Eating Disorders

Abstract

This paper explains how eating disorders are also mental disorders manifested as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or EDNOS. The need for action is called upon and statistically proven. This paper argues that communication, therapy, feeding intervention, and support groups are needed to fight this phenomenon. It explains that, in all cultures and races, intervention is the key to improvement and prevention and therefore, includes the family, students, teachers, administrators, and community organizations. It shows how a comprehensive school health plan must be created and implemented to prevent the increase of eating disorders. I also discuss an eating disorder intervention program that is in use as part of my school's softball program.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders do not run in my family. If felt good to begin this paper by writing that statement. The truth is, I'm not so sure that an eating disorder does not afflict any member of my family. That's the way eating disorders are: they're secretive diseases. The average person is probably surrounded by one or more persons with some form of eating disorder on a daily basis. I was.

I coach girl's softball and two years ago our school's star shortstop showed symptoms of being Anorexic. She was becoming too thin, and it wasn't because she worked out too much. Her symptoms showed when she was at an intermediate stage of the disease. To keep a long story short, we had an intervention and she was checked into an eight month long treatment center. It was a long hill battle for her, her family, everyone who loved her. She's in college now, playing on the school team. She wrote to me the other day and reminded me that everyday is a brand new battle. But her disease, Anorexia Nervosa, is not the only eating disorder the medical establishment has identified. There are many more.

The term eating disorders usually includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and EDNOS (eating disorders not otherwise specified). Although eating disorders deal with food, they are considered a psychological disorder. Meeks (2005) states that" many aspects of eating disorders are not apparent to an outside observer." Healthy People places eating disorders under the category of mental health and disorders. According to Healthy People, "mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof), which are associated with distress and/or impaired functioning" (www.health.gov, retrieved 11/16/05).

Eating disorders are a serious problem that plagues many young adults today. For many years researchers have tried to find specific causes of onset amongst the various types of people it affects (www.health.gov, retrieved 11/16/05). Some of the research is examining the possibility of a genetic basis for these disorders. Still, other research tests the surrounding life events and their effects on disordered eating or body image. Also, researchers have looked into personal evaluations of weight, body size and image and their contributions to anorexia nervosa and bulimia (www.anred.com, retrieved 11/15/05).

Eating disorders can lead straight to many health problems including tooth decay, ulcers, loss of menstruation, and death. I was a bit surprised about finding out that bulimia, for instance, can cause tooth decay. Upon further research, I found the story of Catherine Oxenberg, former model, TV star and film actress-and princess of Luxembourg. She explained that, when vomiting, the stomach contents include acids which are bad for the teeth, even if one brushes immediately afterwards. She was experiencing tooth decay after many years of struggling with bulimia and documented her dental surgery, recovery and comeback into acting in a reality series which aired on the Lifetime Network early this year (www.CatherineOxenberg.net, retrieved 11/18/05).

In addition to the obvious dangers, eating disorders affect people of all "racial and ethnic groups, both genders, and all educational and socioeconomic groups" in the United States (www.health.gov, retrieved 11/16/05). As teachers, it is our job to protect the health and future of the children, especially since eating disorders can lead to school failure and lower academic performance. Eating disorders affect children at a young age and "often persist into adulthood and have among the highest death rates of any mental disorder" (www.health.gov, retrieved 11/16/05).

A study conducted by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (1996) shows that eighty-six percent of Americans report the onset of an eating disorder before the age of twenty (www.anred.com, retrieved 11/15/05). Clearly, this is within the educators range of responsibility. As I stated earlier, eating disorders are silent epidemics and need to be stopped. To do that, we must educate ourselves with these disorders. I'll begin with Anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is a complex disorder which manifests itself in many characteristic ways. Anorexia nervosa is defined as self-starvation leading to a loss of body weight to a level 15 percent below normal, accompanied by hyperactivity, hypothermia, and amenorrhea. Hypothermia results when the body fat is lost and the victim becomes cold all the time. Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of at least three menstrual cycles. As stated, one of the main characteristics of the disease is that the person affected refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height. The afflicted person also typically weighs 85% or less than what is expected for their age and height. In women suffering from anorexia nervosa, menstrual periods can stop. In men suffering from anorexia nervosa, levels of sex hormones can fall. In addition, young girls do not begin to menstruate at the appropriate age (www.anred.com, retrieved 11/15/05). As I stated earlier, Anorexia nervosa can affect anyone and everyone. As early as today, I saw a special segment on Entertainment Tonight on a young lady who became afflicted with Anorexia Nervosa at the age of eleven. It was very sad to witness her ordeal, as the cameras documented her treatment. The segment ended when the producers introduced her as she is today, age 23. She spoke of her daily struggle to stay healthy. When asked to elaborate on what she believes drew her into becoming anorexic, she mentioned television and magazines. This brings up the role of the media in eating disorders.

Eating disorders have become an epidemic among