Bethany VanDruff

Mrs. Barnes
English 112
May, 22 2017
1
There are about eight million people in the U.S alone battling an eating disorder. To help

lower that number it is crucial that we start to teach the truths of the diseases and truly try to

understand it. The symptoms of an eating disorder are the most understood aspect of an eating

disorder, however, this is a mental based disorder so it is important that we understand the

mental and emotional part as well. Eating disorders are commonly overlooked and mistaught in

society; because of this patients often find it hard to find the support and treatment they truly

need.

Of the large number of patients with an eating disorder, 95% are between the ages

of 12 to 25. Of those, 10% will die within 10 years of their personal fight with the disease. Sadly,

things like this are not taught in your typical high school health class. Yet being as educated as

you could possibly be in the statistics will not help your understanding of the interpersonal cogs

and gears of the disorders. It is proven that a patient's use of and/or fight with an eating disorder

can affect the patient's relationships. But it is important not to forget that statement works the

same way flipped around. Somebody with an eating disorder is usually highly affected by their

relationships and people around them.

If you ask a patient either in remission or cleared completely about the effects of their

relationships during the sickness, you will usually hear that the feedback from others greatly

affects the sickness. In example; I didn't even realize I was shedding pounds until my friends

and family began telling me how great I looked. Even my dad complimented me, which felt so

good. So I made a conscious effort to keep my weight down by only eating low-fat foods.

(Amy, 1) Upon this Amy states that the positive reaction ios what she fed off of, but later on she
Bethany VanDruff
Mrs. Barnes
English 112
May, 22 2017
2
also says that she would never admit that while still sick. At the same time, its important not to

give too negative feedback as well.

This is where the effects of the media tie in. Although it may not show a direct

correlation to the person viewing it, it is still easy for a person to feel that their body is

inadequate to the images theyre seeing plastered everywhere around them. There are plenty of

love-your-body and all-bodies-are-beautiful type movements out there, yet the larger models

used in most of these campaigns still tend to have the same smooth shape, still giving people an

idolized body figure to aspire for. Of course this issue with the media is more than just

photographs. Lately theres been an alarming amount of pro-ana and pro-mia blogs and

pages on social media popping up. Its frightening. These sites/pages recall the disorder as a

blessing and give tips on how to lose more weight, or hide the fact that you may be continuing

the sickness.

Now, after tackling the issue of the influences all around us in this world, were faced

with the question on what is truthfully the most effective way to treat these disorders. Countless

studies have shown that eating disorders come from neurological issues. When addressing

neurological illnesses doctors commonly refer to the causes as short circuits in the brain. The

main focus in the study of eating disorders right now is what exactly are those short circuits.

Studies have shown that patients with eating disorders have different brainwave activity than

those with no disorder. Yet with all of this research there are still misconceptions.

The studies have challenged the common perception of eating disorders, These findings

also validate that eating disorders are real diseases that require treatment. . . . Eating disorders

are not simply a fabrication of ones imagination or a desire to be thin they are serious,
Bethany VanDruff
Mrs. Barnes
English 112
May, 22 2017
3
life-threatening illnesses. (Ekern, Jacquelyn. 1) as said by many doctors and researchers

dedicated to the issue. As much proof as the world has, and as much research has been done, its

time to speak up. We know the issue, its time to address it. If we continue to overlook these

disorders so lightly, patients will never truly get the treatment they need.

Break the silence. Stop the stigma.

Bethany VanDruff
Mrs. Barnes
English 112
May, 22 2017
4

WORKS CITED

"Amy's Story-Anorexia." Medicine, Health, and Bioethics: Essential Primary Sources, edited by K. Lee Lerner and
Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, Gale, 2006, pp. 159-163. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.

Cottle, Michelle. "Pro-Ana Websites Are Dangerous." Eating Disorders, edited by Roman Espejo,
Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

Mickley, Diane. "Antidepressants Are Effective in the Treatment of Bulimia." Eating Disorders, edited by
Roman Espejo, Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context,Originally published as "Medication for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia," Eating Disorders Today,
Summer 2004, pp.

Ballaro, Beverly. "Body Image & The Media." Web.b.ebscohost. Geraldine Wagner, n.d. Web.

"New Research and Evolution in the Study of Eating Disorders." Eating Disorder Hope. N.p., n.d.
Web. 11 May 2017.