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Lillian Greenwood
Dr. Steven L. Berg
ENG 102
11 December 2013
“Eating Disorders”
The average model in America is 5’10, 115 pounds and a size 2 (Oprah.com). The
average woman in America is 5’4, 145 pounds and a size 11-14. If Barbie was living she would
be 6’0, 101 pounds and a size 4. What do these numbers say to women across the world? To be
beautiful you must be underweight. This is one of the many ways in which the media
contributes to the ever rising number of people diagnosed with an eating disorder. To clarify,
eating disorders are not a choice. They are a diagnosed mental disorder characterized by
disturbed eating habits (Webster’s Dictionary). The three main types of eating disorders are
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa is basically a loss of appetite for food. Someone diagnosed with
Anorexia Nervosa starves themselves for fear of gaining weight. Some signs of anorexia nervosa
are denial of hunger, intense fear of weight gain, distorted self-image, lack of emotion, fear of
publically eating, and irritability. Some symptoms include thin appearance, trouble sleeping,
downy hair called lanugo, menstrual irregularities, abdominal pain, heart murmur followed by
low blood pressure and dehydration (MAYO Clinic). About one in every 200 women in America
suffer from Anorexia (National Institute of Mental Health). With a current population of about
314 million which comes out to be 570 thousand American women suffering from this illness.
There are many health consequences to being anorexic. One disease anorexia sufferers are
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dealt is osteoporosis which is the significant loss of bone density. They also suffer from muscle
loss, kidney failure, hair loss, and the production of lanugo which is the body’s last ditch effort
to keep itself warm after the loss of fat and the diminishing of the hair follicles (National
Institute of Mental Health). There is no timeline anorexia follows but there is a set of guidelines.
The first indicator is the status of the person’s mental health. If someone is suffering from
major depression, the disease of anorexia will be much more chronic. Anorexia is lethal due to
the suicidal tendencies of its vassal. Unless the sufferer is suicidal, there is no immediate threat
of death. There is a greater possibility of dying from infection rather than the vital organs
shutting down due to a weakened immune system. The beginning stages of helping someone
who is diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa is to first restore them to a healthy weight. After that
is done the person must undergo therapy to heal the problems that led them to anorexia in the
first place. Some psychiatrists suggest medications to combat anxiety but others believe this
only helps with the depression side of the disease, not the cause of anorexia. No treatment has
been found to be a consistent source for treating Anorexia Nervosa.
The second most common eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa is when a
person uncontrollably eats and immediately disburses the food through vomiting. Signs that
someone may be bulimic is if they eat high fatty foods past the point of comfort, someone who
has low self-esteem, laxative use, trips to the bathroom after or even during meals, selfinduced vomiting, and excessive exercising (MAYO CLINIC). Some of the symptoms of bulimia
include abnormal bowel functioning, damaged teeth, swollen salivary glands, dehydration,
scars on the knuckles, loss of menstruation, and possible drug abuse (MAYO Clinic). There are
two and a half for every 100 American women who suffer from bulimia (National Institute of
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Mental Health) which computes to six million 280 thousand to nine million 420 thousand
women suffer from bulimia. It is estimated 10-15% of anorexia and bulimia sufferers are male.
The effects of over eating and purging from bulimia include electrolyte imbalance caused by
dehydration. There is also a great risk for gastric rupture during fits of over eating which causes
a slow, painful death. Inflammation can occur as well as severely stained teeth and tooth decay.
There is also a great possibility of peptic ulcers (MAYO Clinic). Heart failure is common with
bulimics. Similar to anorexia, the state of the disease is directly related to the mental health of
the sufferer; this may lead to suicide. However there are many more organ risks than with
anorexia and death is much more threatening from organ failure with bulimia. The stomach
lining may tear due to a full capacity of the stomach, the brain may swell due to burst blood
vessels. The immune system is down so death due to an illness is also a great possibility
(National Institute of Mental Health). Treatment depends on the mental health of the
individual. The person may undergo nutrient therapy as well as gaining the appropriate amount
of weight. Group therapy is also a great option. Some anti-depressants have also shown
improvement in one’s ways although there is still no definite cure.
The final most common eating disorder is Binge Disorder. Binge Disorder was the most
common eating disorder in the US between 2002-2007. Now it is third most common. Patients
diagnosed with binge eating disorder eat for the sole purpose of throwing up while bulimics
throw up because they feel guilty. Binge sufferers feel no enjoyment in eating. Signs of a binge
eater may be one who eats past the point of comfort, one who eats abnormally fast paced,
frequently eats alone, and may feel disgusted over the amount of food consumed (MAYO
Clinic). Warnings of the disorder are someone who may skip meals, or make excuses not to eat.
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Someone who spits out their food after chewing, someone who only wears baggy clothing,
repeatedly eats extremely unhealthy food items, and one who hoards their food (MAYO Clinic).
