anorexia college essay

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, discussing my eating disorder in college essays – too personal or potentially impactful.

Hey guys, so here's the thing – I’ve battled with an eating disorder, and it’s been a significant part of my high school experience. Should I write about overcoming this challenge in my essays, or would it be better to choose a less sensitive subject?

Your courage in facing and overcoming such a personal challenge is commendable. When choosing an essay topic, the key is to focus on how the experience has shaped you and enabled personal growth. If you believe that your journey with an eating disorder has been a transformational part of your high school experience and has changed you in a significant way, it is worth considering as an essay topic.

However, ensure that your narrative is one of resilience and that it showcases how this experience has helped you build up your strengths, rather than solely focusing on the struggle itself. For example, avoid graphic descriptions of what you dealt with, as they may be uncomfortable for admissions officers to read, especially if they have struggled with eating disorders themselves—remember, you never know who is going to be reading your essay.

Rather, focus on how overcoming the hardship of this experience has taught you important life skills, by talking about accomplishments or formative experiences that were enabled by the abilities you developed as a result of your struggle with your eating disorder. This approach will give colleges what they are interested in in any personal statement, which is your ability to persevere and how your experiences have prepared you for the challenges of college life.

In summary, this topic is not too personal if framed correctly. If you're wondering if your approach is working, you can always check out CollegeVine's free peer essay review service, or submit it to an expert advisor for a paid review. Since they don't know you, they can provide an objective perspective that will hopefully give you a sense of how an actual admissions officer would read you essay. Good luck!

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Eating Disorders on College Campuses in the United States: Current Insight on Screening, Prevention, and Treatment

Anne c. grammer.

1 Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Mailstop 8134-29-2100, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA

Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft

Olivia laing, bianca de pietro, denise e. wilfley.

AUTHORS’S CONTRIBUTION

Background:

Eating disorders are prevalent on college campuses and pose significant risks to student health, well-being, and academic performance. However, few students receive access to evidence-based prevention and treatment.

The present review synthesizes the recent literature on ED screening, prevention, and treatment approaches on college campuses in the United States. We provide an overview of ED screening efforts on college campuses, including relevant screening tools, summarize the extant literature on prevention programming, as well psychological and pharmacological treatment approaches, and outline limitations of current programming and provide future directions for research.

Conclusion:

Recent advances in ED screening, prevention, and treatment efforts highlight the importance of early detection and intervention. Innovative approaches to screening and dissemination of evidence-based prevention and treatment programs on college campuses are warranted. Implications for future research are discussed.

1. INTRODUCTION

An estimated 11% to 17% of females and approximately 4% of males on college campuses in the United States screen positive for clinical ED symptoms [ 1 ]. Further, 20% to 67% of college students experience subthreshold ED symptoms [ 1 – 3 ]. The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a high-risk period for the development and persistence of EDs and unhealthy weight control behaviors [ 4 , 5 ]. Indeed, the median age of ED onset (i.e. ages 18–21) [ 6 ] coincides with the typical age of college enrollment, and weight-related behavior changes are salient during the college years [ 5 , 7 ]. Delayed detection and treatment of EDs have negative long-term medical consequences ( e.g ., bradycardia, gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic syndrome, hypo/hypertension, over-weight/obesity) [ 8 – 11 ], which may contribute to disease progression and the overall economic burden of EDs [ 12 ]. Further, EDs have some of the highest mortality rates of mental health disorders [ 13 ] and are associated with impaired education attainment [ 14 ] and psychosocial functioning [ 15 ], which may significantly impact student quality of life. There is also a burgeoning body of research on the identification of etiological factors involved in EDs (e.g., genome-wide association studies, gut microbiome) [ 16 – 18 ]. However, much of this work has focused exclusively on anorexia nervosa (AN), and the application of these findings to precision medicine remains unclear at present.

Despite the prevalence and deleterious effects of EDs, current screening, prevention, and treatment efforts on college campuses in the United States are lacking. One study found that only 20% of college students who positively screen for an ED report receiving treatment in the past year [ 1 ]. Further, several challenges preclude implementation of evidence-based ED programming on college campuses, such as understaffing and the rapidly rising student demand for mental health services [ 19 ]. Indeed, the average student to counselor ratio is 1731:1, thereby highlighting the limited capacity of counseling centers to deliver effective care [ 1 ]. Taken together, these findings underscore the need to implement ED screening, prevention, and treatment on college campuses to expand access to evidence-based care. The present review aims to synthesize the recent literature on ED screening, prevention, and treatment approaches on college campuses. Specifically, we aim to: 1) provide an overview of relevant screening tools to facilitate ED assessment and three prominent screening programs; 2) summarize the extant literature on prevention and psychological and pharmacological treatment approaches, including evidence-based in-person interventions and digital interventions; 3) outline limitations of current programming and provide future directions for research.

2. RELEVANT SCREENING TOOLS

Various self-report screening tools have been utilized to assess ED risk on college campuses ( Table 1 ). Among these screening tools, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) [ 20 ], the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) [ 21 ], the SCOFF [ 22 ], and the Stanford-Washington University Eating Disorder Screen (SWED) [ 23 ] are some of the most commonly used assessments in large screening studies on college campuses [ 24 ]. These measures have been shown to haveadequate psychometric properties in college populations [ 1 , 23 , 25 , 26 ]. Currently, there is a lack of consensus on a preferred screening tool for college populations, as the goals of ED screeners vary considerably. Fitzsimmons-Craft and colleagues note that the goal of screening should drive screener selection [ 24 ]. If the goal is to determine if students are at risk for an ED or not, the EAT-26 may be the most inclusive and simple screening tool to use. If there is more interest in examining the frequency of different ED-related behaviors in a student population, the EDE-Q may be a good option. Considering its brevity, the SCOFF could easily be implemented with other health screenings. Finally, the SWED may be the best option for colleges and universities interested in grouping students into ED risk and diagnostic categories.

Common assessments used to screen college students for EDs [ 2 , 3 ].

3. ONGOING SCREENING EFFORTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Multiple large-scale studies have aimed to disseminate some of the aforementioned screening tools on college campuses through various recruitment strategies, including population-wide surveys, solicited screenings (e.g., advertising at student health centers), and simple randomization of selected students [ 24 ]. However, college surveillance data indicate that only 45% of colleges provide ED screening once per semester or year, and 22% provide year-around ED screening [ 27 ]. Screening efforts are crucial in closing the treatment gap because they can mobilize help-seeking behavior by providing students with accurate feedback on their ED risk profile and connecting them to available treatment options. Here, we summarize two research programs focused on ED screening on college campuses (i.e. the Healthy Body Image Program and the Healthy Minds Study). Next, we comment on the availability of ED screening to college students in the “real world,” as offered through the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

3.1. The Healthy Minds Study (HMS)

HMS is a web-based survey that examines mental health and service usage in college students [ 27 , 28 ]. The survey uses the SCOFF to measure ED symptoms along with other measures that assess the presence of additional mental health diagnoses. The study has a broad reach across many campuses, with over 300 participating schools and around 300,000 respondents. A randomly selected sample of students at each university are invited to participate, and 16% to 29% of selected students typically elect to take the survey [ 27 , 28 ]. In a 2018–2019 survey, HMS found that 13.5% of women and 6.2% of men screened positive for an ED [ 27 ].

3.2. Healthy Body Image (HBI) Program

HBI uses an online platform to identify university students at low risk for, high risk for, or with current subthreshold or threshold ED diagnosis [ 29 , 30 ]. Based on the clinical profile, students are directed to a tailored, online cognitive-behavioral program or provided with a referral for in-person care as follows: 1) “Low risk” individuals are offered StayingFit, a universal preventive intervention, which targets increased fruit/vegetable consumption, weight/shape concerns, healthy weight management for students with normal weight, and weight loss for students with overweight [ 31 ]; 2) “high risk” individuals are offered StudentBodies-Targeted, a targeted preventive intervention, which addresses ED risk and symptom onset [ 32 , 33 ] (see “ Prevention ”). Students with a subthreshold or threshold ED other than AN are offered Student Bodies-Eating Disorders (SB-ED), an online cognitive-behavioral guided self-help treatment program that targets symptom progression [ 34 ]; 4) Students with possible AN are referred to in-person treatment services on their campus.

