Essay on “Eating Disorders” Complete Essay for Class 9, Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Eating Disorders

There are many different categories of eating disorders in our world today and many people suffer from them.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by a person with a body weight less than 85% of what is considered normal weight. Anorexics have a fear of being fat. Anorexics limit their food intake. People who are anorexic continue to diet even when they are bone thin; they are never satisfied with their appearance. They engage in excessive exercising and long depressions; these are just some of the danger signals that anorexics show. This self-starving behaviour can lead to severe emancipation or even death. Anorexics see normal fat on the body as fat that needs to be eliminated. They often find sleeping and resting a oiscomfort because they have lost their normal body fat. There are many dangers from starving yourself: the body tends to slow down or even stop certain body processes, blood pressure may fall, breathing rate may drop, and menstruation also stops. The thyroid gland disappears, and this is the gland that regulates growth. Nails and hair become brittle, skin is dry, light headiness, constipation, and there is swelling of the joints. When fat is reduced, the body temperature begins to fall and soft hair forms on the body for warmth. The body chemicals may also be imbalanced, heart failure may occur.

People who suffer from bulimia nervosa also want to be thin but they do it in a different fashion called binging and purging’. Binging is when a people will eat a bunch of food, exceeding normal calorie intake. Purging is the way they get rid of it. A person is suffering from bulimia if they have a dramatic loss of weight in a short period of time. The normal calorie intake for normal eaters is 2,000 to 3,000 calories in one day. The average bulimic will usually average 3,400 calories in 1 1/4 hours. For bingers, to loose this is by either using laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or even just gagging themselves with their fingers. This will also upset the body’s balance of chemicals, which may cause fatigue, seizures, irregular heartbeats, and thinner bones. If purging continues to persist, this may damage the stomach or esophagus, the gums will begin to recede, and it will erode tooth enamel. Some effects also show skin rashes, broken blood vessels in the face, and irregular menstrual cycles. With most eating disorders females are more affected than men. Anorexics and bulimics are often known to be perfectionists and when they don’t perform excellent in something, they punish themselves with starvation, binging, or purging. People with eating disorders often have mood swings, lack of motivation, hopelessness, feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, claustrophobia in crowded places, and isolation and loneliness. All of these symptoms are suicidal. They may have frequent headaches; this is due to low blood pressure and decreased oxygen supply to the brain. Most are always cold because the insulation layer of fat is lost or there is decreased circulation due to the lowered blood pressure and slow heart rate, and also the metabolism is slowed down. There is a tingling sensation in the hands, feet, and face due to vitamin deficiency, mainly potassium. Victims don’t have to look like they are underweight or even “average” to suffer from any signs and symptoms of eating disorders. It doesn’t mean they suffer less or are in less danger.

Eating disorder is a big problem. If anybody suffers from this problem, he/she should immediately consult a doctor.