S(Anad p1). That is a high number of people suffering an eating disorder, of all ages and gender.

Based on diagnostic interviews, age 18 is the onset of anorexia nervosa and bulimia

nervosa(National Comorbidity Survey Replication).The diagnostic interview, demonstrate that the

onset of AN and BN is at 18 years old, there have been cases of an earlier onset. Majority of

individuals with eating disorders onset as adults. Prevalence among anorexia and bulimia vary

among the years. In a diagnostic interview, they did a past year prevalence of AN and BN. This

prevalence was done in American adults 18 years of age and older, in the years of

2001-2003(National Comorbidity Survey Replication). The prevalence of BN was 0.3 %,BN was

seen fives times higher among women(0.5%), then men(0.1%).The overall prevalence of bulimia

nervosa was 0.3%. Anorexia prevalence was not recorded, but they did record the lifetime

prevalence. It concluded that the lifetime prevalence of AN in adults was 0.6%. The data also

showed that it was higher among females (0.9%) than males (0.3%). Below is where the data for

BN was recorded. Along with this, the demographics also show that these individuals that have an

eating disorder. Are also have another mental health disorder, when they are going through an

eating disorder. On a diagnostic interview, it was shown that''More than half (56.2%) of

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respondents with anorexia nervosa, 94.5% with bulimia nervosa, and 78.9% with binge eating

disorder met criteria for at least one of the core DSM-IV disorders assessed in the

NCS-R''(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Although not all the

demographics are shown or go into much depth, it has been represented that anyone can get an

eating disorder. The onset of eating disorders takes a higher place in adults, rather than non-adults.

While these aren't all the demographics, they represent the lives of individuals who have or who

are going through an eating disorder. Going through all this information about anorexia and

bulimia there is a way to see when someone is going through one. Learning information about

eating disorders can help prevent fewer deaths occurring from eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa both have symptoms that can be detected. In

anorexia, the obvious symptoms that can easily be seen are dramatic weight loss. They also tend to

be preoccupied with their weight, and food, with their food they will refuse to eat a certain food,

because of the calorie intake.Individuals will also pretend to eat their food, they hide the food to

seem like they actually ate. Anorexics highly focus on the food they just constantly think of how

they want it, and how to avoid it. Some physical symptoms you can detect on an anorexic is

pale/translucent skin, excessive hair growth (lanugo) covering the body for warmth, bones

excessively protruding, muscle diminishment, dry skin, thinning hair on the head and dental

problems.

Bulimia nervosa shares some of the same symptoms as Anorexia. The obvious one is the

evidence of binge eating, eating excessive amounts of food at once, can be noticed if large

quantities disappear in a short period. Some bulimics also don't like to eat in front of others

because they are uncomfortable.Which leads them to them to start to purge from excessive eating,

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This can be detected by them leaving the table, right after eating and going directly to the

bathroom.They also are too obsessed with food. The individuals also follow diets and tips to lose

weight. Some physical features that can be detected are a swollen face, weight fluctuation, yellow

or pale skin, dental problems, hair loss, and bad breath.

These are some easy symptoms that can be seen in individuals with the eating disorder,

with the use of this you can help some get professional help. The professional help that these

individuals can get is therapy. Eating disorders are a mental health disorder, so a therapy that is

done quite often is cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is when the individual has therapy sessions

with their psychiatrist. They have sessions about their unhealthy thoughts and form a way to battle

them, they do this too by doing mental exercises to try to diminish those thoughts. The therapies

that work the best for eating disorders are psychotherapies. Individuals can have their

psychotherapy, with an individual psychiatrist or go to an eating disorder rehab center.

Personal Perspective

Based on the research, I have done is that eating disorders have come into this world,

from the influence of the media. Whether the media being religion, an influential person, or the

internet.The media contains things that can change an individual's way of viewing

themselves.Change their perspective on how they see their body, they see someone on the T.V. or

magazine that looks completely different from themselves.They wish to look like that person they

are looking at.Seeing a person that has been photoshopped from head to toe, looking so real, but

unreal at the same time. But I have also learned that the media isn't the only influencer behind

eating disorders. I learned that eating disorders can be genetic and that there is also proof of it.

Eating disorders aren't just socio-cultural they are also biological,and we can't really help that.

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People are sometimes just born with this unfortunate illness,and all we can do is provide support.

Therefore, the media isn't the only factor,but I still believe it is a big factor for eating disorders to

be going on still.

On the research, I have done. yes, media is one of many factors that has contributed to

eating disorders.But that does not mean the media can't help spread awareness about eating

disorders.With media being, so influential in today's society anything can be said and viewed by

billions of people around the world. The use of media can bring the attention needed to talk about

mental health and educate the communities among the world on how to 'fix' this problem. To help

lower the percentage of eating disorders in the world.But most importantly help those that are

going through this make them have a voice that they are afraid to let out. To make people see and

hear that this is and has been a problem that has been around since the beginning of

time.According to the writers of The Encyclopedia of Obesity and Eating disorders, the earliest

recording of an individual starving themselves to pursue thinness can be traced all the way back to

the 1870's.But self-starvation(AN) and binge-eating(BN) is even associated with Ancient Greek

Times. To 'resolve' this problem school, students, teachers, just everyone has to talk about mental

health. I firmly believe in spreading awareness about mental health and not making it seem as a

taboo subject.

Proposal of action

My proposal of action to do about eating disorders is to spread more awareness about them. I will

do this by hosting a community event,the community event will be an informational booth. The

informational booth will be provided with pamphlets all about eating disorders. There will be also

professionals that will talk about eating disorders and how to get help if needed. I will like to

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provide information for people that don't know about eating disorders,or know someone that is

going through one. I want to bring attention to eating disorders,so that more people are aware of

it,and so that individuals with eating disorders can get help. This event will take place in the West

Jordan Library in their Viridian Event Center,on the 10 of October.Because, October 10 is mental

health awareness and eating disorders affect mental health,also they are a mental health disorder.

Now onto the expenses,the pamphlets will cost $ 149.41 for 1000 of them,and they will be tri-fold

as well. The expense for the informational booth will $200 for 4 hours at their outdoor

amphitheater. The total cost for this event should be $ 349.1 for the event location and the

pamphlets given in the booth.

Conclusión

Now that I have done research on eating disorders,anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. I have

gotten to learn a lot about them,got to learn the history behind them. I got to learn how certain

factors are the reasoning for eating disorders,learned that the media is a big influence on eating

disorders.But I also learned that other factors have ''caused'' eating disorders. Eating disorders are

influenced by several things,by all the types of media,psychological reasons and genetics.But the

media is one of the biggest factors of eating disorders.The media plays a bigger role than the other

factors. The media influences people and captures their attention,that's why I believe eating

disorders came to be from the spread of media.

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