HBI was disseminated at 28 universities as part of a randomized controlled trial [ 30 ]. Over the course of 3 years, 4,894 students completed the screen, which used the SWED, representing an average of 1.9% of undergraduate females on each campus. About 60% of participating students were indicated to be at high risk for or to have an ED. These rates are higher than the proportion of ED-indicated students in the HMS, which was implemented as a population-level survey, whereas the HBI survey used self-selection recruitment methods (e.g., flyers, social media postings), which appear to have attracted students with elevated levels of eating pathology. Notably, high rates of uptake were demonstrated for students who were offered online interventions within HBI. For example, 83% of those screening positive for a clinical ED, other than AN, who were offered an online intervention began the mobile program, while only 28% of those randomized to receive a referral to usual care sought treatment over the 2-year follow-up period (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al. under review).

3.3. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Screener and the Collegiate Survey Project

NEDA, the leading U.S.-based non-profit organization for eating disorders awareness, offers a web-based ED screener for self-directed assessment of ED symptoms using the SWED. In a recent study that examined the screening results among 71,362 respondents (primarily college-aged women), the majority (86.3%) screened positive for an ED [ 35 ]. However, only 3% of those who screened positive for an ED were currently in treatment, thereby demonstrating the great potential for screeners to connect individuals with information about accessing interventions.

Taken together, large-scale studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using a range of screening tools to assess ED risk in college-aged populations. However, studies highlight the need to capitalize on post-screening opportunities in order to link respondents to evidence-based care.

4. PREVENTION

ED prevention programs are effective in mitigating ED risk through early detection and intervention. We summarize the approaches and efficacy of two evidence-based prevention programs that have been used with college women, The Body Project and Student Bodies.

4.1. The Body Project

The Body Project is a dissonance-based ED prevention program for high school and college-aged women that targets two prominent ED risk factors, thin-ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction [ 36 ]. The Body Project applies persuasion principles to facilitate cognitive conflict between endorsed ED attitudes and criticism of the thin-ideal. Consequently, dissonance is posited to reduce subscription to ED attitudes and subsequent engagement in ED behaviors [ 36 ]. Recent meta-analytic findings indicate that dissonance-based ED programs demonstrate more robust effects than non-active and active controls [ 37 ]. Specifically, participation in The Body Project is associated with short- and long-term reductions in core ED risk factors (e.g., thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, negative affect) [ 38 – 40 ], ED symptoms (e.g., binge eating and purging) [ 39 – 41 ], and the prevention of future onset of EDs and obesity [ 42 ]. Further, participation in the Body Project is associated with less frequent use of mental-health services, demonstrating the effectiveness of connecting students with early access to care [ 42 ].

Barriers to the dissemination of the Body Project on college campuses include the lack of available clinicians to deliver the prevention program, and even when clinicians are available, there may be high turnover [ 43 ]. To address these limitations, Stice and colleagues developed an internet intervention, eBody Project, which is a 3-week, standalone intervention that does not involve monitoring from a clinician. Pilot data indicate that eBody Project demonstrated similar effect sizes in reductions in ED risk factors and symptoms compared to the group-based version [ 43 ]. However, these effects were more robust in the group-based intervention at 1- and 2-year follow-up [ 44 ]. Additionally, recent data suggest that ED onset over 4-year follow-up was marginally lower among students who received an in-person, peer-led version of the Body Project compared to students who received the eBody Project intervention [ 45 ].

4.2. Student Bodies-targeted

The limited long-term effects of eBody Project may suggest the need to include clinicians as part of digital programs to monitor symptoms, encourage engagement, and tailor the intervention for non-responders. Student Bodies-targeted is an online, cognitive-behavioral prevention program for students at high risk for EDs. Students complete 8 online modules that focus on addressing shape and weight concerns, improving body image and healthy weight regulation, reducing ED symptoms, and providing psychoeducation on EDs [ 33 ]. Students are also asked to engage in therapist-monitored discussion forums in order to reinforce the weekly material. Results from RCTs indicate that Student Bodies-targeted is associated with 2-year reductions in ED risk factors (e.g., shape and weight concerns) and decreases the risk of ED onset in some high risk participants [ 32 , 33 ]. Among students with comorbid depressive symptoms and ED pathology, Student Bodies-targeted was more efficacious in addressing depressive symptomology than control [ 46 ]. Prevention programs, such as The Body Project and Student Bodies-targeted, are promising methods for identifying students at high risk for EDs and connecting them to further assessment and treatment.

5. TREATMENT

5.1. in-person psychological interventions.

Significant research advances on treatments for EDs have been made in recent years [ 47 ], and psychological treatments are considered primary treatments for EDs [ 48 ]. Various international clinical guidelines recommend individual or guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which targets cognitions and behaviors that maintain an ED, as an evidenced-based treatment for adults with bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and subclinical BN and BED [ 48 ]. National guidelines also recommend interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), which targets the interpersonal context that contributes to the development and maintenance of EDs, as an evidence-based treatment for BN/BED [ 49 ]. Indeed, CBT and IPT demonstrate equivalent long-term improvements in binge eating [ 50 ]. Conversely, meta-analytic findings have not identified a well-supported evidence-based psychological treatment for adults with AN [ 51 – 53 ]. Research in pediatric populations suggests that family-based treatment for AN (FBT), which harnesses family support in ED recovery, is a leading evidence-based psychological treatment for children and adolescents with AN [ 54 – 56 ], and this approach has also been adapted for young adults (ages 16–25) [ 57 , 58 ]. Given that many students still dependent on their parents during the transition to adulthood, FBT adapted for transition age youth (FBT-TAY) may be a viable treatment option for college students with AN [ 58 ]. Preliminary findings from the first open trial [ 58 ] suggest that FBT-TAY is acceptable to young adults with AN, as evidenced by preferential selection of FBT-TAY over treatment as usual by approximately 70% of the participants. Further, participants demonstrated improvements in ED symptoms and achieved weight restoration following treatment and follow-up. These preliminary findings suggest that FBT-TAY may be a promising treatment option for transition age youth with AN. However, rigorous RCTs are needed to assess the efficacy in college populations.

Despite the promising body of research on treatment approaches, the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based psychological treatments on college campuses is a significant challenge [ 59 ]. Importantly, in one report, 60% of surveyed university college counseling centers reported offering year-round access to a counselor specializing in EDs, demonstrating the challenge many universities face in offering evidence-based treatment for EDs to the many students in need [ 60 ]. Further, perceived barriers such as stigma, the time-intensive nature of in-person interventions, and the financial costs of treatment may deter student engagement with in-person care [ 59 , 61 ]. Given these limitations, there is a dire need to develop innovative strategies in order to increase access to treatment on college campuses [ 62 ].

5.2. Digital Psychological Interventions

Digital interventions may represent one viable solution for maximizing access to care and reducing the burden associated with in-person interventions. As summarized by a recent review of meta-analytic findings on mental health digital programs [ 63 ], digital programs for EDs are effective in reducing ED symptoms, with effect sizes in the small to moderate range. A common theme among the reviewed studies was the use of internet-based, CBT guided-self-help (iCBT). Evidence suggests that iCBT is associated with reductions in BN and BED symptoms, including abstinence from binge eating and purging at post-treatment and follow-up [ 64 – 66 ]. Moreover, some [ 67 – 69 ] but not all [ 70 ] studies found that iCBT sustains these improvements more than bibliotherapy [ 69 ] or waitlist control [ 67 – 69 ].

Overall, digital ED programs demonstrate improvements in ED symptoms, with evidence supporting iCBT. However, intervention engagement remains a significant challenge [ 71 ]. Future research is needed to develop strategies that promote continued engagement with digital treatment programs. Future work should investigate whether tailored interventions that further tailor treatment according to an individual’s risk profile (e.g., symptom severity, demographics) or that utilize sensor detectors to provide momentary feedback and intervention (e.g., just in time adaptive interventions) may address the problem of intervention engagement.

5.3. Pharmacological Treatment

Psychological treatment, including in-person and guided self-help, is considered first-line treatment for EDs according to both international and national guidelines [ 48 , 72 ]. However, given the chronicity of EDs, psychotropic medications are often used clinically as part of multimodal approaches to ED treatment [ 73 ]. We review the extant literature on the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for EDs.