There is an estimated eight million Americans who are diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Seven million are female and one million are male. Almost half of all Americans personally
know someone with an eating disorder and one in five sufferers also suffer from another
mental illness (the most common being depression). (National Institution of Mental Disorders).
Bingers show the same illnesses as of a clinically obese person. These diseases include but are
not limited to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type two diabetes, heart disease, and
gallbladder disease. The gall bladder and / or the pancreas may explode, and again the stomach
lining has a decent chance of tearing. The liver also has the ability to shut itself down. The liver
is the organ that produces the stomach bile and the gallbladder is the organ that holds and
filters the bile. Treatment options are similar to bulimia treatment but are tailored to the
individual and studies show the binger will heal sooner if put into a group therapy environment
with people suffering from similar diseases. Other antidepressants may help reduce the need to
binge but do not eliminate the bingers issues.
One group on eating disorders is the non-specified disorder that can have symptoms of
every disorder but is not solely that disorder. The media is the biggest cause of eating disorders.
Images of women who are severely under-weight are plastered across all websites and across
billboards all around the world. With a simple GOOGLE search of the word “thinspo” one can
see the horrifying images women are objectifying themselves to. Another cause of these
disorders are familial issues. If an eating disorder is present in the family there is a greater risk
of someone else in the family being diagnosed with an eating disorder. Also if one’s family
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situation is not stable such as abuse in the family or a tragedy of some sort, this may bring on
the eating disorder. Famous model’s such as Christy Brinkley and Beverly Johnson, both
wearing a size six at the height of their career, if modeling today, would be considered a plus
sized model (ABC News). The obsession with being thin has only increased in society. In the 40’s
and 50’s, brands such as “Wate On” advertised products that would cause someone to gain
weight because curves were seen as beautiful. Women were advertised saying men don’t like
bones, and that no one looked at them when they were a size two.
Weight discrimination is the only discrimination not against the law. Weight
discrimination is when someone is discriminated against for being underweight or overweight.
The most common weight discrimination is against overweight females. Weight discrimination
is said to be just as bad as racial discrimination (Weight Discrimination). The discrimination
against one’s weight is found to be a cause in more people being diagnosed as obese (Medical
News Today). Weight discrimination and the fear of gaining weight and being taunted by it is
why all of these people are developing eating disorders and becoming depressed because
society stresses being perfect and according to society you’re only perfect if you’re skinny.
People who are extremely underweight don’t see it and they only want to be thinner. This is
why all of these patients are dying. They are dying from suicide or from organ failure and
society is the cause.
Although there is no definite cure for eating disorders, society can help. Society can help
by making weight discrimination illegal, by promoting the average body, not the underweight
body. More plus sized models are encouraged. There will be regulations set to where models
can not be suffering from an eating disorder and still be allowed to model, and they must be no
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smaller than size four or six. As for media, stricter policies on social media websites will be
enforced. If one were to search “thinspo”, “thinspiration”, “pro-ana”, “pro-mia”, or anything
along those lines they would not be able to see or read anything related but only a hotline
number and ways to get helped would be displayed. It is possible to make weight discrimination
illegal but it takes everyone to help. Everyone must be willing to speak up for the conjuring of
the new law.
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Disorders, and other eating disorders are not
a choice. They are a serious mental illness that if not treated will end fatally. Medications may
help by counselling is always the best option. Not every treatment will work for everyone but it
is best to try. Without the media and society’s harmful effects on the American psyche than
eating disorders would not be as big of a problem today. Weight discrimination should be made
illegal, it just takes someone to stand up for everyone suffering from any of these disorders.
Take care of someone if they appear to be struggling and speak up for them because they may
not be able to themselves, and they will thank you for it.
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Works Cited
American Psychiatric Association Staff. "Eating Disorders." Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Print.
"Eating Disorders." NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
"Fashion Models." Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
Lovett, Edward. "Most Models Meet Criteria for Anorexia, Size 6 Is Plus Size: Magazine." ABC
News. ABC News Network, 12 Jan. 2012. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
"National Eating Disorders Association." National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d. Web.
02 Dec. 2013.
Nordqvist, Christian. "Weight Discrimination Makes People More Obese." Medical News Today.
MediLexicon International, 29 July 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
Oliver-Pyatt, Wendy. "The Truth About Weight Stigma | National Eating Disorders
Association." The Truth About Weight Stigma | National Eating Disorders Association.
National Eating Disorders, 23 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
Savage, Lorraine. Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders: Eating Disorders. Detroit: Thomson /
Gale, 2008. Print.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and
Research, 08 Feb. 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2013.
"The Truth About Weight Stigma | National Eating Disorders Association." The Truth About
Weight Stigma | National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
Wagner, Viqi. Eating Disorders: Opposing Viewpoints. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2007. Print.
"Weight Discrimination as Common as Racial Bias." Weight Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 18
Nov. 2013.
"Welcome to the Council on Size & Weight Discrimination Website!" Council on Size and Weight
Discrimination. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.