Problems Related To Eating Disorders

One of the most common forms of problem in the U.S is obesity and this is also one of the major reasons that people are having so many kinds of eating disorders. The eating disorders happen due to obesity and related mental health problems like depression. There are various nutritional malfunctions that occur if these eating disorders are not diagnosed on time and if they are not treated on time. Hence it should be kept in mind that these kinds of eating disorders should not be taken lightly.

In America1 or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with one form of eating disorder or the other and these eating disorders are more than just going on a diet to lose weight. Basically these eating disorders are the result of extremes in eating behavior and here the diet that never ends or gradually gets more restrictive, instead it just keeps growing and adds to various kinds of health problems. Such people start restricting social outings because they feel eating out or meeting friends will make them consume more calories.

Some of the common types of eating disorder are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which is usually called simply anorexia and bulimia respectively. However there are other food-related disorders, like binge eating disorders, body image disorders, and food phobias, which are also being included as eating disorders but are not as fatal as the others.

It has been seen that people with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. Due to these fears and phobias such people can't maintain a normal body weight and most of them restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. Hence they hardly eat and the small amount of food they do eat becomes an obsession.

There is also the reverse eating disorder of anorexia and this is commonly known as binge eating and purging, where people eat a lot of food and then try to get rid of the calories by forcing themselves to vomit, using laxatives, or exercising excessively. Then there are eating problems like Bulimia, which is similar to anorexia but here the person binge eats and then tries to compensate in extreme ways. These include means like forced vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain and this problem can be dangerous.

One of the easiest ways of recognizing these symptoms is when the person is binging and purging regularly, at least twice a week for a couple of months. This form of eating is different from going to a party and hitting the gym the next day and eats more healthfully. Here the person with bulimia eats a large amount of junk food at once, which is usually in secret. Then the person tries to stop the eating and purge by vomiting, but may also use laxatives or excessive exercise.

It should be remembered that these kinds of eating disorders can be fatal in the long run and also lead to various kinds of health problems like low immunity system, acidity, fatigue and other related health problems also.

• John Palsson
• 17/11/2008, 4:15 AM
• 0 Comments