For the treatment of AN, a series of RCTs identified antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics as the most investigated pharmacological interventions [ 74 ]. Clinically, these medications are used to reduce the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors and to facilitate weight restoration [ 75 ]. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence that weight gain occurs; and while psychiatric symptoms may reduce slightly, there is minimal impact on symptoms of AN specifically [ 76 ]. To date, the efficacy of pharmacotherapy for AN is inconclusive, and rigorous RCTs are needed to further evaluate their benefit to treatment [ 74 ].

For the treatment of BN and BED, only two psychotropic medications (i.e. fluoxetine for BN and lisdexamfetamine for BED) have been approved by US and international regulatory boards [ 77 ]. Findings from meta-analyses and reviews indicate that both medications have a good benefit-risk ratio [ 78 ] and result in short-term improvements in core ED psychopathology (e.g., bingeing and purging) compared to placebo [ 79 – 81 ]. However, there is a paucity of data to support their long-term efficacy beyond active treatment periods [ 82 – 85 ]. Findings from the longest maintenance trial of fluoxetine indicate that continued use of fluoxetine following an open-label trial is associated with lower relapse rate compared to placebo at 3-month follow-up [ 83 ]. However, relapse rates did not differ at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Only one study has examined the longer-term effects of lisdexamfetamine for moderate to severe BED. Similarly, results indicated that those who continued to take lisdexamfetamine over 6 months were 11 times less likely to relapse compared to placebo. Longer follow-up periods are warranted to evaluate the long-term efficacy of pharmacotherapy for BN and BED.

Few RCTs have compared fluoxetine and lisdexamfetamine to psychological interventions. Extant trials on BN and BED indicate that combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are only superior compared to pharmacotherapy treatment alone but not compared to psychotherapy alone [ 79 , 86 , 87 ]. Evidence also suggests that individual CBT results in greater reductions in binge eating frequency [ 88 ] and abstinence from binge eating up at 2-year follow-up compared to drug alone [ 89 ]. Thus, pharmacological treatment may demonstrate modest improvements in ED symptoms when used as part of a multimodal approach to care. More data are needed to evaluate long-term improvements in ED symptoms and prevention of relapse. Further, given that these trials were conducted in adult samples, future research should also evaluate the safety and efficacy of pharmacological interventions in college-aged populations.

6. DISCUSSION

Considerable efforts have been made to reduce the prevalence of EDs on college campuses through implementation and dissemination of evidence-based screening, prevention, and treatment. However, we have identified several limitations of extant programming that warrant future research. Evidence supports the feasibility of using a range of screening tools to assess ED risk among college students. However, campuses seldom implement screening programs, and few screeners directly connect students with ED prevention and treatment programs. Future research should prioritize streamlining the process from screening to intervention in order to close the treatment gap. ED prevention programs are effective in mitigating ED risk through early detection and intervention and may offset the costs of treatment. The cost-effectiveness of prevention programs should be evaluated in order to make recommendations to college counseling centers and stakeholders regarding their wide-scale dissemination. Moreover, although considerable research has been dedicated to the evaluation of evidence-based treatment approaches, dissemination is limited. Digital programs may be a viable solution to increasing access to care on a population level, although sustained engagement can be a challenge, which future research will need to address. Further, given the dearth of data on pharmacological treatments in college populations, it would be useful for future studies to specifically examine potential efficacy of pharmacotherapy in college-age populations. Last, as relevant etiological factors are identified as being involved in the pathophysiology of EDs, future research should explore the use of precision medicine approaches to treatment.

EDs are serious public health problems that affect a significant proportion of college students. Recent advances in screening, prevention, and treatment efforts are promising and demonstrate the effectiveness of early detection and intervention. Future research is needed to investigate how to invest college campuses and stakeholders in population-level approaches to prevention and treatment.

This work was supported by R01 MH100455 and K08 MH120341 from the National Institute of Mental Health as well as T32HL130357 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Publisher's Disclaimer: DISCLAIMER: The above article has been published in Epub (ahead of print) on the basis of the materials provided by the author. The Editorial Department reserves the right to make minor modifications for further improvement of the manuscript.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

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Anorexia Essay: How to Work with a Scary Topic and Do It Right

Table of Contents

When you study at the Nutrition department or prepare to become a medical specialist, you’re sure to get an eating disorder essay assignment one day. This problem has become quite commonplace, with a complex of eating problems awaiting people who are too obsessed with slim body images on social media and want to lose weight at all costs.

Because of the popularity of slim body images and young people’s obsession with the sporty body, the problem of anorexia is getting acuter day by day. So, when you get an anorexia essay assignment, be ready to do some thorough research, develop strong arguments, and compose a paper in line with academic writing rules.

If you’re confused about this task, here are some working tips to get the process going.

What Is Anorexia and How to Talk About It

Problems with eating surface not that quickly. At first, individuals may limit their portion sizes and refuse some products that they believe are dangerous for their weight. Next, they refrain from several meals a day, leaving only 1-2 food intakes to stay slim and not to overeat. As a result of such severe limitations in eating, some people develop anorexia nervosa.

This disease goes far beyond a permanent loss of appetite and manifests itself in various neurological and gastrointestinal problems. Its common symptoms are:

• Extreme, uncontrollable weight loss
• Unhealthy thinness
• Fatigue experienced during a significant part of the day
• Unexpected attacks of dizziness and frequent fainting
• Thinning hair and breaking nails
• Intolerance to cold
• Hypertension
• The inability of the gastrointestinal tract to process the consumed food – nausea and vomiting after food intakes

Given such an abundance of symptoms and clinical manifestations of this condition, you can approach the subject from several angles. Some students discuss the psychological causes of the disorder in their anorexia essay papers. Others focus on the biological mechanisms of anorexia development. Another interesting approach is to consider clinical evidence of therapeutic methods to treat anorexic people and help them regain a healthy weight.

How to Write an Eating Disorder Thesis Statement

The first task that you should complete in crafting your anorexia essay is developing a solid, clear thesis statement. It is a crucial element of your assignment that will guide the readers from the introduction to the concluding part, giving them a firm grasp of your logic and argument flow.

Thus, to build a robust and believable thesis, you need to follow these guidelines:

• Choose a sub-topic within the subject of eating disorders. Formulate for yourself what you think about this topic first.
• Try to express your central idea in one sentence, showing your primary arguments and focus.
• Mention the arguments supporting your central claim briefly in this statement, without going into too much detail.
• Place the thesis statement correctly at the end of your introductory section to ensure that the readers and supervisor will locate it.

Anorexia Essay Outline

Now let’s consider a sample outline for an anorexia essay, which can serve as your guidance in future work on such papers.

INTRODUCTION

Introduce the broad context. Give some stats and facts. Delineate a concrete problem and its significance. Formulate a thesis statement.

Diet – a personal choice or a disorder? Global population (2.9 mln) affected by anorexia. No apparent cause identified yet (genetic, neurological factors). A variety of treatment modalities available today and their varying effectiveness. 

Paragraphs #1-3

Present a topic sentence with one central idea per paragraph. Add some credible evidence from external sources to support the points. Interpret the information you’ve provided.

Paragraph #1 – the process of anorexia development, extreme dieting, forced vomiting after eating to control body weight, obsession with slim body images. The result – clinical anorexia symptoms.

Paragraph #2 – the inability of anorexic individuals to reverse the process (return to healthy eating after achieving the weight loss goal). Clinical complications of anorexia (osteoporosis, infertility, heart damage). Forced feeding of anorexic individuals to prevent terminal organ failure.

Paragraph #3 – Treatment modalities – psychotherapy, healthy weight gain, and addressing the problematic behaviors (forced vomiting, food refusal). Effectiveness of CBT and family therapy. Pharmacological treatments.

Make a summary of what’s been said and reinforce the readers’ impression by referencing the broader context (public health, teen health, the devastating impact of social media, etc.).

Anorexia is not a strict diet. It is a neurological disorder that can cause morbidity and mortality among patients. Because of the absence of a clear understanding of its underlying causes, anorexia needs to be treated on a case-by-case basis by giving each patient an individual treatment plan in line with their health state and anorexia triggers. 

