Eating Disorder Effect on People - Thesis Example

Introduction Food performs numerous and equally important functions in the body of a human being. Lack of it may cause serious problems to the body. Similarly, excess consumption of food can as well have serious implications on ones body and life. Abnormalities surrounding food consumption among many people are currently raising a lot of problems and debates (ARFID, 2014). Such abnormalities may include situations where one has to take less or excess full per meal. On the other hand, the excess food is taken slowly in small bits but continuously over a time period. Such conditions are referred to by psychologists as ‘’eating disorders’’ and they have a common occurrence among all victims worldwide. Eating disorders have led to a wide range of medical problems and psychological complications in many young people worldwide (Jenny, 2012). Scientific and therapeutic solutions have been probed with insignificant positive results in combating the rise in such conditions among the younger generation. According to Kreipe &Birndorf, (2011) ED are psychotic disorders which lead to cognitive distortions in human beings in relations to their patterns and quantities of food consumption. These distortions are usually very difficult to arrest since they develop over time. According to Marsh et al., ( 2009), eating disorders are psychotic conditions that change the humans’ perceptions about food conception rates and patterns thus have to be corrected through psychotherapeutic administrations on the individuals affected. Eating disorders are mostly characterized by major characteristics of being either underweight or overweight. Overweight conditions occur as a result of overeating or consumption of excess fatty foods. Underweight conditions on the other hands are brought about by reduced food consumption by an individual. Both men and women are liable for being victims of this condition at some stages in life depending on their levels of exposure either to lack of or abundant supply of food to their bodies. Eating disorders according to Le Grange, Crosby, Rathouz, & Leventhal, (2009), are poor eating habits. The habit of taking either excess or inadequate food is one that is normally acquired over time. Poor eating habits can be acquired gradually depending on some factors that might directly or indirectly influence one’s eating habits. It may lead to a high liking for food of a particular type or various kinds or a rejection of most of the foods deemed necessary for normal functioning of the human body. This consequently leads to the occurrence of eating disorders in the persons concerned. There are three different health conditions that are mostly used to describe eating disorders. These are also the common eating disorders that afflict many people in the world today. These include bulimia nervosa (bulimic disorders), anorexia nervosa (anorexic disorders) and binge- eating disorders (other eating disorders not otherwise specified). Eating disorders affect millions of people around the globe today. In America, an increasing number of people are gaining much weight than before, all attributed to poor eating habits due to eating disorders and lack of enough exercises. As recorded by Le Grange et al (2009), there were approximately 11 million Americans suffering from eating disorders by 2009 and almost all Americans knew of one or more persons suffering from the disorder. Among the three most common eating disorders, anorexia is the most prevalent of all especially among adolescents. Unfortunately, unlike some other diseases, eating disorders do not discriminate among people but affect those of all classes and both genders. Since an eating disorder is a conditions which sets in a gradual habit developed in a person through various contributing factors, the conditions sets in slowly by slowly as it develops until it reaches a point where it becomes hard to be controlled, though there is always a room to control it still. Severe distress concerning body weight and structure then sets in, and the person runs out of control. As a result, psychotic disorders begin to develop concerning the foods taken in at every stage. Statement of the problem Eating disorders have been on the rise in various parts of the world, majorly in most parts of America in the recent past compared to antiquity. The rise in the condition is said to be contributed to by the rapid change in lifestyle which in most cases make people to develop bad eating habits. For instance, studies have shown that most Americans have an increased tendency of eating very unhealthily with the recent rise in the fast food restaurants all over the country (Matt, 2014). One finds it difficult to remain static in a changing global dimension hence the adoption of new eating styles and mannerisms. The immediate result has been an increase in cases of eating disorders. Such disorders afflict people of various categories and caliber, the rich and the poor, the old and the young alike. The number of deaths and psychological torture associated with the occurrence of eating disorders continue to increase irrespective of the therapeutics efforts invested into the same by various research units. Building strong personal contentment through personality building mechanisms and changing the eating habits and styles among various people