Is Looking Extremely Thin Worth It

I. Introduction
a. Statistical data about how many people have an eating disordered in the us
b. Definition of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
c. Thesis:

II. Physical Effects

A. Anorexia Nervosa
a. signs/ symptoms
b. medical reports/ diagnostic tests
c. explanation/ analysis
B. Bulimia Nervosa
a. signs/ symptoms
b. medical reports/ examinations
c. explanation/ analysis

III. Psychological effects

A. Anorexia Nervosa
a .psychological signs
b. medical reports
c. explanation/ analysis
B. Bulimia Nervosa
a. psychological signs

b. medical reports
c. explanation/ analysis

IV. Social effects: how society and family plays a role

A. Anorexia Nervosa
a. social signs
b. biographies/ quotes
c. explanation/ analysis
B. Bulimia Nervosa
a. social signs
b. biographies/ quotes
c. explanation/ analysis

V. Conclusion
A. Survey results
B. How it applies to the world today

Cayla Curry
English 111
Research Essay
20 December 2016
Is Looking Extremely Thin Worth It

According to Mirasol, an online source, approximately ten million people both men and
women in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. The most common eating
disorders that men and women suffer from are either Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia
Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two psychiatric eating disorders
that affect an individuals ability to rationalize proper nutrition and make individuals
view their selves as fat or overweight. The difference between Anorexia and Bulimia is
that individuals diagnosed with Anorexia are known to starve their selves whereas, those
with Bulimia consume large amounts of calories followed by purging or vomiting to
prevent weight gain. Even though Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa pose as lifethreatening disorders that share similarities and differences in which, the general public
needs to have awareness and education about the negative effects that often ruins lives.
Although many people may argue that Anorexia and Bulimia share the same
characteristics that change the normal functioning of the body, in truth, through a series
of medical reports and diagnostic tests the two eating disorders do share similar
characteristics but, have different effects on certain parts of an individuals body.
Upon a routinely physically examination patients diagnosed with Anorexia nervosa
experience Cardiovascular problems such as low blood pressure, slow or irregular heart
beats, and heart failure. Their bones become weak and brittle, increasing the risk for
fractures, swollen joints, and osteoporosis. They experience digestive problems such as
constipation and bloating. With the individual starving their self they are preventing their
bodies from obtaining the proper nutrients and electrolytes that help maintain the bodys
normal functioning. Females with Anorexia have the tendency to stop growing properly
and experience reproductive problems to the degree where young women would stop

having their menstrual cycles and for those who want to start a family have difficulty
getting pregnant. For the women who are pregnant yet struggling with Anorexia report
that they have serious complications with their pregnancy (Gillard 44).
Similar in an individual with Bulimia Nervosa they experience the same medical
complications except with the individual binge eating followed by vomiting they further
increase their risk for death. In contrast to people with Anorexia, individuals with
Bulimia develop ulcers in the lining of their stomach which would eventually lead to
stomach cancer or can rupture their stomach. They complain of a delayed emptying of the
stomach and intense stomach pain. The lining of their esophagus becomes irritated and
sore to the degree that the person may show signs of blood in their vomit. Bulimics
become prone to tooth enamel erosion, increase in tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods,
and develop gum disease (Gillard 44).
Not only do these eating disorders affect the normal state of the body, Anorexia and
Bulimia affects ones mental state of being, psychologically. Through a series of CT
scans, MRIs, and other imaging examinations, medical examiners have reported that
patients with Anorexia Nervosa show a deficit of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which
regulates mood and behavior. Medical examiners also report that patients experience
negative reinforcement in which, the person develops negative behaviors that help them
avoid or reduce negative feelings or thoughts about one self (Anorexia64). Anorexics
develop the irrational fear of gaining weight and develop a distorted view of them being
fat or overweight causing them to continue losing weight. Anorexics that experience a
deficit in serotonin develop anxiety problems, act very moody, and eventually become
depressed. With partaking in negative reinforcement these individuals lower their self-

esteem and confidence by talking and acting very negative towards their self whether if
its self-harm or mentally with succumbing to their fear of eating food and possibly
gaining weight.
In contrast to the psychological and mental effects of Anorexia those who have Bulimia
develop more of an impulse- driven personality due to the changes in the patients brain
(Bulimia161). That means the individual is most likely to engage in risky behavior like
shoplifting, sexual activity, or getting involved with drugs or alcohol. They experience
the same deficit in the neurotransmitter serotonin and appear to act moody. With a
decrease production of the neurotransmitter serotonin the person appears very irritable
and often has mood swings thus, medical examiners diagnosis people with having bipolar
disorder and severe depression.
The last of the similarities and differences that these eating disorders share is how the
individual's social life has changed, as well as how they interact with those around them.
Amy, a victim of Anorexia, expressed in a newspaper article, Having an eating disorder
is so lonelylosing weight is the only thing that really matters. I forgot all about my
passions and interests, friends and family. All I had was the ability to make myself
sicker (Amys). Like Amy many victims of Anorexia begin to avoid and push away
their family and friends to avoid any confrontation about their eating disorder. People
with Anorexia have a tendency to avoid going to social events like parties and family
gatherings in order avoid consuming food or coming up with excuses to why they are not
eating. Anorexics also experience career disruption in that they remove their selves from
school and work.

Similar to anorexics, bulimics experienced the same social effects except that in cases of
Bulimia, individuals would part take in risky behavior like theft. Some Bulimics isolated
their selves from their families and friends who judge them about their excess spending
on food. In an interview, Kay, a mother of a bulimic daughter expressed how:
Suddenly she [Linda] wasnt our sweet little girl anymore. She started having
trouble getting along with her sisters and grandmother, plus we noticed lots of food
disappearing. I would get home from the store and swear I had bought bagels, but the
next morning when I went to look for them, they would be gone. I asked everybody in the
house where they were and they all claimed they hadnt seen them. (Bulimia 17)
Anorexia and Bulimia destroy ones social life especially the connections that the victims
have made between family and friends. They isolate their selves from the ones they love
in order to have control of their self and avoid any possible judgment.
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two life- threatening psychiatric disorders in
which physically, mentally/psychologically, and socially affects an individuals life. In a
recent survey conducted roughly 53% of participants responded that they knew someone
who has or is currently struggling with an eating disorder (Curry). The remaining 47% of
participants did not know anyone or was unsure if they had a friend or family that had or
is struggling with an eating disorder (Curry). In a society where looking thin is the new
trend it important to educate and spread awareness young men and women about the
eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa With educating the younger
population about the physically, mental/ psychological, and social affects that these eating
disorders have can help prevent future deaths and bring light to those who have yet to

come out about their current or past struggle with any type of eating disorder whether it is
Anorexia or Bulimia.

Works Cited
"Amy's Story-Anorexia." Medicine, Health, and Bioethics: Essential Primary
Sources. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 159-163.
Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
"Anorexia." From the Brain to the Classroom: The Encyclopedia of Learning. Ed.
Sheryl Feinstein. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2014. 62-68. Gale Virtual Reference
Library. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
"Bulimia." The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Ed. Jacqueline L. Longe. 3rd
ed. Vol. 1. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2016. 160-62. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
Web. 21 Dec. 2016.
Curry, Cayla. Eating Disorders. 15 December 2016
Gillard, Arthur. Anorexia and Bulimia. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2013.
Print.
"Mirasol Eating Disorder Recovery Centers ." Eating Disorder Information and
Statistics. Mirasol, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2016