Eating disorders can affect people of any age, gender or background and can be strongly influenced by the media. It is important for people to know the different types of eating disorders, so that they can help others who they believe may be suffering from an eating disorder. Two of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Although anorexia and bulimia are both eating disorders, they are very different from each other. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The media has a very large effect on the way body images are perceived nowadays, which in many ways is promoting unhealthy weight loss and eating disorders in people of all ages. As time has gone by, models and actresses have become thinner, which is partly why young people's perception of "beauty" has changed so dramatically. “A number of studies have documented the trend of increasing thinness in Playboy centerfolds, Miss America contestants, and models from the 1950s to the 1990s” (Spettigue). This just goes to show that the standard of “beauty” is getting thinner. This is causing girls to want to be slimmer by taking whatever measures are necessary, be it healthy weight loss or eating disorders. The media not only places great importance on being thin and being “beautiful,” but also on the importance of a person's appearance in general. “The multi-billion dollar beauty industry depends on a strong emphasis on the value of beauty and appearance for women, because this supports a consumer-based culture in which the answer to any problem can be obtained by purchasing products advertised to improve one's appearance ” (Spettiga). This is completely true. Without people feeling bad about themselves and feeling like they have to look a certain way, there would be a huge drop in sales in the beauty industry. If everyone felt good about themselves, fewer people would buy makeup, diet pills, etc. because they wouldn't feel the need to change their appearance. Therefore, the media has a huge effect on what people perceive as beauty and the development of eating disorders. Anorexia is a very serious eating disorder from which almost 3 million people suffer worldwide. Anorexia is defined as “an eating disorder that causes people to lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height” (Www.mentalhealth.gov.). It mainly affects women, with 85%-95% of women being anorexic, but it also affects men. People who suffer from anorexia nervosa have a strong fear of gaining weight, limit the food they eat even though they are often too thin, and think about food more than the average person. No one is 100% sure what exactly causes anorexia, although there are many different situations and things that can lead to it. These things include trying to fit into a certain model or ideal of beauty (culture), having a family member with anorexia, having parents or family members who criticize their child's body and eating habits, promoting looking a certain way or going on a diet, having stressful events or experiencing life changes (things like rape, starting a new job, moving, etc.), having certain personality traits (like not liking yourself or your appearance, feeling hopeless , wanting to be "perfect", etc.) and biology (genes, hormones and chemicals in the brain can cause anorexia). Many people believe that anorexia is a way to relieve anger, anxiety or tension and to feel in controlcomplete on some aspects of your life. Bulimia is defined as “an eating disorder and serious mental illness that may go unnoticed for a long period in which people binge on large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time and feel they have no control over the amount they eat. food consumed, or the ability to stop” (Bulimia Nervosa.). After binge eating this food, bulimic people will purge themselves by forcing themselves to vomit or taking laxatives. Some bulimics exercise a lot, as well as binge and purge to prevent weight gain. Often, this exercise is excessive in an unhealthy amount. Bulimia nervosa is a sign of a serious mental health problem and should not be seen as a simple “lifestyle choice”. Bulimia can be a very difficult eating disorder to notice, because people with bulimia nervosa often have a body weight close to if not within the healthy range for their height, age and gender. Studies have shown that 2-3 out of 100 women in America and up to 5% of college women in America suffer from bulimia nervosa. As with anorexia, the causes of bulimia are unknown although they are expected to likely be the same causes as anorexia nervosa. Bulimia may have started as a way to relieve anxiety or tension in your life by controlling your atypical eating habits. Other causes may include parents or family members criticizing their child's body and eating habits, promoting appearance or dieting, stressful events or life changes (things like sexual abuse, moving, etc.), attempts to fit in a certain model of “beauty” (culture), having personality traits such as not liking yourself or your appearance, feeling hopeless or wanting to be “perfect”, having a family member such as a mother or sister with anorexia and/or genes , hormones and chemicals in the brain. Anorexia