skinny models

There is no question that cases of eating disorders among women and young girls have reached epidemic proportions. Recent estimates indicate that there may be as many as 10 million women affected by some type of eating disorder. While some men DO suffer, it is primarily women that are afflicted.

Women succumb to these horrible conditions for the most part due to the media and our society’s perception of beauty in general. Models and actresses are skinny, oftentimes TOO skinny, and when women see these examples of the “perfect” woman in front of them in magazines and movies, they feel the need to want to look like them too. This leads many to dieting and exercise that is sometimes excessive and unhealthy and in extreme cases, can lead to eating disorders.

Other causes may not be beauty related as much as associated with self esteem and even depression. People that are suffering from psychological problems may use food as a means of dealing with these problems and in turn, develop a form of eating disorder. For instance, someone who is clinically depressed may feel like they are “missing” something in their life and they try to replace this emptiness with food. This can lead to a condition known as binging where the person gorges themselves on massive quantities of food only to throw it up again later to avoid weight gain. Others may have an irrational fear of putting on weight and avoid eating altogether and lose tremendous amounts of weight and become malnourished. This is not to be confused with Anorexia, another type of disorder in which the person sees themselves as being fat even when they are thin. They may refuse to eat, force vomit, exercise excessively to lose weight, or a combinations of all of them.

eating disorders

Still, another cause in a minority of the eating disorder population is due to family members who have suffered themselves. In a small minority, it has been found that if a family member has had an eating disorder, someone else in the family will develop one as well.

Because of the severity of these disorders, much research has been done on the treatment of the various types. While there is no “cure” necessary, treatment can be helpful. For instance, in the case of bulimics, sometimes monitoring the patient while they follow a healthy regimen of eating and exercise can help break them of their condition and lead a normal life. Once they realize they can maintain a healthy weight through other means, they stop their binge and purge lifestyle. Anorexics, on the other hand, often may have to be closely monitored and nursed back to health before any real treatment begins. Oftentimes, by the time they get treatment, their bodies are in horrible shape and they are malnourished and extremely sick. Over time, though, they can regain their weight and through psychological treatment, they can work through many of the issues they are dealing with that caused the unhealthy situation in the first place.

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