Eating Disorders in Adolescence - Essay Example

Running Head: EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENCE Eating Disorders in Adolescence of the of the Eating Disorders in Adolescence Introduction An eating disorder is defined as a chronic disruption in ones ability to ingest food and derive nutrition from that food because of one or more emotional issues that lasts for 3 or more months. When first entering into high school, adolescents enter into a new world. Their bodies and minds develop physically, mentally, and morally. Their sleeping and eating habits change as a result of this growth, and high schools intense lifestyle. Teenagers need to eat healthy and nutritious so that their bodies can grow. Foods low in fat help decrease the risks of diseases that occur in the later years of adulthood. (Steinhaussen, H., 1995) Due to the intense and demanding lifestyle of high school, nutritious foods may be replaced with high calorie fast food, which often leads to weight gain. This weight gain, and remarks made by parents can reinforce self conscious images into some teens, which can result in developing eating disorders such as the sometimes fatal eating disorder anorexia nervosa. Eating disorders come in a variety of ways, such as eating large quantities of food and obsessing with thinness. These conditions affect many children, teens, and adults around the world. (Bryan, L., 2000)They are real, complex, and devastating situations, which can have serious consequences. There are three types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that results in an avoidance of eating because of a cluster of specific emotional issues in adolescence. It is an eating disorder that mostly occurs (about 59%) in adolescent girls, but it can also occur among teenage boys and adult men and women. Usually, anorexia begins between the ages of 14 to 18 when young teenagers go trough puberty (Ruuska, 2003). Anorexia is characterized by extreme and irrational fear of becoming fat, significant weight loss of 15% or more of the normal weight, distorted body image and amenorrhea or absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. Excessive weight loss is accomplished by restricting food intake of less than 1,000 calories per day, excessive exercise, diet pills or even self-induced. The patients constantly exercise, move food around the plate, wear oversized clothes to hide their appearance, and worry about their figure all the time. They also have a fear of eating in front of others; sometimes they feel depressed, have problems socializing and starve themselves, even if they have a normal figure. They also spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, pay too much attention to their weight, and accumulate food in unusual places. A person with anorexia, usually weights below 15% of her/his normal body weight . (Steinhaussen, 1995) There is no known single cause; however, several things may contribute to the development of the disorder. Several biological factors, including genetics and other related hormones such as serotonin, may contribute to the onset of the disorder. Research study shows that “increased levels of serotonin have been implicated in mania and anxiety states” (Ruuska, 2003). Psychologically anorexia is something that is most probably caused by a strongly instilled belief that having even normal weight is something that is wrong. This is something that is connected to the typical anorexics intrinsic compulsion to attain a sense of control within the parameters of his/her life. Anorexic young adults usually suffer from a psychological disorder that distorts their sense of self esteem. It is as a result of this that they tend to be so harsh in regard to judging themselves with particular regard to their thinness. Another important factor that causes eating disorders is the emphasis in American or Western societies on slimness as a desirable attribute, especially in young females. American culture, for example, promotes the idea that the perfect woman is thin and beautiful. The media, such as the TV advertisements, Internet, newspapers, and magazines greatly glorify “thinness” and place value on obtaining the “perfect body.” This media campaign creates a distorted sense of body image in young females, already having low self-esteem. In most cases, the family also plays a big role in delivering the wrong message regarding eating, which greatly increases the chances of developing eating disorder in its young members. In addition, parents who are always on a diet and other family members with eating disorders are also bad role models for children. Finally, peer pressure and influence are also found to be major contributing factors to the on set and development of anorexia in many young adults. Identification with and loyalty to peers is common for teens and this fidelity can work for them and against them. In many cases, the adolescents often are pressured to adjust their thoughts, feelings and behaviors to match the behaviors or standards of a group. The peer groups reinforce the wrong message of idealization of thinness by judging its members based on their physical appearances, and thus helping to create a negative sense of self-worth and body image, which triggers serious eating disorder problems. (Bryan, L. 2000) Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa is a common eating disorder. It is different from anorexia because teens with bulimia know that it is abnormal behavior and they usually have normal weight or near normal weight. Bulimic person will binge on food and then get rid of the food to avoid weight gain. There are different ways a young adult may try to get rid of the food, which is by either self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, and excessive exercise or fasting . Males tend to become bulimic in sports like wrestling, which demand a low weight class. There is a common misconception that only females have eating disorders but male eating disorders are vastly overlooked in the sports world even though 10% of bulimia sufferers are male. Types of Bulimia There are three separate types of bulimia. These types are Simple, Anorexic, and Multi-impulsive