Anorexia, an eating disorder that can determine self-starvation affects mostly women, especially the younger ones. A factor that can lead to anorexia is the norm of the modern society that appreciates a woman is beautiful and full of success if she is thin, and a lot of people might want to become just like that, believing that being very thin is the most important thing. A lot of persons may think that having control over our body is one way to exert power over the forces that surround us. This can lead to an obsession, and so, there appear eating disorders. Many persons become obsessed, they start having a distorted vision about their body and about how it should look. Someone affected by anorexia will have this distorted vision about the body, will believe it is fat and must lose weight, will be permanently afraid not to get weight. That person will not believe is thin and underweight, even if a lot of people say that. In women, there can also appear loss of three consecutive menstrual periods, and it was seen that interest in sexual desire among males will decrease.
It seems that the eating disorders appear because of a combination of psychological, interpersonal, and social conditions. Our culture that makes an ideal for a thin body, troubled family and personal relationships, depression, anxiety, loneliness and feelings of inadequacy may provoke the apparition of an eating disorder. There are a lot of warning signs that can show us a person is about to get or got an eating disorder. We can mention obsession with calories and fat content of foods, visible food restriction and self-starvation, fear of eating around and with others, hiding food in strange places to avoid eating it, wearing big clothes to hide weight loss. Other signs are the use of diet pills, laxatives or enemas, preoccupied thoughts of food, weight, and cooking, loss of menstrual cycle, complaints of often feeling cold, depression, fatigue, low self- esteem and the sensation of being worthless, perfectionalist personality and other.
It is true that nowadays there is a great pressure in our society to be good- looking. Women want that, and they believe it is possible only if they look thin like a young girl. It is important for all of us to remember that according to our age and height, we need to have a certain weight, and we also must remember that many of us will never be skinny or fat, it is important to live in total harmony with our bodies. It is important to eat when we feel hungry, sleep when it is necessary and try to raise our self- esteem, and enjoy the life.
Eating disorders represent a range of complex afflictions that can difficult to understand. Even health professionals today do not have a complete understanding of eating disorders. Why? Eating disorders are complex because they touch on almost all aspects of an individual's life: they can affect a person's health, psychological well-being, and social life.
Most health professionals agree that eating disorders are caused by a combination of socio-cultural, biological, family, and interpersonal factors. This article provides a brief overview of these different factors that health professionals suspect may be responsible for the onset of an eating disorder in some individuals. Remember, every patient is different, so many of these factors may not come into play for some individuals with eating disorders.
Socio-cultural factors that may precipitate the onset of an eating disorder have to do with the media images presented to the public regarding beauty, health, and weight issues. Even the casual observer can find evidence for the fact that our media culture is obsessed with physical appearance, and issues such as weight loss, slowing the aging process, and the general pursuit of physical perfection. Of course, such perfection is impossible. Many people are not able to achieve the rail-thin standards that are promoted in the media and popular culture. These socio-cultural factors, some experts suggest, may provide the impetus for some individuals who develop eating disorders.
Biological factors that may be responsible for the onset of an eating disorder include a genetic predisposition to certain hormonal imbalances. These include a predisposition to an imbalance in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is involved in brain function, sleep patterns, and mood. Another biological factor that researchers have identified as possibly contributing to an eating disorder is a propensity in some patients for reduced blood flow to the temporal lobe.
Interpersonal and family factors may also contribute to the onset of an eating disorder. Interpersonal and family factors may include a troubled personal life, including an inability to cope effectively with feelings and personal relationships, a difficulty expressing emotions, substance abuse or alcohol problems, and low self-esteem due to bullying or teasing.
A troubled family life can contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Families that are overcritical or put pressure on certain family members to lose weight can contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Children often mirror their parent's unhealthy patterns. Parents who magnify the importance of their physical appearance may be unconsciously sending an unhealthy message to their kids. Researchers have found that families with a history of sexual or physical abuse may also be more prone to developing eating disorders.
Other individual factors that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder may include depression, anxiety, and issues related to self-esteem. Also, researchers have found that major life changes can greatly contribute to the onset of eating disorders. Death in the family, change in employment, moving, starting college, the end of a relationship. All of these can trigger the onset of an eating disorder if a person is vulnerable.
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