The Truth Behind the Mirror: Scholarly Articles & Trade Magazines

Some of the most rapidly growing disorders in the United States are eating disorders; some might wonder why, as do a lot of others. This page is a resource page for those would like to know more about eating disorders, more specifically anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is an emotional disorder, which causes an obsessive desire to loose weight and not eat. Bulimia nervosa is also an emotional disorder which causes an obsession to loose weight and overeat followed by an onset of depression and self-purging and vomiting. Both disorders are recognized medical conditions that cause the mind to distort one’s body image. The mental aspect as well as the genetic aspect of these disorders is what mainly causes their development, other environmental factors will help to trigger them as well.
When discussing the genetic aspect of these disorders; one must be aware that like most other diseases and disorders, there is a part of your genetic composition (DNA), that is predisposed to either inherit or bypass a specific gene for certain types of medical conditions. For example; when doctors ask what your medical history is, they are asking for a reason and this reason is if something such as Cancer runs in your family, then you are more likely to develop Cancer than someone else whom Cancer does not run in their family. The same can be said for anorexia and bulimia; and this is a fact that not many people know about, and it is one of the most important elements in understanding, helping and coping with someone who is experiencing these disorders. If one cannot understand that these disorders are not things that people choose to have rather they are things that simply develop within them; then they will never be able to begin to help the healing process take place.
Aside from understanding the genetic composition of these disorders, one must also understand the mental aspect and what the genetic aspect actually does to the human body. When people suffer from such disorders, they do have an overwhelming desire to loose weight, but they also cannot control what they see when they look at themselves. It must be said that even if you understand the predisposition to developing these disorders, it is much more difficult to understand the mental aspect. When someone suffering from these disorders looks at themselves in the mirror, they do not see what the rest of the world sees; their minds play tricks on them causing them to feel as though they must loose weight in order to be accepted. The problem that most people have when they know someone who is experiencing these disorders is that they cannot simply understand how they look into a mirror and do not see what is really there. In this lies the biggest problem. Because as healthy people, it is nearly impossible to relate to the problem, so one will simply insist that there is no problem, when in actuality there is. (Imagine trying to understand someone with multiple personality disorder, it is very much the same.)

For those that do not get treatment, or for those who do not recognize that they have a problem until it is too late the end can come quickly. Eating disorders walk hand-in-hand with depression, mixed with the self-destructive behaviors of those who suffer, it can be a recipe for disaster. Most people who suffer from these disorders begin to feel suicidal and have been known to not only attempt to kill themselves, but succeed. The urge to commit suicide is generally higher in anorexic nervosa sufferers.

It is important that if one were to notice a friend or family member beginning to fall into bad habits of not eating, eating and going leaving the room soon after, excessive exercise, having a thin appearance, bloating, reoccurring fatigue, dizziness or fainting, thinning or breaking hair, dry skin, or frequently being cold, act immediately. Don't be afraid to be a friend and let the person know that they have a friend, someone who cares and someone who notices a change in them, then try to urge them to go to the doctor.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Scholarly Articles & Trade Magazines

Lamberg, Lynne. "Advances in Eating Disorders Offer Food for Thought." The Journal of the American Medical Association. Volume 290, No. 11 (2003).

This article is about the genetic components that cause anorexia and bulimia. It had once been thought that psychological and environmental factors played a larger role in the development of eating disorders. Through extensive research, doctors are now finding that genetic risk factors may be the key factor in the development of these disorders. They are finding that anorexia and bulimia have heritability percentages similar to other psychiatric disorders which are already known to be caused by genetic makeup.

Cohen, Deborah. "The worrying world of eating disorder wannabes." British Medical Journal. 335:516 (2007).

This article is very interesting because it brings to light the side of eating disorders that makes them one of the most misunderstood disorders and most ignored disorders. The article talked about people who claim to have or have had eating disorders, and who do not fit the criteria of the average eating disorder patient. It is called, "wannarexia", and it is the "latest craze" in our day and age; it sheds light on the fact that the unrealistic stereotype of the "perfect body" is becoming more and more accepted and desirable. The article also touches on the "pro-ana" and "pro-mia" terms which simply refer to people to CHOOSE to live the eating disordered lifestyle versus those who have no choice and who truly struggle with the disorders.

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