Bulimia Nervosa. Simple Bulimia Nervosa is diagnosed for women that are around 18 years of age. These teens are perceived as normal, function with other children, and are even popular with their peers. Usually the cycle of binging on food and vomiting will start to occur after a stressful point in their life. This is usually the least severe out of the three illnesses, but the eating patterns are not normal and they can still have negative effects from starting these unhealthy habits. Even though it is the least severe, it does not mean it should be taken any less serious than the others should. Anorexic Bulimia Nervosa is an unstable period of binging and vomiting. This person will eat a normal meal and then go vomit to keep the weight off. This person will also go through periods where they will be anorexic and eating nothing or very little at all. A person with this will cycle between anorexia and bulimia and sometimes do both and their weight will fluctuate. Multi-impulsive Bulimia Nervosa is the most severe type of bulimia. This usually starts the same way that Simple Bulimia does. It affects the same age groups, patterns, and thought processes. The people that suffer from Multi-impulsive bulimia usually have problems with emotional and impulse control. Usually young adults that have this form of bulimia also usually have problems with substance abuse, deliberate self-harm alcohol abuse, stealing, and promiscuity. Also with this form of bulimia is for a long period of time and frequent binging and vomiting. Bulimia starts by trying to reach this perfect image and trying to fulfill how society betrays beautiful. Culture and the media have an influence on how women should be portrayed in the public eye. For women it is the constant reminder of seeing flawless women all over advertising. People that want acceptance from the culture they are within and it is to be thin; they will do anything to receive that acceptance. If society’s emphasis on health means to be thin, then it is perceived that any way to get thin means being a healthy person. Life changes and stressful events can cause someone to turn to bulimia. Things such as rape, a past of child abuse and some traumatic events can influence developing this eating disorder. Young adults that have bulimia are sometimes influenced by their families that put a strong emphasis on having the perfect body image. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) they report that girls who live in families that tend to be strict and place strong emphasis on physical attractiveness and weight control are provoked by their family to have a certain body image. There are also psychological factors that are going on to have someone turn to bulimia as an outlet. In addition, for individuals that have bulimia it is often hard to control impulses, stress, and anxieties. Similar to anorexia, bulimia is used as a way for someone to get control back in his or her life. Once a person starts to binge and vomit on a regular basis and makes it a pattern, then it will start to trigger due to feelings. People that suffer from bulimia also start to develop other psychological problems like depression, boredom, and anger. Some women that have bulimia are usually concerned with food intake, weight, their body image, and shape. Many people that have eating disorders, such as bulimia, have common personality traits like low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and fear of becoming fat . It is said that genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain may be factors in developing bulimia. There is also a strong correlation with clinical depression and people that have eating disorders. Also, stress hormones such as cortisol are elevated in those who have eating disorders Research has also noticed that neurotransmitters such as serotonin may not function correctly with someone that has bulimia. Studies have shown that there are some genetic and environmental factors that eating disorders appear to run in families. Binge Eating Disorder Binge eating disorder, also known as compulsive overeating is a type of eating disorder in young adults or teens that is similar to bulimia nervosa, but without the purging behavior. Compulsive eaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. The individuals often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings. Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt and depression, vomiting and excessive use of laxatives or diuretics. Compulsive Overeating is the repeated cycle of uncontrollable eating without the purging of food and is again, a predominately young women disease. It is typically overlooked as an eating disorder but because there is a love-hate relationship with food it is a very dangerous eating disorder, and it is also the most common among the North American population. ( Levine, M.P., 1999) Conclusion With all these in mind, it can be concluded that eating disorders, if left untreated, can be life threatening for new generation. Treatment does not occur overnight, therefore it is essential to treat these disorders in individualized manner and a combination of psychotherapeutic strategies and medications is highly recommended. Life long improvement and direction are significant keys for a successful treatment. References American Psychiatric Association Homepage, "Eating disorders: tips for college students." January 8, 2006 Bryan, L. (2000) Anorexia nervosa and related eating disorders in childnood and adolescence Hove: Psychology Press Levine, M.P., Piran.N. and Steiner-Adair, C (1999) Preventing Eating Disorders: a handbook of interventions and special challenges. Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel National Institute of Mental health homepage, "Eating disorders: Facts about eating disorders and search for solutions." January 8, 2006 Ruuska, J., Kaltiala, H.R., Koivisto, A.M., & Rantanen, P. (2003). Puberty, sexualdevelopment and eating disorders in adolescent outpatients. European Child andAdolescent Psychiatry, 12(5), 214-220, 218. Steinhaussen, H.(1995) Eating disorders in Adolescence: anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Berlin: de Cruyter Read More