Ways Eating Disorders Affect a Person About 20 million women and 10 million men are diagnosed with an eating disorder in the United States alone (“What Are Eating Disorders?”). Although some people may have neglected the seriousness of eating disorders, they are a real health and psychological problem that some people are facing today. There are three major types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating (“Eating Disorders”). No matter what type it is, eating disorders have perilous effects on a person. They tremendously affect a person physically, psychologically, and mentally. Eating disorders can cause massive problems to a person physically. A person with a long history of eating disorder
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When a person has bulimia- nervosa, they will frequently force themselves to throw up their food after binging, in order to prohibit themselves from gaining calories (“Bulimia Nervosa”). During this process, the stomach acid, along with the vomit, will come up and rub off against the teeth and gum (“Anorexia and Bulimia and The Effects on Your Teeth”). As a result, Professor Colon states that “The enamel (of the teeth) is weakened…” and “(it) gets thinner until it almost disappears, exposing the dentine which is sensitive” (qtd. in Plessis). Thus, the continual contact between the teeth and stomach acid will ultimately wipe off the entire enamel and the teeth will get dragged down due to the lack of support in weight ((“Anorexia and Bulimia and The Effects on Your Teeth”). Additionally, people with anorexia nervosa will face the same consequences in a different approach. Since they try to avoid calorie intake as much as they can, many of them rely on low-calorie sports beverages as their main source of energy (Bishop). These drinks are so high in acid that they will begin to diminish the enamel little by little, the same way the stomach acids do to a person with bulimia (Bishop). These acidic drinks are also capable of increasing the cavities when the protective enamel coat is no longer available (Bishop). Constant vomiting and the contact between stomach acid and the teeth can also lead a person to xerostomia (“Anorexia Nervosa”). Xerostomia will cause a person to have dry and cracked lips, and bruises will begin to develop on their oral soft tissues, making them bleed very easily (“Anorexia Nervosa”). Beside the dangerous physical effects that they have on a person, eating disorders can also affect a person
When a person has bulimia- nervosa, they will frequently force themselves to throw up their food after binging, in order to prohibit themselves from gaining calories (“Bulimia Nervosa”). During this process, the stomach acid, along with the vomit, will come up and rub off against the teeth and gum (“Anorexia and Bulimia and The Effects on Your Teeth”). As a result, Professor Colon states that “The enamel (of the teeth) is weakened…” and “(it) gets thinner until it almost disappears, exposing the dentine which is sensitive” (qtd. in Plessis). Thus, the continual contact between the teeth and stomach acid will ultimately wipe off the entire enamel and the teeth will get dragged down due to the lack of support in weight ((“Anorexia and Bulimia and The Effects on Your Teeth”). Additionally, people with anorexia nervosa will face the same consequences in a different approach. Since they try to avoid calorie intake as much as they can, many of them rely on low-calorie sports beverages as their main source of energy (Bishop). These drinks are so high in acid that they will begin to diminish the enamel little by little, the same way the stomach acids do to a person with bulimia (Bishop). These acidic drinks are also capable of increasing the cavities when the protective enamel coat is no longer available (Bishop). Constant vomiting and the contact between stomach acid and the teeth can also lead a person to xerostomia (“Anorexia Nervosa”). Xerostomia will cause a person to have dry and cracked lips, and bruises will begin to develop on their oral soft tissues, making them bleed very easily (“Anorexia Nervosa”). Beside the dangerous physical effects that they have on a person, eating disorders can also affect a person