Eating Disorders: Conclusion That’ll Earn You A+ Grade

A conclusion of your anorexia essay should summarize all the evidence you provided in the body of your paper and return to the problem’s significance in the broader context of public health. Depending on your essay’s topic, you can draw some recommendations on helping young people avoid anorexia or some workable methods for managing this condition more efficiently.

Sample Essay on How We Should Treat People with Anorexia

Our writing experts have crafted a short essay sample based on the outline presented in the section above. Use it as a reference when preparing your following paper on this subject.

For many people, choosing what to eat and when to do it is a voluntary act. For those with anorexia nervosa, eating has become an impossible challenge, an act that they cannot commit voluntarily, even for the sake of their survival. At present, over 2.9 million people are affected by anorexia worldwide, suffering extreme weight loss, multiple organ problems, osteoporosis, heart damage, and a complex of other devastating consequences of strict dieting and food refusal. Thus, what starts as a diet for the sake of healthy weight loss and body slimming often ends with a clinical disorder with no cure. Still, the issue is grave for people affected by this condition as they need efficient, professional treatment to start eating normally again and avoid lethal malnourishment. This paper discusses the causes, manifestations, and treatment modalities for anorexia nervosa known today in an effort to find workable solutions for the affected patients.

No single cause of anorexia development has yet been identified, with a mixture of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors coming into play. Jameson (2009) discovered that anorexic patients often view themselves as overweight (even if they are thin) and deny any weight loss or nutrition problems. As a result of the distorted body image and an obsession with slimness, anorexic people force themselves to vomit, refuse many food types, engage in excessive exercise and use laxatives to prevent excessive body fat accumulation (Mary, 2007).

As a result, the process of body weight loss becomes irreversible and cannot be dropped even after the clinical problem is clear. Individuals with anorexia often develop osteoporosis, suffer from irreversible organ failure, and lose fertility (especially females). Anorexic patients refuse therapeutic interventions, vomit secretly, and avoid treatment in all ways. Thus, such severe manifestations of anorexia are commonly treated by forced feeding via nasogastric tubes upon a competent psychiatrist’s diagnosis of the patient’s psychological incompetence.

Other treatment methods include psychotherapy and family therapy to identify the underlying psychological causes for food refusal and change the false perceptions and prejudices of patients. Kale (2020) found CBP to be effective with young female anorexics, with 78% of the surveyed sample reporting significant improvements in body image perceptions and weight regain. Thus, psychotherapeutic methods are popular in anorexia treatment as they allow dealing with underlying psychological problems of patients and correct their beliefs about body image in the long run.

As the provided evidence suggests, anorexia nervosa is a severe clinical problem that millions of patients face worldwide. With no clear causes and specific clinical guidelines for its treatment, anorexia remains a pressing challenge for medical professionals and patients. Case-by-case management of anorexia cases is suggested, while a combination of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments suggests the greatest efficiency thus far.

More Helpful Tips & Tricks

Tasked with an anorexia essay? Here are some valuable tips to follow to get an outstanding grade for this assignment:

• The underlying causes of this disorder are still unclear. So, you can surprise your tutor by presenting an in-depth analysis of the existing theories about the origin of anorexia.
• Treatments for anorexia differ, ranging from CBT to pharmacological care. You can compose in-depth research about the clinical evidence of each treatment modality’s effectiveness for various population groups.
• The psychological component of anorexia is powerful. An excellent paper can result from research on the psychological triggers and accompanying psychological disorders among anorexic individuals.

Here’s How a Professional Writer Can Help You

Still unsure how to compose an anorexia essay that will win you a high grade? Having little time to think over the subject thoroughly and develop workable arguments? Lacking a couple of free hours to attend the library and find the relevant, credible evidence to support your points? No problem, as our experts can do it for you.

Contact us today to get a perfectly written and well-proofread paper about eating disorders. We’ll surely impress your supervisor with original ideas and credible evidence. In this way, you’re sure to save crucial time for other academic priorities and avoid getting an F for a failed deadline.

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Essay Examples on Eating Disorders

What makes a good eating disorders essay topic.

When it comes to selecting a topic for your eating disorders essay, it's crucial to consider a multitude of factors that can elevate your writing to new heights. Below are some innovative suggestions on how to brainstorm and choose an essay topic that will captivate your readers:

- Brainstorm: Begin by unleashing a storm of ideas related to eating disorders. Delve into the various facets, such as causes, effects, treatment options, societal influences, and personal narratives. Ponder upon what intrigues you and what will engage your audience.

- Research: Embark on a comprehensive research journey to accumulate information and gain a profound understanding of the subject matter. This exploration will enable you to identify distinctive angles and perspectives to explore in your essay. Seek out scholarly sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites.

- Cater to your audience: Reflect upon your readers and their interests to tailor your topic accordingly. Adapting your subject matter to captivate your audience will undoubtedly make your essay more engaging. Consider the age, background, and knowledge level of your readers.

- Unveil controversies: Unearth the controversies and debates within the realm of eating disorders. Opting for a topic that ignites discussion will infuse your essay with thought-provoking and impactful qualities. Delve into various viewpoints and critically analyze arguments for and against different ideas.

- Personal connection: If you possess a personal connection or experience with eating disorders, contemplate sharing your story or delving into it within your essay. This will add a unique and personal touch to your writing. However, ensure that your personal anecdotes remain relevant to the topic and effectively support your main points.

Overall, a remarkable eating disorders essay topic should be meticulously researched, thought-provoking, and relevant to your audience's interests and needs.

Best Eating Disorders Essay Topics

Below, you will find a compilation of the finest eating disorders essay topics to consider:

1. The captivating influence of social media on promoting unhealthy body image. 2. Breaking free from stereotypes: Exploring eating disorders among male athletes. 3. The profound impact of diet culture on body image and self-esteem. 4. Unraveling the intricate link between eating disorders and the pursuit of perfection. 5. The portrayal of eating disorders in popular media: Dissecting the battle between glamorization and reality.

Best Eating Disorders Essay Questions

Below, you will find an array of stellar eating disorders essay questions to explore:

1. How does social media contribute to the development and perpetuation of eating disorders? 2. What challenges do males with eating disorders face, and how can these challenges be addressed? 3. To what extent does the family environment contribute to the development of eating disorders? 4. What role does diet culture play in fostering unhealthy relationships with food? 5. How can different treatment approaches be tailored to address the unique needs of individuals grappling with eating disorders?

Eating Disorders Essay Prompts

Below, you will find a collection of eating disorders essay prompts that will kindle your creative fire:

1. Craft a personal essay that intricately details your voyage towards recovery from an eating disorder, elucidating the lessons you learned along the way. 2. Picture yourself as a parent of a teenager burdened with an eating disorder. Pen a heartfelt letter to other parents, sharing your experiences and providing valuable advice. 3. Fabricate a fictional character entangled in the clutches of binge-eating disorder. Concoct a short story that explores their odyssey towards self-acceptance and recovery. 4. Construct a persuasive essay that fervently argues for the integration of comprehensive education on eating disorders into school curricula. 5. Immerse yourself in the role of a therapist specializing in eating disorders. Compose a reflective essay that delves into the challenges and rewards of working with individuals grappling with eating disorders.

Writing Eating Disorders Essays: Frequently Asked Questions

Below, you will find answers to some frequently asked questions about writing eating disorders essays:

Q: How can I effectively commence my eating disorders essay? A: Commence your essay with a captivating introduction that ensnares the reader's attention and provides an overview of the topic. Consider starting with an intriguing statistic, a powerful quote, or a personal anecdote.

Q: Can I incorporate personal experiences into my eating disorders essay? A: Absolutely! Infusing your essay with personal experiences adds depth and authenticity. However, ensure that your personal anecdotes remain relevant to the topic and effectively support your main points.

Q: How can I make my eating disorders essay engaging? A: Utilize a variety of rhetorical devices such as metaphors, similes, and vivid descriptions to transform your essay into an engaging masterpiece. Additionally, consider incorporating real-life examples, case studies, or interviews to provide concrete evidence and make your essay relatable.

