An eating disorder is defined as a disorder in which a person excessively and frequently changes the way they eat, whether it be consuming to much or too little food, in a manner that is unhealthy and harmful to their wellbeing, due to the person’s unhealthy fixation on their appearance. Additionally, eating disorders may involve; the deliberate vomiting of food, excessive exercise and/or frequent unnecessary checking of body weight. Types of eating disorders include: Binge eating, the eating of excessive amounts of food in a short amount of time; Anorexia, the extreme need to lose weight despite consequent health risks; and bulimia, the feeling of uncontrollable excessive eating of food followed by attempts to get rid of food …show more content…
As a result of the persons distorted view of their body weight and shape, young people could fall into a fixation on body weight which could eventually lead to either anorexia or bulimia. Young people often have the desire to have the best ‘sexiest’ body because of influences in the media and pressures in everyday life. This was proven in Fiji when television was brought to the island for the first time broadcasting shows from Britain, United States and Australia. After 38 months 15% of Fijian girls had admitted to vomiting to control weight, and almost 3 quarters of girls reported they felt they were “fat or too big” after a study by the Harvard Eating Disorders Centre. From this it can be concluded that there is significant pressure on young people, particularly, young girls going through puberty and a have a developing body and that they are very impressionable making them susceptible to eating …show more content…
Impacts of this mental health issue range from major physical health issues to effects on a person’s social life and education, in addition to serious mental health issues that can form a dangerous anxiety disorder or can lead to suicide. Physical health issues are the immediate impact of eating disorders. Altering your consumption of food, whether it us be; eating too much, too little, or trying to vomit up what you ate; can seriously affect your body and can put you extremely underweight or overweight. Being overweight can increase the probability of many health risks such as heart disease, stress of the pancreas (as a result of too much food consumption often resulting in type II diabetes), stroke – in severe cases – and effects on a person’s skeletal system like arthritis. Some of these immediate impacts can eventually, in the long term, lead to a disability and premature death. Alternatively, when you are underweight impacts include but are not limited to, being at a high risk of developing illnesses due to a poor immune system; effects on a person’s hormones which, can stunt an adolescences growth; poor muscle and bone strength and, in women, menstrual