Eating disorders - Hypothesis = The media are inducing eating disorders by exhibiting pictures of 'stick´ like models.

Authors Avatar

Eating disorders

Hypothesis
The media are inducing eating disorders by exhibiting pictures of 'stick´ like models.

Personal Reasons for Research
My own personal reason for choosing to research and find out about eating disorder is my ex-girlfriend suffered from bulimia, and I witnessed first hand how badly it affects the sufferer, and their loved ones.

I would like to use this opportunity to find out how to help people who suffer, and to learn more about the diseases, so that if I ever encounter somebody who suffers, then I´ll be able to help them more.

I am also interested in the main reasons for why people develop eating disorders; because they feel that they´re 'fat´? Depression? Stress? or maybe a combination of different things.
Anorexia Nervosa

People suffering from anorexia nervosa think about what they eat and how many calories are in their food all the time. They hardly ever eat carbohydrate or fat in their diet, and attempt to skip meals. They are afraid that if they eat normally they will become 'fat´ and/or that people will laugh or tease them. This fear leads them to want to be less than what to others is a normal weight. They are tremendously afraid of not being loved and not having the approval of others. At the same time as doing this they may build a barrier between themselves and others that care for them to avoid letting others get emotionally close to them.

People who suffer from anorexia nervosa try very hard to count the calories they take in, making sure they only consume small amounts. They may over exercise, often getting up early in the morning or hiding away, doing exercises, running, swimming etc. They may also push themselves ever harder in order to lose weight and punish their bodies.

Gradually as weight is lost they begin to feel that they can achieve something. Starving themselves and over exercising gives them a 'high´ and that can make them feel special. At this stage they often have endless energy and feel they cannot keep still. This is the body's way of encouraging them to find food, but this signal is often misunderstood, leading them to do more activities.

However as they lose weight they may also feel depressed and gradually become very tired and weak. They may not be able to think rationally, concentrate or move around much. They feel isolated, sad and even suicidal. Everyone around seems angry, concerned and upset. However much they try to be in control, in reality they have control because their concern about food, calories and weight is actually controlling them. Deep down inside they know that they are very ill.

SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

PHYSICAL
· severe weight loss
· periods stopping(in women)
· difficulty sleeping
· dizziness
· stomach pains
PHYSICAL(contd.)
· feeling bloated
· growth of downy hair
· constipation
· feeling cold
· chilblains

Join now!

PSYCHOLOGICAL
· believing they are 'fat´ when underweight
· being irritable
· setting high standards
· lack of interest in normal activities
· wanting to be left alone and losing friends
· increased interest in food, calories and cooking
· difficulty in concentrating

BEHAVIOURAL
· excessive exercising
· having ritual behaviours
· lying about eating meals
· cooking cakes and meal for the family
Bulimia Nervosa

When people suffering from bulimia nervosa feel panicky, they go to the food cupboards and eat as much as they can, as quickly as possible. They feel physically and emotionally sick, and guilty about their behaviour. To try to compensate they make themselves sick, starve for ...

This is a preview of the whole essay