Q: Should my essay focus solely on one specific type of eating disorder? A: While focusing on a specific type of eating disorder can provide a narrower scope for your essay, exploring the broader theme of eating disorders as a whole can also be valuable. Strive to strike a balance between depth and breadth in your writing.

Q: How can I conclude my eating disorders essay effectively? A: In your conclusion, summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement. Additionally, consider leaving the reader with a thought-provoking question or a call to action, encouraging further reflection or research on the topic.

Argumentative Essay on Eating Disorders

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Eating Disorders and Methods of Its Treatment

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Anorexia – a Growing Issue in Teenage Girls

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How Beauty Pageants Can Cause Health Difficulties

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Eating disorders refer to a complex set of mental health conditions characterized by disturbances in one's eating behaviors and attitudes towards food, leading to severe consequences on an individual's physical and psychological well-being.

Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of one's body image. People with this disorder exhibit extreme food restriction, leading to significant weight loss and the possibility of reaching dangerously low levels of body weight. Anorexia nervosa is often accompanied by obsessive thoughts about food, excessive exercise routines, and a constant preoccupation with body shape and size. Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa involves a cyclic pattern of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors aimed at preventing weight gain. During binge episodes, individuals consume large quantities of food in a short period and experience a loss of control over their eating. To counteract the caloric intake, these individuals may resort to self-induced vomiting, excessive exercising, or the misuse of laxatives. It is important to note that unlike anorexia nervosa, individuals with bulimia nervosa typically maintain a body weight within the normal range or slightly above. Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming a significant amount of food in a short period, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. Unlike other eating disorders, individuals with binge eating disorder do not engage in compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise.

Distorted Body Image: Individuals with eating disorders often have a distorted perception of their body, seeing themselves as overweight or unattractive, even when they are underweight or at a healthy weight. Obsession with Food and Weight: People with eating disorders may constantly think about food, calories, and their weight. They may develop strict rules and rituals around eating, such as avoiding certain food groups, restricting their intake, or engaging in excessive exercise. Emotional and Psychological Factors: Eating disorders are often associated with underlying emotional and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, or a need for control. Physical Health: Eating disorders can have severe physical health consequences, including malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, hormonal disruptions, gastrointestinal problems, and organ damage. These complications can be life-threatening and require medical intervention. Social Isolation and Withdrawal: Individuals struggling with eating disorders may experience a withdrawal from social activities, distancing themselves from others due to feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment related to their eating behaviors or body image. This social isolation can intensify the challenges they face and contribute to a sense of loneliness and emotional distress. Co-occurring Disorders: Eating disorders frequently co-occur with other mental health conditions, creating complex challenges for those affected. It is common for individuals with eating disorders to also experience anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse issues, or engage in self-harming behaviors. The coexistence of these disorders can exacerbate the severity of symptoms and necessitate comprehensive and integrated treatment approaches.

Genetic and Biological Factors: Research suggests that there is a genetic predisposition to eating disorders. Individuals with a family history of eating disorders or other mental health conditions may be at a higher risk. Biological factors, such as imbalances in brain chemicals or hormones, can also contribute to the development of eating disorders. Psychological Factors: Psychological factors play a significant role in the development of eating disorders. Factors such as diminished self-worth, a relentless pursuit of perfection, dissatisfaction with one's body, and distorted perceptions of body image can play a significant role in the onset and perpetuation of disordered eating patterns. Sociocultural Influences: Societal pressures and cultural norms surrounding body image and beauty standards can contribute to the development of eating disorders. Media portrayal of unrealistic body ideals, peer influence, and societal emphasis on thinness can impact individuals' self-perception and increase the risk of developing an eating disorder. Traumatic Experiences: The impact of traumatic events, be it physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, can heighten the vulnerability to developing eating disorders. Such distressing experiences have the potential to instigate feelings of diminished self-worth, profound body shame, and a compelling desire to exert control over one's body and eating behaviors. Dieting and Weight-related Practices: Restrictive dieting, excessive exercise, and weight-focused behaviors can serve as triggers for the development of eating disorders. These behaviors may start innocently as an attempt to improve one's health or appearance but can spiral into disordered eating patterns.

Psychotherapy: Various forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family-based therapy (FBT), are employed to address the underlying psychological factors contributing to eating disorders. These therapies aim to challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs about body image, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and improve self-esteem. Nutritional Counseling: Working with registered dietitians, individuals receive personalized guidance on developing a balanced and healthy relationship with food. Nutritional counseling focuses on establishing regular eating patterns, promoting mindful eating practices, and debunking harmful dietary myths. Medical Monitoring: This involves regular check-ups to assess physical health, monitor vital signs, and address any medical complications arising from the disorder. Medication: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to manage associated symptoms like depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Medications can complement therapy and help stabilize mood, regulate eating patterns, or address co-occurring mental health conditions. Support Groups and Peer Support: Joining support groups or engaging in peer support programs can provide individuals with a sense of community and understanding. Interacting with others who have faced similar challenges can offer valuable insights, encouragement, and empathy.

Films: Movies like "To the Bone" (2017) and "Feed" (2017) shed light on the struggles individuals with eating disorders face. These films delve into the psychological and emotional aspects of the disorders, emphasizing the importance of seeking help and promoting recovery. Books: Novels such as "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson and "Paperweight" by Meg Haston offer intimate perspectives on the experiences of characters grappling with eating disorders. These books provide insights into the complexities of these conditions, including the internal battles, societal pressures, and the journey towards healing. Documentaries: Documentaries like "Thin" (2006) and "Eating Disorders: Surviving the Silence" (2019) offer real-life accounts of individuals living with eating disorders. These documentaries provide a raw and authentic portrayal of the challenges faced by those affected, raising awareness and encouraging empathy.

1. As per the data provided by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), it is estimated that around 30 million individuals residing in the United States will experience an eating disorder during their lifetime. 2. Research suggests that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Anorexia nervosa, in particular, has a mortality rate of around 10%, emphasizing the seriousness and potential life-threatening nature of these disorders. 3. Eating disorders can affect individuals of all genders and ages, contrary to the common misconception that they only affect young women. While young women are more commonly affected, studies indicate that eating disorders are increasingly prevalent among men and can also occur in older adults and children.

The topic of eating disorders is of significant importance when it comes to raising awareness, promoting understanding, and addressing the challenges faced by individuals who experience these disorders. Writing an essay on this topic allows for a deeper exploration of the complexities surrounding eating disorders and their impact on individuals, families, and society. First and foremost, studying eating disorders is crucial for shedding light on the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of these conditions. By delving into the underlying causes, risk factors, and symptoms, we can gain a better understanding of the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Furthermore, discussing eating disorders helps to challenge societal misconceptions and stereotypes. It allows us to debunk harmful beliefs, such as the notion that eating disorders only affect a specific gender or age group, and instead emphasizes the reality that anyone can be susceptible to these disorders. Writing an essay on eating disorders also provides an opportunity to explore the impact of media, societal pressures, and body image ideals on the development of disordered eating behaviors. By analyzing these influences, we can advocate for more inclusive and body-positive narratives that promote self-acceptance and well-being. Moreover, addressing the topic of eating disorders is crucial for raising awareness about the available treatment options and support systems. It highlights the importance of early intervention, comprehensive treatment approaches, and access to mental health resources for those affected by these disorders.

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing. 2. Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A. J., Wales, J., & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: A meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 724-731. 3. Brown, T. A., Keel, P. K., & Curren, A. M. (2020). Eating disorders. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.), Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual (6th ed., pp. 305-357). Guilford Press. 4. Fairburn, C. G., & Harrison, P. J. (2003). Eating disorders. The Lancet, 361(9355), 407-416. 5. Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., & Zeeck, A. (2020). Eating disorders in childhood and adolescence: Epidemiology, course, comorbidity, and outcome. In M. Maj, W. Gaebel, J. J. López-Ibor, & N. Sartorius (Eds.), Eating Disorders (Vol. 11, pp. 68-82). Wiley-Blackwell. 6. Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358. 7. Jacobi, C., Hayward, C., de Zwaan, M., Kraemer, H. C., & Agras, W. S. (2004). Coming to terms with risk factors for eating disorders: Application of risk terminology and suggestions for a general taxonomy. Psychological Bulletin, 130(1), 19-65. 8. Keski-Rahkonen, A., & Mustelin, L. (2016). Epidemiology of eating disorders in Europe: Prevalence, incidence, comorbidity, course, consequences, and risk factors. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 29(6), 340-345. 9. Smink, F. R. E., van Hoeken, D., & Hoek, H. W. (2012). Epidemiology of eating disorders: Incidence, prevalence and mortality rates. Current Psychiatry Reports, 14(4), 406-414. 10. Stice, E., Marti, C. N., & Rohde, P. (2013). Prevalence, incidence, impairment, and course of the proposed DSM-5 eating disorder diagnoses in an 8-year prospective community study of young women. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(2), 445-457.

