Anorexia and Anorexia and BulimiaBulimia

Luis Eduardo Paredes GarcíaLuis Eduardo Paredes GarcíaHI2HI2

Eating disorders are so common in America that 1 Eating disorders are so common in America that 1 or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with one. Each year, thousands of teens develop eating one. Each year, thousands of teens develop eating disorders, or problems with weight, eating, or body disorders, or problems with weight, eating, or body image.image.

Eating disorders are more than just going on a diet Eating disorders are more than just going on a diet to lose weight or trying to exercise every day. to lose weight or trying to exercise every day. They're extremes in eating behavior — the diet that They're extremes in eating behavior — the diet that never ends and gradually gets more restrictive, for never ends and gradually gets more restrictive, for example. Or the person who can't go out with example. Or the person who can't go out with friends because he or she thinks it's more important friends because he or she thinks it's more important to go running to work off a snack eaten earlierto go running to work off a snack eaten earlier

The most common eating disorders are The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosaanorexia nervosa and and bulimia nervosabulimia nervosa (usually called simply "anorexia" and "bulimia"). (usually called simply "anorexia" and "bulimia"). But other food-related disorders, like binge But other food-related disorders, like binge eating, body image disorders, and food phobias, eating, body image disorders, and food phobias, are becoming more and more common.are becoming more and more common.

anorexiaanorexia

People with anorexia have a real fear of weight gain People with anorexia have a real fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they can't maintain a normal body As a result, they can't maintain a normal body weight. Many teens with anorexia restrict their food weight. Many teens with anorexia restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all — and the small amount of They hardly eat at all — and the small amount of food they do eat becomes an obsession.food they do eat becomes an obsession.

Others with anorexia may start binge eating and Others with anorexia may start binge eating and purging — eating a lot of food and then trying to get purging — eating a lot of food and then trying to get rid of the calories by forcing themselves to vomit, rid of the calories by forcing themselves to vomit, using laxatives, or exercising excessively, or some using laxatives, or exercising excessively, or some combination of these.combination of these.

bulimiabulimia Bulimia is similar to anorexia. With bulimia, someone might binge Bulimia is similar to anorexia. With bulimia, someone might binge

eat (eat to excess) and then try to compensate in extreme ways, eat (eat to excess) and then try to compensate in extreme ways, such as forced vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight such as forced vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain. Over time, these steps can be dangerous — both physically gain. Over time, these steps can be dangerous — both physically and emotionally. They can also lead to compulsive behaviors and emotionally. They can also lead to compulsive behaviors (ones that are hard to stop).(ones that are hard to stop).

To be diagnosed with bulimia, a person must be binging and To be diagnosed with bulimia, a person must be binging and purging regularly, at least twice a week for a couple of months. purging regularly, at least twice a week for a couple of months. Binge eating is different from going to a party and "pigging out" Binge eating is different from going to a party and "pigging out" on pizza, then deciding to go to the gym the next day and eat on pizza, then deciding to go to the gym the next day and eat more healthfully.more healthfully.

People with bulimia eat a large amount of food (often junk food) at People with bulimia eat a large amount of food (often junk food) at once, usually in secret. Sometimes they eat food that is not once, usually in secret. Sometimes they eat food that is not cooked or might be still frozen, or retrieve food from the trash. cooked or might be still frozen, or retrieve food from the trash. They typically feel powerless to stop the eating and can only stop They typically feel powerless to stop the eating and can only stop once they're too full to eat any more. Most people with bulimia once they're too full to eat any more. Most people with bulimia then purge by vomiting, but may also use laxatives or excessive then purge by vomiting, but may also use laxatives or excessive exercise.exercise.

Is Anorexia a Cultural Is Anorexia a Cultural Disease?Disease?

From the outside, my eating disorder looked a lot like From the outside, my eating disorder looked a lot like vanity run amok. It looked like a diet or an obsession vanity run amok. It looked like a diet or an obsession with the size of my thighs. I spewed self- and body-with the size of my thighs. I spewed self- and body-hatred to friends and family for well over a decade. hatred to friends and family for well over a decade. Anorexia may have looked like a disorder brought Anorexia may have looked like a disorder brought about by the fashion industry, by a desire to be thin about by the fashion industry, by a desire to be thin and model-perfect that got out of hand.and model-perfect that got out of hand.

Except that it wasn't. I wasn't being vain when I Except that it wasn't. I wasn't being vain when I craned my neck trying to check out my butt in the craned my neck trying to check out my butt in the mirror—I truly had no idea what size I was anymore. I mirror—I truly had no idea what size I was anymore. I was so afraid of calories that I refused to use lip balm was so afraid of calories that I refused to use lip balm and, at one point, was unable to drink water. I was and, at one point, was unable to drink water. I was terrified of gaining weight, but I couldn't explain why.terrified of gaining weight, but I couldn't explain why.