It can cause abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure. It can cause reduction of bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis. And although not hazardous to your health, it can cause a growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over your body, in an effort to keep the body worm (National Organization of Eating Disorders, 2002). According to groundbreaking research, Anorexia might be more than a psychosocial illness, but possibly genetic as well. Researchers have discovered biological evidence of a genetic underpinning to Anorexia Nervosa: genetic linkage on chromosome 1 for the complex psychiatric disorder. The brand new findings add a new dimension to a disorder in the past was thought of as being caused by mainly psychological, family, and socio cultural problems (Tori DeAngelis, 2003). .
Another type of eating disorder is Binge Eating Disorder, or BED. BED is characterized by frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short period of time. Usually people who suffer from BED feel out of control over their eating, and are ashamed or disgusted by their behavior. BED sufferers often eat without being hungry or in secret to hide their problem. Unlike Anorexia, BED affects much more men. Estimates indicate that all though the majority is still on the women's side, some forty percent are males. Possible health consequences of BED include heart disease and Gall Bladder Disease (National Organization of Eating Disorders, 2002). .
The last of the common eating disorders is Bulimic Nervosa. Bulimic Nervosa is about three times as common as Anorexia. Bulimia is a two-step disease that involves, first, compulsive binge eating and then, purging by induced vomiting or by massive ingestion of laxatives (Berger, 2002). Unfortunately for females, the same old trend continues. About eighty percent of Bulimics are women and a lot of those probably had Anorexia at one point because fifty percent of anorexics develop Bulimia or bulimic patterns (National Organization of eating Disorders, 2002).