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College Essay

High School Senior Clayton Kennedy reads his college application essay about his battle with anorexia. This is the fourth part of Morning Edition's week-long series of college essays. Read the essays .

What Recovering From an Eating Disorder Is Really Like

By Kimberly Neil

TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains sensitive content regarding eating disorders.

We all get sick – from a minor cold to an infection that requires time in the hospital, the process of our body repairing itself is part of being human. Sometimes our bones break, sometimes our organs lose their ability to function properly. The cause of some illnesses take more energy to decipher, and these cases usually inspire episodes of Grey’s Anatomy or Mystery Diagnosis. The phrase “get well soon” explains how the average person views illness. Finding a cure, regardless of how small or big the problem may be, is what those who aren’t well and the people who love them wish for. In an ideal world, getting better is the best possible outcome.

What do you picture when you think about sickness? There are usually physical symptoms. Sometimes, we have to take time off from school or work. Can you imagine days in bed, chicken noodle soup, or negative side effects from strong prescription medication? Your discomfort is usually visible to those around you; and even if people can’t see your pain they can find a way to empathize once it is described. Mental illness is different.

I want you to imagine a time where you really, truly felt ashamed of who you are. A moment where the people around you didn’t get it, and more than anything, you wished the earth would open up and swallow you whole. My eating disorder has always been the personification of that very feeling. It began around the age of 11, and by the time I was 12, it had turned into something I carried around with me daily. That feeling was constant. It was my biggest, most embarrassing secret.

Though I wouldn’t describe it as a literal voice in my head, my eating disorder started with a feeling that I wasn’t good enough. This problem needed to be fixed, and controlling what I ate seemed like the perfect solution. I had no idea how easily avoiding certain foods would lead to eliminating them entirely. Though I could not put it into words as I became a teenager, I felt dirty from the inside out. Not eating specific foods turned into skipping meals, followed by days without food, replaced by days where the rules I had created for myself didn’t matter and all I could do was eat until I physically could not anymore. One day, I pushed myself past the point I thought I was capable of. It hurt, but I kept going – until my impulse changed entirely and suddenly I knew that I just had to get what I had eaten out of me.

Purging became my way of undoing: every mistake I made in class, at dance, or even with life in general, it was always something that I knew I could use as an outlet for all of the underlying negativity. I felt more in control with each meal or mistake that I tried to erase. I internalized the idea that something about me wasn’t good enough until that framed the way I saw myself. Being a teenager, a pre-professional dancer, and attending a competitive high school with amazing, intelligent, talented friends should have made me feel empowered. Sometimes it did, but because of my eating disorder, it became too easy to see myself as inadequate.

At one point, I realized that I loved certain parts of being a dancer. Ballet classes were always something I enjoyed, and I couldn’t get enough of costumes, makeup, or being on stage. Dancing gave me a way to become someone else. The downside of wanting to dance as a career while having an eating disorder was the way that no one around me said anything until I was deep into my illness. For the longest time, my friends and teachers complimented me whenever I lost weight. I noticed that the audition season for summer intensives magnified all of my insecurities. I inevitably was accepted into more pre-professional ballet programs when I was thinner.

I can remember two summers in particular where, in retrospect, I’m honestly amazed that I did not get “caught” in the chaos of my disorder. I was absolutely not healthy enough to dance 6-7 days per week from morning until as late as midnight, considering how out of control my disordered behaviors were. During one of those intensives, I also attended a summer chemistry class three days per week in between classes and rehearsal. I reached a point where I wound up leaving both. Between passing out a few times, feeling dizzy every single day, and eventually, throwing up blood – it all became too much.

Dance seemed like the root of my disorder at the time, but I had no idea how to let it go. I fought so hard to maintain my ED without losing ballet or modern. At one point, after receiving my first professional diagnosis of bulimia nervosa I withdrew from my selective enrollment high school, because my disorder essentially meant that I had to decide between my education and my dream of being a professional dancer. I eventually became so injured that dancing en pointe was no longer physically possible for me. Looking back, I believe that injury would have happened on some level even if I had been completely healthy. But I have no way of knowing if I would have still wound up in a place where dance was too painful to make the chance of a professional career a possibility, had I never developed an ED.

There also is no way I can know with complete certainty that I wouldn’t have struggled with an eating disorder had I never danced in the first place. After losing dance, it took me a little longer than my friends to finish high school by home schooling myself. Education had always been an important aspect of my identity, and losing both dance and my high school also meant that I became more and more isolated, wrapped up in my ED. I wound up pushing most of my high school friends away out of shame and guilt. To this day, I am not sure if my teachers (both from every studio that I’ve danced at and from school) and friends really knew what was going on with me. Did they avoid reaching out because mental illness is stigmatized, and talking about it is really scary? Did everyone just think I was very driven and committed to dance, making it pointless to intervene? Or did people really not know — did I hide it that well?

By Sara Delgado

By Kara Nesvig

By Crystal Bell

Once the raw heartbreak from losing so much because of my ED began to fade away, I decided that I wanted to attend college. Had I graduated from my selective enrollment high school and been healthy enough to put the hard work into college applications, I think that I would have been accepted to at least one of my dream colleges with financial aid. The process of applying as a home schooled student is a little different, so I decided to attend a local community college for at least a year and apply to some of my dream colleges as a transfer student.

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Healing from an eating disorder is almost as stigmatized in discussion as admitting the problem itself. From books like Wintergirls to movies like Starving in Suburbia , the media presents a consistent message that the process of healing is a continuous, upward journey. I cannot speak for everyone with an eating disorder. I can admit how difficult it has been to tell my story at times, because my illness comes and goes in waves. I’ve yet to experience recovery, full stop.

There was a period of time between the end of high school and attending my first college class where my relationship with food became easier to manage. I took a similar DIY approach to recovery as I did to earning a high school diploma. My body became healthy again, and while I still struggled with depression, I felt my confidence come back slowly. I tried out for my [first] college’s volleyball team and not only made it, but received a scholarship offer as well – and I had never played before. I became involved with student government. Out of the four colleges I decided to apply to as a transfer student, I was accepted and offered aid by all of them, including my dream school. I made new friends. All of these aspects of freshman and sophomore year were wonderful, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the perfect student.

All of this resulted in a full relapse. It didn’t happen overnight, but my esophagus was healing from a serious tear by move-in day at the college I decided to transfer to. While my first few weeks at this amazing school on the east coast were everything I’d ever wanted out of my college experience, they were also moments that were painful and terrifying. Every single day I spent on this beautiful campus with new friends from all around the world was a day I felt torn between gratitude and self-hatred, and inadequacy. I eventually asked for help, and that lit a fire under my eating disorder. I went from feeling like recovery was possible to thinking it was something I didn’t deserve. I tore my esophagus for the second time, and simultaneously fell into restricting, abusing diet substances like laxatives and water pills, and exercising too much. I also started dancing again, and didn't feel supported by my college’s dance department at all. Even if I had felt that support, I don’t think it would have made a difference.

During the first week of October 2014, I took two cabs across the state of Massachusetts to an inpatient facility outside of Boston. I was 21 years old. It took 10 years for me to be hospitalized for my eating disorder, with an updated diagnosis of Eating Disorder Non-Otherwise Specified (EDNOS – now referred to as OSFED in the DSM-5), and that month was one of the hardest ones of my life. Inpatient was both the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me. I met people that changed my life. Both staff and other patients made me realize that maybe, the thing I was meant to do with my life all along was help other people who shared my struggle. Inpatient also made me realize how much my college meant to me, and how important education would continue to be in order to achieve my goals.

