Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
are a larger problem in America than people may think. People are constantly bombarded with advertisements of perfect bodies and can't help but think that is the way they must be to be accepted by society's standards. This is especially true of teenage girls and young women. An average women sees 400 to 600 advertisements per day and by the time she has reached 17 years of age, she was received 250,000 commercials. (Body Image and Advertising, 2000) Girls develop a self-image and eating problems before drug or alcohol problems and there are no eating disorder programs in schools while there are drug and alcohol programs. (EDAP, 2005)
Anorexia is the most common and dangerous eating disorder, especially in women. Anorexia kills people and an argument can be made that people do this to themselves but it is more than just an addiction; it's a disease. It becomes psychological which can be harder to beat than a physical addiction, especially if treatment is not sought.
Below are a few facts and figures about the leading and most dangerous eating disorder, anorexia.
- Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women. *
- Between 0.5-1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa. *
- Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women. *
- Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition. *
- Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition. *
- Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence. *
* (Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, 1997)
Women are not the only ones that suffer from eating disorders. While not as huge a problem, men do suffer self-image and eating problems also. But men do not seek help as often as a woman with an eating disorder or ever because they actually feel more insecure about the issue. Majority of men leave their eating disorder untreated because they feel awkward.
RESOLUTION
Participate in the discussion of this topic.
1. Both men and woman can seek treatment at facilities like Center for Change or Remuda Ranch.
2. View transcripts and interviews from doctors like Dr. Ted Weltzin online about what parents can do who have kids with eating disorders.
3. Talk to a therapist or seek medical management from your physician before your, or someone you know, condition worsens.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(If you have an article that you would like to contribute, and is relative to the current topic please submit.)
1. Men's Eating Disorders: Overview
2. Eating Disorders:
Men Have Body Image Problems Too
3. Center for Change - Specialized Treatment for Eating Disorders
4. Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertising
REFERENCES
1. http://centerforchange.com, 2005.
2. http://www.centerforchange.com/new/articles/53. Council on Size & Weight Discrimination. EDAP, 1997.
3. http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Eating_Disorders/body_image_advertising.asp. Eating Disorders: Body Image and Advertising, 2000.