starving for perfection
In today's society, where physical characteristics are used to measure beauty and success, people are willing to push their bodies to extremes to achieve physical perfection. As an overweight woman, I may be considered a failure of society's beauty test. However, my high self-esteem and acceptance of my body allows me to not be disturbed by what, to some, may seem as a sign of failure. Unfortunately, there are people whose desire to be accepted by society causes them to develop eating disorders. The two most common are called anorexia and bulimia (WebMD.Com Eating 1). The Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, association (ANRED), states "Anorexia and bulimia affect primarily people in their teens and twenties, but clinicians report both disorders in children as young as six and individuals as old as seventy-six" (ANRED Statistics 1). Anorexia and bulimia are both serious eating disorders with differences and similarities in their symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatments and prognosis.Although anorexia and bulimia share many of the same symptoms, they also have many differences. "About half of people with anorexia also have symptoms of bulimia" (MayoClinic.Com 2). According to the American
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED) Web Site. Treatment and Recovery. 1998. 2 Jun. 2001 .most reliable sources estimate that 40-60% of anorexics will make a good physical and social recovery, and 75% will gain weight. The long-term mortality rate is estimated at about 10%. The most frequent cause of death in anorexics is starvation, electrolyte imbalance, heart failure, and suicide ("Anorexia Nervosa" 5). According to The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders ("Anorexia Nervosa" 2). Bulimia can be chronic and lead to serious health problems, including seizures, irregular heartbeat, and thin bones. Unlike anorexia, people die as a result of bulimia in rare cases. Early detection and treatment can effectively manage the disorder and help bulimics look forward to a normal life ("Bulimia Nervosa" 3). Rush, Colleen. "A Weighty Issue: Men with Eating Disorders." Dr.Drew.com Healthbriefs. 2001. 2 Jun. 2001. .American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Inc. (AABA) Web Site. Bulimia Nervosa. 2 Jun. 2001. .Living up to the high standard set by society causes anorexics and bulimics to spend hours obsessing about their appearance. Anorexia and bulimia may also be caused by several other reasons, including cultural and family pressures, chemical imbalances, emotional and personality disorders, and genetics (WebMD.Com What 1). People with family histories of eating disorders are more likely to be diagnosed with them (MayoClinic.Com 4). Men and women, who have a history of depression, personality disorders, or substance abuse, are at a higher risk for eating disorders (WebMD.Com 2). No one knows what causes anorexia, but some experts believe that anorexia is a response to social attitudes hospitalization; to prevent death, suicide and medical crisis, medication; to relieve depression and anxiety, dental work; to repair damage and minimize future problems, individual counseling; to develop healthy ways of taking control, group therapy; to learn how to manage relationships effectively, family therapy; to change old patterns and create healthier new ones, nutrition counseling; to debunk food myths and design healthy meals, and support groups; to break down isolation and alienation. (ANRED Treatment 2) Anorexia and bulimia are serious disorders that require treatment. Both disorders are treatable and people are able to recover from them. Recovery may be as short as a few months, or last for several years (ANRED Treatment 1). Early detection and treatment is encouraged. The sooner treatment is begun the sooner the person can begin to recover (ANRED Medical 2). Accordin
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