In November 2014, after leaving inpatient and returning to my college campus, I posted a poem on my personal blog. Because I also helped with a shared blog about EDs (that currently has over 40,000 followers) other people spread that poem around. The poem led to me becoming a contributor for Proud2bme , an online recovery community connected with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). More recently, I even received a scholarship to attend the 2015 NEDA conference this October in San Diego, California.

My ED has given me a voice, and more importantly, it has given me a passion for helping others. It also hasn’t completely gone away. More than anything, I hope that someone out there, reading this, is able to look at their personal journey and hopefully feel less alone. I hope that someone that knows and loves someone with an eating disorder will read this, and feel inspired to really support that person through the ups and downs of recovery. Having an eating disorder is never a choice. When you’re sick, people expect you to get better. This is why compassion is essential. Healing takes nonstop effort and requires so much support, but it is possible. No one should feel ashamed of talking about the process, or receiving help along the way.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, the NEDA helpline is here to help at 1-800-931-2237.

Related: The Hidden Eating Disorder Side Effect That’s Both Extremely Dangerous and Far Too Common

By Rainesford Stauffer

By Teen Vogue Staff

By Elyse Fox

By Skyli Alvarez

112 Anorexia Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best anorexia topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 simple & easy anorexia essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on anorexia, ❓ research questions about anorexia nervosa.

• Anorexia as Eating Disorder However, due to limitation in scope, the rest of the chapter will explore anorexia nervosa by tracing the historical background of the condition, reviewing prevalence of the disorder in terms of gender, culture and geographical […]
• The Problem of Anorexia: “There Was a Girl” by Katy Waldman In her essay, the writer strives to embrace the concept of anorexia and explore the mindset that encourages the development of the specified disorder.
• Humanistic Therapy: Mental Disorder in Patient With Anorexia As the narration unravels, it becomes clear that the girl also shows signs of anorexia nervosa – a mental disorder distinguished by an unhealthy low weight and destructive dietary patterns. DSM-5 serves as the principal […]
• Anorexia as Social and Psychological Disease Many who were used to his weight knew, though Bob is not the most handsome, but a charming person, kind and friendly.
• Anorexia Nervosa and Its Treatment Anorexia nervosa is a treatable eating disorder when people significantly limit the number of calories and types of foods they eat, which leads to excessive weight loss. The objectives of anorexia treatment include weight recovery, […]
• Genetic Disorder: “A Genetic Link to Anorexia” The author effectively proves that the development of anorexia nervosa may occur not only due to the exposure to the social pressure of beauty standards, but also the presence of a genetic predisposition.
• Anorexiants: Pharmacology and Pharmacological Effects The purpose of this presentation is to examine the pharmacology and pharmacological effects of popular anorexiant substances.
• Anorexia and Bulimia: Effects of Eating Disorders Anorexia is an eating disorder that is characterized by: an extreme fear of weight gain, and distorted view of one’s body weight.
• Controlling the Problem and the Treatment Anorexia Nervosa Finally, the paper will be looking at the possible measures of controlling the problem and the treatment of the victims. When female are in their teenage, most of them are affected by the problem of […]
• Daily Patterns of Anxiety in Anorexia Nervosa The researchers failed to indicate the distinct and important sections such as the study objectives and the significance of the study.
• Anorexia Nervosa and Life-Sustaining Treatment Therefore, the primary care for patients with anorexia nervosa requires administration of various dietary and mental medical interventions and a clear understanding of different concepts and ethical issues related to the treatment of the disorder.
• Anorexia Studies. “Thin” Documentary The nutrition of a single person has a strong cultural aspect, being influenced by traditions of a family circle and the whole nation.
• Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa is the disease in which the patient avoids eating because of the fear of getting fat. Bulimia Nervosa refers to the pattern of binge eating.
• The Anorexia Nervosa as a Mental Illness While tracing the history of the disease, many authors have come to the conclusion that the disease is to some extent due to the living styles that people have adopted over the years and also […]
• Anorexia Nervosa: Medical Issues In response to this, the writer wishes to state that the purpose of this paper is to present a brief outline of anorexia and its causes to the millions of Americans out there without knowledge […]
• The Portrayal of Women With Anorexia Body image distortion, wherein the individual has an inaccurate perception of body shape and size is considered to be the cause of the intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat witnessed in individuals with […]
• The Role of Family in Developing and Treating Anorexia The rest of the poem confused and inspired me as a reader because Smith, as well as millions of people around the globe, proved the impossibility to have one particular definition of anorexia in modern […]
• Visual Body Perception in Anorexia Nervosa by Urgesi et al. Because of this, in their research article, Urgesi et al.explored the issue of visual body perception as related to the manifestation of anorexia nervosa.
• “Skinny Boy: A Young Man’s Battle and Triumph Over Anorexia” by Gary A. Grahl Grahl suffered from anorexia in his youth, and the book is a memoir-like account of the event, serving to open the door to the psychology of the disease in the male populace a vulnerable population […]
• Anorexia Nervosa and Its Perception by Patients In the control group, 80 laymen and women were selected randomly to participate in the study and they completed a modified IPQ-R questionnaire to elicit their perceptions towards AN.
• Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and LGBTQ Suicide Awareness Concerning the format, the design of the poster is good and the words are readable. The colors and contrasts enhance the readability of the content and stress the key points, such as AN indicators, risk […]
• Differential Diagnosis in a Patient: Anorexia Nervosa The first step is to avoid malingering and make sure that a patient is not pretending to be sick. Julia’s and the roommate’s stories are not contradictory; hence, it is safe to say that Julia […]
• Anthropology: Anorexia and Idiopathic Seizures Considering the relation between this disease and cultural issues, it is possible to refer to life of people in society. It is essential to consider anorexia and idiopathic epilepsy from the point of view of […]
• Anorexia Nervosa: Diagnosis and Treatment in Psychotherapy In the meantime, it is, likewise, vital to determine the cause of the condition’s appearance and point out the necessary alterations.
• Influence of Media on Anorexia As the children grow, they disregard big-bodied people, and try as much as possible to maintain a slim figure, as they see from the magazines and televisions.
• Psychological Factors Underlying Anorexia Nervosa The condition also occurs where individuals deny hunger as well as restrict energy and nutrients to levels that are minimal and inadequate to maintain the functioning of the normal body health and mass. In addition, […]
• The Problem of Anorexia in Modern American Society However, in spite of frightening statistics, nowadays many sufferers have a good chance to recover due to increasing number of programs and campaigns aimed at overcoming this disease. 7% – Hispanic people, and the rest […]
• The Eating Disorder – Anorexia Nervosa It is noted that majority of the people that suffer from anorexia disorder are those that suffer from low-self esteem. The eating disorder makes bodies of people suffering from Anorexia nervosa struggle to manage insufficient […]
• Healthy Lifestyles in the Context of Anorexia and Obesity In addition, a thorough evaluation of one’s lifestyle is imperative so as to rectify that which is causing the anorexia. As discussed in this paper, it is clear that physical activity and a healthy balanced […]
• Anorexia Nervosa: Signs, Effects and Therapies Nurses in the labor and delivery units need to be trained on the proper way of diagnosing and handling anorexia patients to reduce cases of infant mortality. A combination of medical attention and accommodating psychotherapy […]
• Treatments of Anorexia Nervosa Because the mortality rates and co-morbidity incidence of aneroxia nervosa remains critically high despite the array of various intervention strategies that are currently available to health professionals, it is justifiable to have a reassessment of […]
• Anorexia in Teens: Media Impact This research focuses on the impact of the media as the ultimate key player for the development of the dangerous disorder among the contemporary young girls in the society.
• Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating Anorexia is a both eating and psychological disorder that is initiated as a person begins to diet in order to lose weight.
• Psychological Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa vs. Anorexia Nervosa Although people with the condition are able to recover if the disorder is properly managed, Eysenck states that the near starvation state that most anorexics live with during the period of the disorder can be […]
• Eating Disorders: A Session With Sufferers of Obesity and Anorexia One of the myths that surrounds anorexia is that the only cause of this disorder is the wish to lose weight; some people even refer to the condition as the ‘slimmer’s disease’.
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IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 112 Anorexia Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/anorexia-essay-topics/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "112 Anorexia Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." March 2, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/anorexia-essay-topics/.