are among the factors proposed to combat eating disorders (Jeane & Melinda, 2014). Simple diets adoption through the use of traditional foods can be the most effective way to go about solving the problems of eating disorders among various people around the globe (George, 2013). Moreover, genetic characteristics have been found to bear significant contributions to the development of eating disorders in humans. Unless these characteristics are stimulated by other factors such as stress, trauma and other related influences, they remain recessive throughout ones life. Statutory implementation of laws regarding the manufacturing of certain foods at the local levels can as well be another way to go about seeking proper solutions to such problems. It is therefore worth noting that proper management of personality traits can help arrest the situations and save many from the same problems. Food related disorders are dependent on personality traits among various people since the condition is psychological in nature. Certain personality traits therefore, predispose people to various eating disorders such as anorexia, nervosa, binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa (Kelly, Kathy, Michael, & Gina, 2011). Several researches have been conducted on the psychological causes and therapeutic approaches in solving such problems related to eating disorders. However, very little literature is available on the relationship between foods related disorders and personality traits. Moreover, very scanty issues have been raised on the effectiveness of traditional foods in regulating the development of eating disorders in human beings especially the younger generation which is most affected. Government efforts and international policies on fighting eating disorders is also another area that has been seriously neglected. Basing my arguments on these gaps, I have decided to conduct research on the relevance of the issues raised above in relation to eating disorders in the younger generation today. Research objectives This research seeks to achieve the following objectives; 1. To find out the effectiveness of regulatory policies measures on food manufacturing in controlling food related disorders in young persons. 2. To investigate the effectiveness of traditional foods in combating the occurrence of eating disorders among the young persons. 3. To investigate the relevance of personality building among the younger generations in combating eating disorders. All these will be made possible through data collection and analysis which will be done to help in achieving the above named objectives. Research hypotheses This thesis will also seek to validate the relevance of the following hypotheses about the development of food related disorders in the young generation. 1. Strong regulatory policies on food manufacturing administered at the local levels is an effective way of solving the problems related food disorders among the younger generations in the world today. 2. The consumption of traditional foods can prevent people from suffering from eating disorders. 3. People with stronger personalities are less susceptible to developing eating disorders at any stage of life compared to those with weak personalities. Background of the study Eating disorder as Kreipe & Birndorf, (2000) notes is a non discriminatory condition affecting everyone everywhere irrespective of their social and financial status, the rich and the poor, the young and the elderly, the learned and the unlearned. Affection rates of these conditions have been found to be different across the board depending on their sexual orientation, age, as well as occupational differences. Most people are affected by eating disorders today due to the changing trends in what the world’s definition for beauty that changes the eating habits across the globe (NIH, 2011). According to Lindblad, Lindberg, & Hjern, (2006), what the society considers as a beautiful woman today is a slim and slender woman. Being fat in woman is currently fading away even in the less developed nations where such notions have only recently died. Most young women in the current generation, therefore, tend to grow slim by reducing of the amount of food they consume. Marsh et al., (2009) notes that, in a bid to prevent growing fat, some women opt for voluntary fasting or induced vomiting especially when they realize that they have consumed too much food and suspect they might grow fat. Media exposure has contributed a lot to the development of eating disorders among the young generation across the globe. This is because these people tend to copy, develop and assume the body structure of the fashionable man and woman appearing on the television and the movies. The ideal man in the current society is depicted to be huge, heavily built and well composed. Most young and middle- aged men crave to achieve this current reality. As a result, many of the craving men have resolved to consume much and varying kinds of foods as well as adopting body building mechanisms such as intensive exercises and gymnasia. Binge eating has been what these people catch up with in most cases when they get into such practices. Those that are extremely fat or heavily built find it necessary to reduce their body sizes to fit the fixed body structure of the ideal man figure in the world. In doing this, most as well have suffered from anorexia and bulimia Statistical survey conducted by (Stice, 2002) on two-thousand young women between the ages of 15- 24 in college campuses, in America indicated that 95% of them are on dietary regulations. 