We have all heard the well-known phrase, " It's what is on the inside that counts" right? Unfortunately, all that we are exposed to, through advertisement, movies, and television is the perfect, practically unattainable body. We see women flaunting their stick thin bodies, while men walk around shirtless showing off their rock hard abs. And these are the people we are supposed to look up to? These impossible expectations lead many women, as well as a significantly lower number of men, to fall into a deadly trap that are eating disorders. Eating disorders range from a variety of different ones, but what is common in all is that the person is depriving him or her self from the proper eating habits that bring along good health.
There are many eating disorders, but the three most common are Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimic Nervosa. Anorexia Nervosa has been reported in children as low as six years of age, which is a scary statistic. People who suffer from this disorder have an intense fear of weight gain or being "fat", even though they are of normal or underweight. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation as they refuse to realize that their body image is nothing to be ashamed of. Approximately, one percent of adolescent and young adult females are anorexic. Although Anorexia hits some males as well, about ninety to ninety-five percent of anorexia sufferers are female. Could this high disparity between men and women be because in today's society women are too often expected to look like runway models, instead of normal human beings like the rest of us? Well although of course this cannot be proved, it is a very likely reason why women are too often obsessed with their body image and appearance, instead of their intellect. According to a recent statistic, more than half of teenaged girls are, or think they should be, on diets. Anorexia Nervosa can have many affects on the always-developing body.
