Obesity caused by Bulimia Nervosa - Research Paper Example

Obesity caused by Bulimia Nervosa Obesity is caused by a variety of issues including an eating disorder known asBulimia nervosa. Obesity is determined by a factor of the weight of a specific individual whereby it is presented as a factor of the BMI. Obesity is characterized by high levels of fat deposits in the body in the diagnosis of the disease. According to research conducted, body dissatisfaction is a major promoter of obesity. This is evident from the fact that dissatisfaction among individuals with their bodies motivates attempts at weight control. The attempts at weight control disturb the appetite control system, which on effect increases the reward value of food. Eating disorders take various forms among individuals. One of the rampant instances of eating disorders that translate into obesity is binge eating. Binge eating is a behavior among obese individuals whereby they adopt eating habits that involve eating in the night. Community studies conducted revealed that binge-eating rates are high among obese eating adults as opposed to normal weight adults. There are also other factors influencing binge-eating habits. Psychological factors such as depression and anxiety affect the eating habits among individuals. Psychologically affected individuals result into adopting binge eating habits as a means of overcoming psychological stressors (Barbour 34). Another eating disorder rampant among obese individuals is emotional eating. Over eating comes as a response to the negative emotional states among individuals. Considering the fact that over eating is among the leading factors in the promotion of obesity among individuals; emotional eating constantly leads to over eating and hence obesity among individuals. Community studies have confirmed that emotional eating is wide spread among obese adult individuals. The emotional distress among the obese individuals comes because of low morale and will power to overcome their current state of obesity. Therefore, obese individuals result into emotional eating and hence increase their levels of obesity (Kelly 78). External eating is another eating habit that promotes the prevalence of obesity within the community. Recent research has revealed that psychometric measures that promote external responsiveness among adults have produced mixed results whereby higher external eating is evident among obese individuals as opposed to normal adult individuals. This case was also consistent among children. Experimental protocol revealed that obese children ate more than normal weight children. Hence, obese children are more likely to over eat as a response to exposure to the food cues. Therefore, external eating habits are rampant among obese children and adults. Another related construct to the eating habit among obese individuals is the reinforcing value of food. Research has revealed that obese adults and children are motivated more when engaging in activities that are rewarding in terms of food then those with non-food rewards. Making a comparison with normal weighted adults and children, motivating factors differ significantly when engaging in activities. Normal weighted adults and children are motivated by other rewarding factors apart from food. The speed of eating food is also higher among adult children and adults, which indicates the reward value food, which is a contrast to normal weighted individuals (Dillon 46). Satiety responsiveness is also an indication of the eating habits that result in obesity among individuals. This is evident from the reduced towards internal food cues among obese individuals. Studies have revealed that children with obesity are less likely to respond to preloads. This is evident from the school setting whereby heavier children are less likely to respond to the variation in the caloric content in mid-morning snacks. Therefore, data from analysis indicates that the satiety responsiveness is strongly associated weight and hence obesity among children (Wolin and Petrelli 36). Approaches have been developed to conceptualize eating disorders by analysts. The first approach characterized eating disorders a medical condition where eating issues are considered psychological disturbances affecting a particular individual. The second approach uses a political model where women are considered to internalize the gender norms within the community. Therefore, the development eating disorders among individuals depends on psychological factors and the internalization of the gender norms. Hence, eating disorders are considered as a matter of political analysis. The two approaches work hand in hand whereby medical approaches see the problems within an individual while the political approach conceptualizes the problem being beyond the individual. Hence, this serves as evidence that obesity among individuals is a factor of eating disorders among individuals (Kelly 58). Eating disorders that that have promoted the increase in the number of obese individuals within the society are influenced by environmental factors. This is evident from the fact that the family, mass media and peers tend to send the wrong message about food that encourage disordered eating among individuals. Although the society stigmatizes obesity and idealize thin and healthy bodies, high calorie foods are widely available and advertised. This increases the consumption of foods with high calorie contents and hence obesity. Hence, obesity is greatly influenced by individual eating habits. Body dissatisfaction is considered to promote eating disorders among individuals. These eating disorders are common among adolescent girls who report that they are dissatisfied with their bodies and hence result in unhealthy ways to lose weight. The weight loss strategies used include the use of tobacco, skipping meals and self-induced vomiting. These attitudes and approach places individuals at a greater risk for eating disorders that result in obesity, growth impairments and emotional problems such as depression. Hence, eating disorders among individuals are the leading promoters of obesity among individuals (Wolin and Petrelli 42). According to health care debates held in the United States, two- thirds of the American population is either obese or overweight. The cause of the drastic increase in the number of individuals suffering from obesity is because of the increase in number of individuals suffering from eating disorders. A number of factors have promoted eating disorders in the United States. One of the promoting factors is the fact that food has become relatively cheap and highly available. Hence, this promotes an increase in the consumption of food and as a result promotes the rampancy of eating disorders. The increase in the levels of eating disorders increases obesity in an equal proportion. The health campaigns against fat whereby thinness has been idealized and obesity has been continually bashed. This has resulted in the development of eating disorders among individuals ranging from anorexia to obesity. The environment is another promoter of eating disorders in the United States leading to obesity. This is through peers, family and mass media where they encourage the consumption of foods with high calorie contents. This in effect translates into the spread of obesity because of the development of eating disorders among individuals (Wolin and Petrelli 56). The failure to deal with the obesity situation within the United States due to the fear of promoting unhealthy obsessions with the human body image would come as a disservice to the public and the health of the nation. Therefore, the government should attempt to tackle obesity through the promotion of restrictive diets and exercise regiments for recovering obese individuals and normal weighted individuals. Approaches that focus on the development of positive attitudes and lifestyle changes should be encouraged. This helps in the significant reduction of eating disorders and the development of issues concerning the body image. The adoption of this strategy will assist greatly in the reduction and control of eating disorders and hence obesity (Dillon 56). In conclusion, obesity among individuals is mainly caused by eating disorders. This is evident from the fact that eating disorders result in an increase in the consumption of food among individuals, which consequently translates into obesity. Food has also become more affordable throughout the United States. The increased availability and affordability of food has resulted in the subconscious acquisition of eating disorders and hence the rampancy of obesity in the United States. This is evident from the fact that two-thirds of the population in the United States is obese and this has raised many health issues. Works Cited Barbour, Scott. Obesity. farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Print. Dillon, Erin. Obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Print. Kelly, Evelyn B.. Obesity. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print. Metcalf, Tom, and Gena Metcalf. Obesity. Detroit: Thomson / Gale, 2008. Print. Wolin, Kathleen Y., and Jennifer M. Petrelli. Obesity. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood Press, 2009. Print. 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