90% of the 2000 men between the ages of 18- 39 were as well found to be on voluntary dietary regulations which were self induced and programmed for self desires. A lot of young girls aged between 15- 19 years of age are currently battling with identified cases of anorexia around the globe (Le Grange, Crosby, Rathouz, & Leventhal, 2007). Wilson & Shafran, (2005) also note that there has been a tremendous increase of anorexia in young women aged between 15- 19 years of age since 1930 while the incidences of bulimia have tripled in women aged between 10- 39 years between 1988 and 1993. The main reason for this increase was found to be influenced at two levels; peer influences as well as media influence. The two factors had the greatest contribution to the conditions developed in each case even though there were other factors that had contributed to the same in some girls. A study conducted on athletes in 2006 by the NCAA athletes found out that at least 53% of male athletes undergo binge eating while 30% of the female athletes undergo the same body treatment on a weekly basis. Moreover, about 45%of the male athletes studied used saunas or take warm or hot baths in order to lose weight while 22% of male and female athletes studied used steroids in order to improve their performances (Le Grange, Crosby, Rathouz, & Leventhal, 2007). Worse still, 44% of the female athletes confessed using vomiting to lose weight. Moreover, the studies reported that 60% of the member institution reported at least one case of bulimia or anorexia in their athletic programs. The causes of eating disorders have been found to vary greatly in persons. The most common factor associated with an eating disorder in many people is the genetic make ups in individuals (Tracy, 2011). The same research by Tracy has shown that identical twins are likely to have the same traits up to including the genetic disorders. If the parents suffer from eating disorders, it is very likely that their offspring will suffer the same fates due to the genetic influence of the parents. People’s comments on weights can also affect and inflict eating disorders in other people. Parents have a great influence in molding the perspective of their children. A mother who has a big or small body and boasts about it to her girl children is likely to change their perceptions to adopt bigger body sizes later in life. The same happens when a father having a big body size or suffers from an eating disorder. His sons are likely to be influenced in the same direction (Tracy, 2011). Body related comments at home, at school, in work places, etc. among children, classmates, peers; workmates, etc. can be contributory factors to the development of eating disorders in a person (Le Grange, Crosby, Rathouz, & Leventhal, 2007). Moreover, some studies have linked eating disorders to the occurrence of certain traumatic events in ones life such as abuse, neglect, abandonment during childhood, trauma, bullying, divorce, dyslexia, etc (Steinhausen, 2008). Besides, childhood traumatic events have the tendency of affecting the children when they grow up in their lives. These factors may lead to low self esteem on the concerned children thereby affecting them later in their lives. Such conditions can sometimes result into eating disorders as the last resort. Other factors that have been associated with the occurrence of eating disorders in human beings are the developmental stages such as early puberty in girls and boys sometimes leading to obesity in childhood ages (Jane, 2012). Active division of body cells during puberty often result into high food consumption which when not controlled at an early stage may result into poor eating habits and consequently eating disorders. Some researchers have as well associated eating disorders to family relationships modes which may sometimes cause trauma in the children, as well as the parents (Le Grange, Crosby, Rathouz, & Leventhal, 2007). Other factors like alcoholism, high levels of depression the mother and even the father in the family are often associated with the occurrence of bulimia in some families even though this fact is not applicable to all cases studied (WebMD, 2011). Strong personalities are well established on their dietary preferences and are not wavered by certain traumatic events of peer persuasions. Cultural interactions and adoptions due to the advances in technology have ass well augmented the occurrences of these disorders. People tend to practice what they usually see on televisions, movies, etc. These affect and changes their eating mannerisms hence the onset of the eating disorders. The current trend in the world for instance is that which favors the slim girls and strong and huge men. People, therefore, tend to shape their bodies to suite these emerging trends by changing their eating patterns and manners. In the long run most get influenced and are consequently engulfed into the eating disorder nets. Justification of the study Eating disorders are on the rise in the whole world mostly due to the changing patterns of consumption and diffusions in technology. Anorexia, bulimia and binge disorders are among the