Three Major Types of Eating Disorders

“From the time they are tiny children; most females are taught that beauty is the supreme objective in life” (Claude-Pierre, 18). Everywhere you look today, you will notice that our culture places a very high value on women being thin. The average dieter may spend time thinking of weight and food, but with eating disorders these thoughts are obsessive. There are three major eating disorders, known as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. They affect more than 20% of females between the ages of thirteen forty. It is very rare for a young female not to know of someone with an eating disorder. Statistics show that at least one in five young women have a serious problem with eating and weight (Bruch, 25). About 95% of all people with eating disorders are women, but it is difficult to say how many people suffer from this (Ardell, 76). The major difference between the regular diet and eating disorders may have to do with the issue of control. Even the “perfect” diet, itself, is out of control. The regular dieter is in control of the diet. Eating disorders are out of control. People with eating disorders are controlled by the diet.
Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. It is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa.
Although there are many warning signs for this disorder some are more severe than others. Some of the more severe include dramatic weight loss, refusal to eat, denial of hunger, constant excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food, and behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns. Warning signs that may also appear are preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting, frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss, anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat”, development of food rituals, withdrawal from usual friends...