Running head: COMMON FOOD DISORDERS

Illustrative Essay

Physical and Mental affects of common food disorders

EN202-ON01

Instructor: Dr. Kimberly Bunts-Anderson

Student: Cherald Loveras

Fall 2019

9/14/19
COMMON FOOD DISORDERS

Who want to go out for dinner? Lunch? Breakfast? Our body needs energy to go through

the day and this energy comes from food. It is important to eat regularly to ensure optimum

performance of oneself. However, eating food is much more complicated for those with eating

disorders. For them, eating is a struggle both physically and mentally. There are numerous types

of eating conditions, but the most common that people experience are Anorexia Nervosa,

Bulimia Nervosa, and Pica Disorder.

To begin with, Anorexia can be very damaging to an individual. People with this disorder

have a distorted perception that they are overweight. Imagine someone eating two spoonsful of a

meal then stops because they feel stuffed. Because of their perception of being full, they

maintain restrictive eating patterns. They are visually considered underweight, but they have that

fear of gaining weight. So much so that they adopted a relentless pursuit to control themselves

even though its negatively affecting their health. With that in mind, eventually the feeling of

fatigue sets in. The person has no energy to do anything as a result of nutrient deficiencies. The

damages that people experience from Anorexia is evident.

Equally important, people with Bulimia Nervosa suffers negative physical outcomes. For

instance, a person was eating vast amounts of food to the point it becomes painful. They binge

eat where they can’t seem to control themselves. Consequently, they eventually force themselves

to vomit a meal they’ve eaten. All the food being taken into the body then, suddenly, forcing it

out will surely make anyone feel uneasy. Even more so, the individual receives unfriendly

physical alterations. They experience facial swelling from all the binge eating and forced

vomiting.

Lastly, a newly common eating condition that people experience is Pica disorder. Similar

to other eating conditions, Pica is different. The consumption of non-food items that have no
COMMON FOOD DISORDERS

nutritional value is the primary stimulus. A person with this disorder might eat harmless items,

but there is a high chance they might eat things that will lead to dangerous consequences. The

cause of Pica is still relatively new, though it is said to be linked to mental disabilities. Though in

some cultures around the world, the act of eating nonfood items is normal. For example, it is

common for people in a particular town to eat chalk or white clay. The object is said to provide

relief to a variety of ailments. In short, Pica can strike at anyone from children to adults of all

ages.

These common types of eating disorders complicate a person’s way of living. It greatly

affects a person’s state of mind and actions. First, the harmful behavioral effects of Anorexia.

Second, the physical changes of Bulimia. Last, the effects of the newly common Pica disorder.

Ultimately, these eating conditions can turn into life-threatening consequences and prevention

should be highly emphasized.