Our children, usually the young girls, but it can effect older women and even men, via the media and print advertising are in a sense "brainwashed" to believe that they must look a certain way. The celebrities in television and on the big screen as well as printed displays of stick-thin, unhealthy figures that can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual's body image and self esteem.

When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it's important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted.

Eating disorders are a mental condition, and while many discount the problem as situational and fixable if an individual desires to be fixed, they can be very difficult to overcome. In this article, we'll be giving a basic overview of some of the more common eating disorders that our culture faces today. One of the most commonly occurring eating disorders within our society today is anorexia nervosa.

Many are familiar with the affliction, in which one suffers from such an intense occupation with their self image that they literally starve their bodies in hopes of attaining a slimmer figure. While dieting and exercise are efficient ways of losing weight, those with anorexia resort to drastic methods for trying to attain a body figure that they will never be satisfied with. It is marked by a preoccupation with weight loss and a poor self image. In advanced cases of anorexia, women may lose the ability to have a period.

Bulimia is another eating disorder that permeates our culture today. As opposed to anorexics, which use dieting techniques and weightloss pills to a high degree, bulimics find solace in 'purging'. Bulimic individuals usually eat a large amount of food, then retreat to a bathroom in order to regurgitate, or 'purge' the food from their system, causing them to lose the nutritional value and calories that the food they consume offers.

The use of laxatives may also be employed by bulimics, causing a case of diarrhea and eliminating the nutritional value that they receive. You may be able to see warning signs for bulimia if an individual binges upon foods that are high in fat and sweets, engorging as much food as possible, then retiring to the bathroom in order to purge the foods. Poor self image is also a leading reason why people may become bulimic, and it's an important thing to note when considering the health of a friend or family member.

These are just a few of the eating disorders that can cause excessive trauma to the body and mind of an individual. If you know someone who you suspect has an eating disorder, you may want to discuss the problem with them with love and compassion, being sure to let them know that you are there for them.

In severe cases, you should speak with a doctor in order to determine the best course of action for helping an individual.