Eating disorders have been found more commonly among teens. This is highlighted in Chapter 16 and in Highlight 8 of your text. Go to The National Eating Disorder Association's website (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org) and browse through the website. Read general information about anorexia and bulimia from the viewpoint of the medical profession. After reading the information on the above sites, discuss the following: Describe the elements of anorexia. Describe the elements of bulimia. Describe what you think about the promotion of eating disorders? Is this approach an acceptable method of weight control? Does anyone benefit? Who? What kind of physical and psychological harm is in the future for persons with eating disorders? Are boys/men becoming more likely to develop eating disorders? If you found out that your best friend was anorexic or bulemia, what recommendations would you make? Part B: Look up the term Exercise Bulimia through your favorite search engine. Write a paragraph explaining the condition. Would you consider this condition to be an eating disorder? Why or why not?
Many believe that dietary supplements can improve athletic performance. Much research has been conducted on the efficacy of dietary supplements in relation to athletic performance. Visit the library or search the internet for 3 scientific articles on dietary supplements and their influence upon athletic performance. You can choose any dietary supplement of your
Sample Answer
Part A: Eating Disorders
Elements of Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
Anorexia Nervosa is a serious psychiatric illness characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Key medical, emotional, and behavioral elements include:
Extreme Restriction: Severely restricting food intake, resulting in significantly low body weight (often defined by a low Body Mass Index or failure to reach expected weight in children/teens).
Intense Fear of Weight Gain: An intense fear of gaining weight or becoming "fat," even when significantly underweight.
Body Image Disturbance: A distorted perception of one's body weight or shape, or a lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight (often called anosognosia).
Compulsive Behaviors: May include excessive exercise, rigid food rituals, and secretive behaviors around food.
Physical Signs: Severe fatigue, dizziness, hypotension (low blood pressure), bradycardia (slow heart rate), amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods in females), lanugo (fine, soft body hair), and bone loss (osteoporosis).
Elements of Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors (purging). Key elements include:
Recurrent Episodes of Binge Eating: Eating an unusually large amount of food in a discrete period (e.g., within two hours) accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over eating during the episode.
Inappropriate Compensatory Behaviors (Purging): Repeatedly engaging in behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or excessive exercise.
Self-Evaluation Influenced by Body Shape: Self-worth is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Weight Status: Unlike Anorexia, individuals with Bulimia typically maintain a normal or overweight BMI, which makes the condition less physically obvious.
Physical Signs: Dental erosion (from stomach acid), swollen salivary glands (parotid glands), calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign), and electrolyte imbalances (especially hypokalemia), which can cause cardiac arrhythmias.
Promotion of Eating Disorders and Ethical Implications
The promotion of eating disorders (e.g., through "pro-ana" or "pro-mia" websites and social media groups) is not an acceptable method of weight control and is widely considered unethical and dangerous by medical and mental health professionals.
Does anyone benefit? No ethical individual or organization benefits. The only "beneficiaries" are the creators and maintainers of these often-secretive online communities, who find a sense of validation, identity, or harmful support for their illness. This is a false benefit rooted in pathology, not health.