Through the eyes of Meghan´s peers, teachers, and family, she is an average high school student with good grades and a supportive group of friends, but Meghan sees someone else. She sees a girl struggling with her weight and happiness, and no hope ahead of her. Meghan represents eight million others in the United States that suffer from an eating disorder (¨Statistics¨). Eating disorders can affect anyone at anytime. This can be recognized by an obsession with food and body weight. Different types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder (¨What¨). Eating disorders, a prevalent issue among young teens to adults, have many effects, but can be treated with specialized therapy and treatment.
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While many people believe the stereotype that only young, white females have eating disorders, this is far from the truth. In reality, “Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect people of every age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group” (¨What¨). Eating disorders do not affect people based on different characteristics. Many people believe eating disorders only affect certain groups of people, however it can affect any. Contrary to what many believe, even youth are affected by this illness, ¨0.3 percent of youth have been affected by anorexia, 0.9 percent by bulimia, and 1.6 percent by binge-eating disorder¨ (¨Most¨). Although this number is not significantly high, it represents the amount of people under the age of eighteen that are affected by an eating disorder. Age is not a determining factor when diagnosing an eating disorder, because it is possible for it to effect any age group. According to Mental Health America, ¨As with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by one factor but by a combination of sociocultural, psychological and biological factors¨ (¨Eating¨). Eating disorders aren't caused by one mental illness, or or a health problem, but by many different variables, which makes it a biopsychosocial illness. Many people are not aware that there is no definite factor that determines why someone has an …show more content…
Eating disorders can occur alongside several different mental disorders, which is defined as comorbid disorders. ¨In a recent study, the majority who had an eating disorder also met criteria for at least one other psychiatric disorder such as depression. Each eating disorder was associated with higher levels of suicidal thinking compared to those without an eating disorder” (¨Most¨). Eating disorders greatly affect the mental health of those suffering. These mental disorders can lead to serious issues and can also worsen the severity of an eating disorder. This study shows that since eating disorders are caused by emotional factors, therefore the mental health of those suffering declines. Although the physical effects of eating disorders show the most prevalence, social effects can also be seen, “Eating disorders can impact relationships with family members, friends and coworkers, as well as functioning in academic setting and the workplace. The health consequences of eating disorder- including heart disease, osteoporosis, and tooth decay- can have long-lasting negative effects (¨Eating¨). Eating disorders can tear relationships apart, and disrupt the social life of whom it is affecting. In addition to the emotional challenges faced, physical illnesses constantly remind those with an eating disorder the hardships they constantly face. According to the National Eating
While many people believe the stereotype that only young, white females have eating disorders, this is far from the truth. In reality, “Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can affect people of every age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic group” (¨What¨). Eating disorders do not affect people based on different characteristics. Many people believe eating disorders only affect certain groups of people, however it can affect any. Contrary to what many believe, even youth are affected by this illness, ¨0.3 percent of youth have been affected by anorexia, 0.9 percent by bulimia, and 1.6 percent by binge-eating disorder¨ (¨Most¨). Although this number is not significantly high, it represents the amount of people under the age of eighteen that are affected by an eating disorder. Age is not a determining factor when diagnosing an eating disorder, because it is possible for it to effect any age group. According to Mental Health America, ¨As with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by one factor but by a combination of sociocultural, psychological and biological factors¨ (¨Eating¨). Eating disorders aren't caused by one mental illness, or or a health problem, but by many different variables, which makes it a biopsychosocial illness. Many people are not aware that there is no definite factor that determines why someone has an …show more content…
Eating disorders can occur alongside several different mental disorders, which is defined as comorbid disorders. ¨In a recent study, the majority who had an eating disorder also met criteria for at least one other psychiatric disorder such as depression. Each eating disorder was associated with higher levels of suicidal thinking compared to those without an eating disorder” (¨Most¨). Eating disorders greatly affect the mental health of those suffering. These mental disorders can lead to serious issues and can also worsen the severity of an eating disorder. This study shows that since eating disorders are caused by emotional factors, therefore the mental health of those suffering declines. Although the physical effects of eating disorders show the most prevalence, social effects can also be seen, “Eating disorders can impact relationships with family members, friends and coworkers, as well as functioning in academic setting and the workplace. The health consequences of eating disorder- including heart disease, osteoporosis, and tooth decay- can have long-lasting negative effects (¨Eating¨). Eating disorders can tear relationships apart, and disrupt the social life of whom it is affecting. In addition to the emotional challenges faced, physical illnesses constantly remind those with an eating disorder the hardships they constantly face. According to the National Eating