Anorexia and Bulimia Essay -- Causes of Bulimia, Eating Disorders

Anorexia and binge- eat syndrome A Concise Overview     As many as 20% of females in their teenage and young adult years affirm from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (Alexander-Mott, 4). Males are also afflicted by these eating disorders, exclusively at a much lower rate, with a female to male proportion of six to one. Those with anorexia nervosa refuse to maintain a normal body exercising metric weight unit by not eating and give birth an intense fear of gaining weight. great deal with bulimia nervosa go through periods of binge eating and then purgatorial (vomiting), or sometimes not purging but instead refraining from eating at all for days. Both of these disorders wreak havoc on a persons body and mental state, forcing them to become emaciated and oft depressed.      There is no known exact cause of either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, but many factors play a role in the initial onset, much(prenominal) as personality tr aits, low self-esteem, and social and cultural influences (Costin, 21). Many anorexics have specific personality traits that urge them to refrain from eating. Many are perfectionists that bequeath diet and exercise and not eat until their bodies are perfect. Unfortunately, however, he or she never thinks their body is perfect, and continues their destructive cycle. Anorexics that are perfectionists also tend to unavoidableness to be in control at all times. Often , they sapidity as though others are trying to force them to do Breaux 2things, and so, take complete control of their bodies. Marcia, an anorexic, wrote in her diary "I am in control people are just jealous because I have will power" (D., 6).      Another factor is low self-esteem. unmatched anorexic said of her low self-esteem, "My goal in life was to enchant like a chameleon, Id change to suit whomever I was with. I forever felt I was in the way" (D., 1). Anorexics with low self- esteem often feel they are worthless and do not deserve to eat. not only do they not eat, but they constantly berate themselves with insults. They abhor their bodies, and cannot realize their true appearance, instead seeing a distorted image. When she weighed a mere 98 pounds, Marcia told herself, "You are a pig. You are disgusting. You must suffer" (D., 5). Bulimics also suffer from low self-esteem and feel ashamed of their behavior. intuitive feeling guilty after eating is a co... ...orted self-image, low self-esteem, and a deprivation for control. "Eating disorders are not about food or weight but about a disordered sense of self looking for approval and determination it, however Breaux 5temporarily, in the pursuit of thinness or the sympathizer of food" (Costin, 48). Treatment is an option for anorexics and bulimics, though it can take years, and sometimes it never succeeds. Hopefully, though, friends and loved ones of anorexics and bulimics will see the war ning signs and seek serve well for them. BibliographyAlexander-Mott, LeeAnn. Understanding Eating Disorders. Washington, D.C. Taylor & Francis Ltd., 1994.Costin, Carolyn. The Eating Disorder Sourcebook. Los Angeles, CA Lowell      House, 1996. K.D.K. "My Story." Online. expose 3, 2000 <http//www.dana.ucc.nau.edu/     kdk2/mystory.html>D., Marcia. "My Story." Online. March 3, 2000 <http//www.members.     Tripod.com/MarciaD/index.html>Thayne, Becky. Hope and Recovery. New York, New York Emma Lou      Thayne, 1992.