Causes of Eating Disorders.
Eating disorders, can be defined as devastating biological illnesses, which may be brought about by a variety of factors like, pressure from families, biochemical causes, and sometimes cultural impacts. These complicated diseases may take years of recovery. A study done in the united states has shown that eating disorders affect five percent of females and one percent of males, thus women are at a higher risk of being affected by eating disorders compared to males.
It has not been established what the clear cause of eating disorders are. “ Diseases caused by the interaction of physical, biological, and cultural issues, are what result to eating disorders” (Ciotola DB). Although many people are normally concerned about their weight being a key factor in eating disorders, it takes a variety of factors including emotional issues. One can easily notice an eating disorder, but sometimes the symptoms can be very subtle. Some of the symptoms shown when having an eating disorder, can be seen through the disease Anorexia, this is when the body has lost the appetite for food. One tends to avoid food, or consume little portions of it which is brought about by the extreme dread of gaining weight.
Bulimia is a type of disorder where the person tends to consume large chunks of food, and in the process they ingest large amounts of calories forcing them to rid of them by vomiting, or using laxatives. Scientific studies conducted showed that many of these factors indeed create high risks in developing eating disorders. Some of these extended risk factors include, age, gender, and sometimes the history of the family also contributes in their development. Other minor but highly efficient causes of eating disorders include, diet practices, life changes, and sport and work related activities. When considering the age factor, these disorders mainly affect teenage girls more compared to boys. A U.S study revealed that most teenage girls tend to starve themselves in fear of gaining weight. It also concluded that approximately 12% of them have gone without food for 24hours (“Youth Risk” INT). They normally suffer from some type of Bulimia because they also tend to consume large portions of food and later purging.
When it also comes to the family history, values can also be a major cause of eating disorders. Eating disorders can be hereditary in the sense that, one tends to suffer from it if a previous member of the family suffered the same. The obsession of a perfect look may also push an individual to develop eating disorders. Most are normally concerned with their weight, either they are too fat, or they consider themselves as too skinny. Parents sometimes can also contribute to a person’s eating disorder habits especially if they are used to pressuring someone to become successful. Loss of faith towards life can also be a cause, people seem to turn to food as a method to take back control of their life.
Families involved in an abuse of any kind may also contribute to a person’s eating habits. One will use food as a weapon to punish oneself as a way of blocking the pain especially if they think the abuse is partly or wholly their fault. Mental and emotional disorders cannot be singled out, as they also play a key role in developing eating disorders. Some of the mental and emotional disorders like, anxiety attacks, depression and OCD which stands for obsessive-compulsive disorder . Some emotional problems like depression tend to be much more dangerous as they can easily lead to someone developing these disorders. Every time a person is depressed, they will automatically turn to food as a defense mechanism.
Mental disorders like OCD also cause problems.” An OCD person tends to perfect in everything…and this may also be seen in their weight”(Ciotola DB). It may also lead to anxiety of the affected causing them to develop food disorders as they tend to watch their weight. Due to influence from models, or celebrities, most people tend to go on a diet depriving themselves of certain food, or completely not eating with the aim of attaining certain body shapes. 20-25% of weightwatchers upgrade to eating disorders (Ciotola DB). Most of these people are female from as young as 8 years, and they are comfortable with it(Garner 727-780).
Life changes, which are either minor or major, also contribute to a person’s eating habits. Sudden death of a close relative, divorce, transferring schools can also be major contributions of eating disorders. These factors are considered because they normally lead to stress, or cause depression among persons forcing them to unhealthy eating habits. However small the impact may seem, eating disorders and life changes go hand in hand, for example, transferring schools may lead to depression because of the effect of losing friends or having to move from one city to another. One may isolate themselves to find comfort in food cutting interactions with other people.
Sports as a passion or career, may also be considered as one of the factors leading to eating disorders. This is seen in certain sports like, football, ice skating, and athletics which mostly stress on the thinness of the sportsperson. This could in turn lead to a disorder when changing eating habits to cope with the sport. Coaches tend to force athletes into shape triggering an eating disorder in the process. Jobs can also lead to disorders, but this normally depends on the type of job done. Jobs like acting, modeling that involve placing individuals in the limelight, may lead to eating disorders in the bid to maintain their status.
Eating disorders can be extremely harmful to a person which can be lifelong. Effects can also be short term. These include, dehydration, malnutrition, swelling and dry skin. Long term effects include, hypertension, heart problems, and eventually death. When someone is struggling with an eating disorder, the body becomes weaker by the day, leading to Osteoporosis which is the bones thinning condition.
Luckily, there are some practices that can be used to prevent eating disorders. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is just but one of the many ways of accomplishing it. People should also adapt a positive attitude towards life, loving themselves for who they are and not trying to imitate the life of others. In schools, teachers should provide counseling services to students showing signs of eating disorders, or they can also involve support groups. These groups will be involving themselves with the promotion of healthy eating habits, and basically shunning all practices that might lead to a person developing an eating disorder. Rehabilitation of victims of eating disorders should be enhanced to help those already struggling with eating disorders in the dark. Neighborly spirit should be practiced in that one looks after the other, this comes in handy when certain types of abuse are rampant in a certain family. The neighbor can make it his duty to alert the police, who will in turn take necessary measures in curbing the crime.
In conclusion, if people tend to be aware of the causes of eating disorders, they will take early measures to prevent the disorders before they become epidemic. These complications can be harmful to one’s health and may affect the said persons even after they no longer have an eating disorder. Professional advice, and staying clear of the causes of eating disorder will protect you from a life which would have otherwise been filled with pain and suffering.
Works cited
Keel, Pamela K. Eating Disorders. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. Print.
Nardo, Don. Eating Disorders. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books, 1991. Print.
