Physical Affects of Eating Disorders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Physical Affects of Eating Disorders - Essay Example Anorexia nervosa is one among the various eating disorders affecting both men and women these days. According to the Ohio State University Family and Consumer Sciences, "Food, calories, fat grams, weight, and weight management dominate the person's life and attempts to help are often ignored or met with denial or anger." ("What is anorexia") Anorexia nervosa was considered a distinct clinical entity when it was independently reported in 1874 by two physicians, Laseque and Gull. It was Gull who named the disorder "anorexia nervosa." He described extreme emaciation in young women, associated with increased activity, episodes of binge eating, amenorrhea and low body temperature. (Gold, 1990) Anorexia nervosa remains a disorder that primarily affects young women, with onset generally between the ages of 12 and 25 years. Epidemiologic studies in the United States and Europe have documented an increased incidence in young women. However, numerous cases of new onset anorexia in elderly men and women have been reported. (Gold, 1990) The prevalence of anorexia varies between 2 and 5 percent among adolescent and young adult women. The disorder carries a mortality rate of 5 percent in the first two years. Among untreated patients, mortality can approach 20 percent. A perfectionist lifestyle, punctuated by one or more performance-related stresses, predisposes to anorexia nervosa. (Gold, 1990) Physical Effects of Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa affects mainly young women and is characterized by refusal to maintain body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and feelings of fatness even when they are actually thin. (Gold, 1990) Anorexia nervosa remains a disorder that primarily affects young women, with onset generally between the ages of 12 and 25 years. Epidemiologic studies in the United States and Europe have documented an increased incidence in young women. However, numerous cases of new onset anorexia in elderly men and women have been reported. (Gold, 1990) The typical anorectic patient has a distorted body image and usually has a need to maintain an ultra-thin silhouette or to suppress menses. She sees herself as obese regardless of the degree of emaciation. However, her perception of the physical appearance of others remains accurate. A patient's drawings of family members are usually undistorted, but those of herself show an exaggeratedly obese figure. (Gold, 1990) Anorexics tend to eat "safe," low-calorie foods. Many times, these foods must be consumed in specific quantities, for example, 10 green beans or one tablespoon of ketchup. Many anorexics go so far as to count the calories in chewing gum, medicines and the glue on postage stamps. (Gold, 1990) The most obvious physical effect of anorexia nervosa is illustrated with extreme thinness. Starvation produces an emaciated or skeletal body habitus, leading to such appearance Moreover, as the patients continue to starve themselves; their bodies continue to conserve resources. (Gold, 1990) Hormonal changes such as the changes in reproductive hormones and in the thyroid hormones result from this condition. ("Eating Disorders") As an effect, menstruation among women and the secondary sexual characteristics are