affects a person's body in many negative ways both inside and out. The effects you can see on a person with anorexia are often brittle and even hair falling out and thinning. Their nails may appear a yellowish tint and are also very brittle and chip easily. Anorexic's skin is also often dry, covered with very fine hair and may appear patchy and have a yellow tinge. Anorexic people get cold very easily and fine hair all over their body tries to keep them warm. Their skin is very easily bruised and the bruises are often very dark and very large. Inside the body of an anorexic there are many other effects. According to Www.mentalhealth.gov., people with anorexia often have many heart or blood problems including slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, racing heart, and/or anemia. They are also prone to many bone problems such as “bone loss, osteoporosis, swollen joints and fractures” (Www.mentalhealth.gov.). The brain of a person with anorexia is also severely affected by the disorder and this often leads to poor judgment, poor memory and confused or slow thinking. Menstrual periods stop and constipation often occurs because the body does not have enough energy to carry out simple tasks. Muscle weakness, muscle wasting, swelling, and kidney failure are also all effects of anorexia nervosa on the body. Like anorexia, people with bulimia have a number of visible and unseen effects. “Bulimic people often show signs of vomiting, such as swollen cheeks or jaw area, calluses or scratches on the knuckles (if you use your fingers to induce vomiting), teeth that appear pale, and broken blood vessels in the eyes” (Bulimia Nervosa. ). According to a personal interview with a girlcollege age named Julia Smith, cuts and scrapes on a person with bulimia on the fingers and knuckles are very common. She had suffered from bulimia for years and says her fingers and knuckles were always "all cut and sore" when she was bulimic, because she used her fingers to make herself vomit after eating anything. Bulimic people often have many internal problems, including the stomach, throat, bones, nerves, muscles and heart. Bulimic people often have many problems with dental problems such as tooth decay and sore throats due to the fact that they vomit frequently. Frequent vomiting and use of laxatives also often lead to stomach and intestinal ulcers, indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal prolapse. Frequent purging can also cause an electrolyte imbalance due to the fact that some electrolytes cannot be digested before being vomited up. This can lead to nerve damage, severe dehydration, and organ and muscle damage. Weakening bones, irregular heartbeat, slow heart rate, and heart failure are also all possible side effects of bulimia nervosa. There are many symptoms to look out for when wondering if someone has anorexia nervosa. Some of the most common symptoms of anorexia sufferers are low body weight for their height, age and gender (usually 15% or more below normal weight) and refusal to maintain a healthy weight, talk about their weight or otherwise. larger body shape than the average person, fear of gaining weight or becoming “fat” and/or thinking they are fat even though they are often very thin. They often do not eat or eat very little (especially in the presence of others), count calories, weigh food, cut it into very small pieces and move the food around a lot rather than actually eating it. People with anorexia often refuse to admit how severe their weight loss is due to embarrassment or to hide their disorder. "Some things to watch out for when wondering if someone has anorexia are skipping meals or making excuses not to eat, eating only a few foods, refusing to eat in public, planning and preparing elaborate meals for others, but not eating , constantly weighing themselves, cutting food into small pieces and/or compulsively exercising.” (Ehrlich) Often, anorexic people exercise very often even when they are sick or in bad weather, because they want to burn the calories from the food they have. eaten recently. People with anorexia also often have other psychological disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior, etc. Some of the signs to look out for when wondering if a person has bulimia nervosa are very similar to those that show people with anorexia nervosa. Bulimia can be a difficult eating disorder to notice due to the fact that people with bulimia nervosa most often have a body weight close to if not in the healthy range for their gender, height and age. However, there are some warning signs to look out for that bulimic people display that can help others notice their eating disorder. Like anorexia, bulimic people often have trouble eating in front of others, exercise a lot, are afraid of gaining weight or "getting fat," have a distorted body image, and hate their bodies. Bulimic people often use diet pills and laxatives to aid urination or bowel movements. Bulimic people often go to the bathroom (especially after eating) so they can vomit up the food they recently ate. Frequent vomiting can also lead to scratches, cuts, or calluses on bulimics' hands if they use their fingers.