Overview

An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person's life. According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, "feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one's experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale." Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders generally recognized by medical classification schemes, with a significant diagnostic overlap between the two. Together, they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. There is a third type of eating disorder currently being investigated and defined - Binge Eating Disorder. This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food during a brief period of time and feels totally out of control and unable to stop their eating. It can lead to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Male Anorexia - It's Not Just a Girl Thing

According to the latest research conducted in the U.S., among the eight million Americans suffering from anorexia, 7 million or roughly 90% of them are girls and women while 1 million or roughly 10% of them are boys and men. Strange to say that even though most anorexics are females, there are also males that suffer from this strange eating malpractice. Thus, it can be concluded that anorexia is not limited to the female population, but also can be a male problem as well.

There are several typical factors that may cause male anorexia. First among these several factors is the male's genetics. If there is a history within the immediate family of members suffering from anorexia, then the probability of developing this disorder increases. The more family members that have developed anorexia, the higher the chance is of other members acquiring it as well.

Second is the male's brain activity. The male's dopamine receptors are the parts that release the hormones from the brain for feelings of euphoria and pleasure, in order to regulate delight or satisfaction. Under eating results in over production of these hormones, that in turn makes the male anxious. In order to have continuous feelings of delight and enjoyment, males under nourish themselves.

Another factor that may cause male anorexia is the family itself. There is an emotional factor attributed to episodes of criticism oppression from fellow family members. There are parents that exaggerate their children's physical appearance. Because of this kind of pressure, anxiety and stress develop, especially in males. In order to relieve himself from these anxieties and stress factors, he will tend to under eat. As a result, male anorexia develops in the process.

Yet another considerable factor that may cause male anorexia is society. There are several cultural as well as social influences that may cause males to develop this disorder. Acceptance in society, portrayals of thin individuals on television and in advertisements coupled with the wide spread mentality of happiness being attained from being thin or skinny are considerations from society that affect a male's eating habits. Wanting to fit into society with the mindset of happiness will eventually lead the male into developing harmful eating habits that lead to male anorexia.

The best way to address the problem of anorexia among males is through proper education and self-esteem building and development. The anorexic must be taught of the complications that anorexia may bring together with the methodologies on how to prevent these complications. A gradual building of the foundation for the male's self-esteem is also needed in order for the patient to cope up with the factors that cause anorexia like the family and society. By having ample self-esteem, the patient will eventually develop the right eating habits and thus free himself from the dangerous anorexia eating disorder.



Autor: Mark Bridges

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Added: June 28, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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