My Life Monday Bulimia, Anorexia & Obesity Everyone eats. We need to eat in order to survive and nourish our body. However, human behavior vary. Some people eat more, some eat with moderation and some eat less. Consequently, there are people who put on weight easily and then there are some who do not. And some people go to such extremes that they harm themselves by eating too much or too little.

Common eating disorders The two most common eating disorders are Anorexia and Bulimia. Anorexia usually occurs with teenage girls and women who are extremely afraid of gaining weight. They would usually count the calories of the food they are about to eat and probably exercise intensively to reduce the calories. It is not about feeling fit but reducing weight at any cost to remain skinny. Anorexics look into the mirror and picture themselves as fat individuals, instead of looking at the real image. People suffering from bulimia usually eats a lot of food, feels guilty and immediately gets rid of the food by making themselves sick.

Consequences The consequences for anorexia and bulimia eating disorders are as follows: Starvation:Vomiting:Laxatives: Broken sleep Constipation Difficulty in concentrating or thinking straight Depression Feeling the cold Brittle bones Muscles become weaker - it becomes an effort to do anything Death Stomach acid dissolves the enamel on teeth Puffy face (due to swollen salivary glands) Irregular heartbeats Muscle weakness Kidney damage Fits Persistent tummy-pain Swollen fingers Damage to bowel muscles which may lead to long- term constipation

Causes to eating disorders There are many causes to the common disorders but it is important to emphasize that not all apply to an individual suffering from one of these disorders. Here are some causes:  Social pressure- ballet dancers and models are valued for their skinny figures and would only be considered for the profession, if they maintain their skinny outlook.  Control-weight can be controlled depending on the circumstances. It starts with losing weight but ends up becoming an obsession.  Depression-Eating can be a comfort when upset or a person may lose his or her appetite during a depression period which could be because of their excess weight that they have gained or for other reasons.  Upsetting event-Bulimia and Anorexia can be induced due to negative events that affect the individual such as a break-up of a relationship

Obesity Physicians say that a person who is obese is usually 20% over the expected weight for their age, height and build. This generally happens when people overeat. They find it difficult to control their desire for eating foods that are high in calories. Exercise would be out of the question for individuals that are overweight. They may be too busy or probably lazy to burn the extra calories. The health risks associated to obesity include:  Hypertension  Heart disease  Lung and breathing problems  Cancer  Arthritis  Premature death

A few recommendations Bulimia The person needs to recognize the problem and visit a physician. The treatment should include a physical examination to check for internal body damages and nutrition counseling to help the person learn good eating habits. Anorexia Therapy, regular medical monitoring and nutrition guidance should be apart of the treatment program. The aim is to restore prepositional weight, control abnormal eating habits and prevent reoccurrence. Obesity The simple answer is to eat less and exercise more often. Visit the doctor to see if the condition has led to any health related problems.