most common disorders which have been on the rise in the recent past prompting more research and studies to be conducted on the same. There are occasional cases of death that sometime might be there on the victims when they continue to be afflicted by the disease over time. Anorexia, an eating disorder characterized by distortions on an individuals’ body image. This condition makes those suffering from it to feel the need to reduce their body weights even when they have small bodies. Such feelings continue to manifest even when the victims have grown too thin such that they need to begin building their weights. Some of them, therefore, end up growing too thin to support themselves hence needs help of a psychiatric (George, 2013). The victims here have the tendency of refusing to eat and attend compulsory exercises, all with the aim of reducing their body weights. Sometimes the effects go further that the victims feel like they don’t want to eat before others and in the process end up losing a lot of weight (Stice, 2002). At extreme levels, they can starve to death. Anorexic condition is mainly common in young females as compared to males. Statistical discoveries by Lindblad, Lindberg, & Hjern, 2(006) indicate that 40% of anorexia cases were in girls aged between 15 and 19 years of age in 2003. It was also found out that there was a significant increase in incidences of anorexia between 1935 and 1989 majorly among the young women and girls from all over the world aged between 15- 24 years. Bulimia, on the other hand, is another eating disorder which is very popular with people who like binge eating (WebMD, 2011) in most parts of the word today. Bulimic disorder, characterized by excessive eating by the individuals suffering from the same, is, however, associated with a very complicated and weird characteristic where the individuals consume a lot of food and calories and then remove it all out of their bodies. This is done in various ways such as laxatives, enemas, diuretics or forced vomiting. The victims feel disgusted and ashamed when they splurge but easily get relieved once they vomit and get rid of the food in their stomach. Statistical analysis of the occurrences of bulimia indicates that the disorder has been on the rise in almost every place over the earth’s surface (Matt, 2014). Incidences of bulimia in women aged 10- 39 years tripled between 1988 and 1993 around the globe. Out of these, only 6% of the victims receive mental health care while the majority with severe health care conditions does not receive these services. Other eating disorders related to these two are orthorexia nervosa, Rumination syndrome/ Merycism, Body dysmorphia, etc. which continue t afflict troubles and problems in many people across the globe (WebMD, 2011). Binge disorders occur in persons of every age and category (WebMD, 2011). The disorder is associated with excessive consumption of food (uncontrolled eating). The victims of this disorder, however, dont purge food or calories out of their bodies after eating. Binge disorders often lead to obesity in humans. A binge disorder often begins with occasional binging in individuals and gradually develops into a serious disorder. AsWilson & Shafran, (2005) note binge disorder is a very common phenomenon in men and elderly women. About 52% of American men suffer from binge disorder. The disorder was, however, found to have increased by about 30% among male youths aged between 13- 18 years of age in the United States by 2002Marsh et al., (2009). Many studies have been conducted into the same; however less achievement has been realized and the disorders are still on the rise. Based on the global and regional indicators on eating disorders analyzed prior to this, there arises a great need to conduct researches and studies with the aim of coming up with the correct solutions for each of these problems (Kelly, Kathy, Michael, & Gina, 2011). Conclusion In conclusion, I would like to mention here that eating disorders are very common among many people around the globe today. These disorders affect people at all ages and sexes. The most common eating disorders include bulimia, anorexia and binge eating disorders. The occurrence of eating disorders in an individual is determined by a number of factors ranging from social to genetic factors. The disorders are mainly common among women and athletes and have been increasing in the world with time. Treatment mechanisms for the various eating disorders include talk therapies, clinical medications and nutritional counseling. These disorders have certain negative impacts on the persons involved. They may lead to cases of withdrawal from the social groups, anxiety and depressions. References ARFID. (2014). Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder . The Center For Eating Disorders , 1-5. George, M. (2013). Food Sensitivities. The Worlds Ealthiest Foods. , 6-15. Jane, M. R. (2012). Eating DIsorders During Adolescense: Nutritional Value and Intervention. Journal of the Department of Health and Adoloescent , 1-12. Jeane, S., & Melinda, S. (2014). Eating Disorders Treatment and Recovery. Help Guide Journal , 2-5. Jenny, O. R. (2012). Eating Disorders and Young People. Irish Health Journals , 1-7. Kelly, D. B., Kathy, J. H., Michael, R. L., & Gina, E. R. (2011). Eating Disorders. 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