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Eating Disorders, Essay Example

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Introduction

Eating disorders affect men and women of all ages, although adolescents tend to be the age group that is more susceptible. This is because, as their bodies are changing, they may feel more pressure by society as well as peer groups to look attractive and fit in (Segal et al). Types of eating disorders include Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating, which can also be related to the first two. The reasons behind Eating Disorder usually stem from a reaction to low self-esteem and a negative means of coping with life and stress (Something Fishy).  Eating disorders are also often associated with an underlying psychological disorder, which may be the reason behind the eating disorder or which may develop from the Eating Disorder itself. Mental health disorders that are often associated with Eating Disorder include Anxiety, Depression, Multiple Personality Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, BiPolar, BiPolar II, Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder and Dissociative Disorder. The longer a person suffers from ED, the more probable that they will be dealing with another mental illness, most likely Anxiety or Depression (Something Fishy). The eventual outcome of Eating Disorder can be deadly. “Some eating disorders are associated with a 10-15% mortality rate and a 20-25% suicide rate. Sometimes, anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating may be perceived as slow suicide (Carruthers).” In order to prevent the deadly consequences of Eating Disorder and to prevent it from becoming more pervasive in society, it is necessary to recognize the correct treatment method for this disease.  Traditional treatments have focused on providing risk information to raise awareness of the consequences of Eating Disorder (Lobera et al 263). However, since Eating Disorder is a mental illness, a more effective treatment is one that offers psychological evaluation, counseling and treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is emerging as a more robust and effective method that can be used not only to treat Eating Disorder but the associated mental illnesses that may accompany it.

The Problem

Eating disorder is pervasive in society and can have deadly consequences on those that suffer from it. Many time Eating Disorder goes undetected by family members and friends because those suffering will go to great lengths to hide their problem. However, there are some signs and symptoms that can be clues that a person is suffering from some sort of eating disorder. According to Segal, these signs can include:

• Restricting Food or Dieting: A change in eating habits that includes restricting food or excessive dieting. The person my frequently miss meals or not eat, complaining of an upset stomach or that they are not hungry. A use of diet pills or illegal drugs may also be noticed.
• Bingeing: Sufferers may binge eat in secret, which can be hard to detect since they will usually do it late at night or in a private place. Signs of potential bingeing are empty food packages and wrappers and hidden stashes of high calorie junk food or desserts.
• Purging: Those who suffer from bulimia will force themselves to throw up after meals to rid their body of added calories. A sign that this is occurring is when a person makes a trip to the bathroom right after eating on a regular basis, possible running water or a fan to hide the sound of their vomiting. They may also use perfume, mouthwash or breath mints regularly to disguise the smell. In addition to vomiting, laxatives or diuretics may also be used to flush unwanted calories from the body.
• Distorted body image and altered appearance: People suffering from Eating Disorder often have a very distorted image of their own body. While they may appear thin to others, they may view themselves as fat and attempt to hide their body under loose clothing. They will also have an obsessive preoccupation with their weight, and complain of being fat even when it is obvious to others that this is not the case.

There are several possible side effects from Eating Disorders, both physical and psychological. Physical damage can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the eating disorder and the length of time the person has been suffering from it.  Psychological consequences can be the development of a mental illness, especially depression and anxiety. Some sufferers of Eating Disorder will also develop a coping mechanism such as harming themselves, through cutting, self-mutilation or self-inflicted violence, or SIV (Something Fishy).

Physical consequences of Eating Disorders depend on the type of eating disorder that the person has. Anorexia nervosa can lead to a slow heart rate and low blood pressure, putting the sufferer at risk for heart failure and permanent heart damage. Malnutrition can lead to osteoporosis and dry, brittle bones. Other common complications include kidney damage due to dehydration, overall weakness, hair loss and dry skin. Bulimia nervosa, where the person constantly purges through vomiting, can have similar consequences as Anorexia but with added complications and damage to the esophagus and gastric cavity due to the frequent vomiting. In addition, tooth decay can occur because of damage caused by gastric juices. If the person also uses laxatives to purge, irregular bowel movements and constipation can occur. Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis can also common negative heath effects (National Eating Disorders Association).  If the Eating Disorder goes on for a prolonged time period, death is also a possible affect, which is why it is important to seek treatment for the individual as soon as it is determined that they are suffering from an Eating Disorder.

Once it is recognized that a loved one may be suffering from an Eating Disorder, the next step is coming up with an effective intervention in time to prevent any lasting physical damage or death. The most effective treatment to date is Cognitive-behavioral therapy, an active form of counseling that can be done in either a group or private setting (Curtis). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to help correct poor eating habits and prevent relapse as well as change the way the individual thinks about food, eating and their body image (Curtis).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for eating disorders, but of course this depends on both the counselor administrating the therapy and the attitude of the person receiving it.  According to Fairburn (3), while patients with eating disorders “have a reputation for being difficult to treat, the great majority can be helped and many, if not most, can make a full and lasting recovery.” In the study conducted by Lobera et al, it was determined that students that took part in group cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions showed a reduced dissatisfaction with their body and a reduction in their drive to thinness. Self esteem was also improved during the group therapy sessions and eating habits were significantly improved.

“The overall effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy can depend on the duration of the sessions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered effective for the treatment of eating disorders. But because eating disorder behaviors can endure for a long period of time, ongoing psychological treatment is usually required for at least a year and may be needed for several years (Curtis).”

  Alternative solutions

Traditional treatments for Eating Disorders rely on educating potential sufferers, especially school aged children, of the potential damage, both psychological and physical, that can be caused by the various eating disorders .

“ Research conducted to date into the primary prevention of eating disorders (ED) has mainly considered the provision of information regarding risk factors. Consequently, there is a need to develop new methods that go a step further, promoting a change in attitudes and behavior in the  target population (Lobera et al).”

The current research has not shown that passive techniques, such as providing information, reduces the prevalence of eating disorders or improves the condition in existing patients. While education about eating disorders, the signs and symptoms and the potential health affects, is an important part of providing information to both the those that may know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder and those that are suffering from one, it is not an effective treatment by itself. It must be integrated with a deeper level of therapy that helps to improve the self-esteem and psychological issues from which the eating disorder stems.

Hospitalization has also been a treatment for those suffering from an eating disorder, especially when a complication, such as kidney failure or extreme weakness, occurs. However, treating the symptom of the eating disorder will not treat the underlying problem. Hospitalization can effectively treat the symptom only when it is combined with a psychological therapy that treats the underlying psychological problem that is causing the physical health problem.

Effectively treating eating disorders is possible using cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, the sooner a person who is suffering from an eating disorder begins treatment the more effective the treatment is likely to be. The longer a person suffers from an eating disorder, the more problems that may arise because of it, both physically and psychologically. While the deeper underlying issue may differ from patient to patient, it must be addressed in order for an eating disorder treatment to be effective. If not, the eating disorder is likely to continue. By becoming better educated about the underlying mental health issues that are typically the cause of eating disorder, both family members and friends of loved ones suffering from eating disorders and the sufferers themselves can take the steps necessary to overcome Eating Disorder and begin the road to recovery.

Works Cited

“Associated Mental Health Conditions and Addictions.” Something Fishy, 2010. Web. 19 November2010.

Carruthers, Martyn. Who Has Eating Disorders?   Soulwork Solutions, 2010. Web. 19 November 2010.

Curtis, Jeanette. “Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders.” WebMD (September 16, 2009). Web. 19 November 2010.

Fairburn, Christopher G. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders. New York: The Guilford Press, 2008. Print.  

“Health Consequences of Eating Disorders” National Eating Disorders Association (2005). Web. 21 November 2010.

Lobera, I.J., Lozano, P.L., Rios, P.B., Candau, J.R., Villar y Lebreros, Gregorio Sanchez, Millan, M.T.M., Gonzalez, M.T.M., Martin, L.A., Villalobos, I.J. and Sanchez, N.V. “Traditional and New Strategies in the Primary Prevention of Eating Disorders: A Comparative Study in Spanish Adolescents.” International Journal of General Medicine 3  (October 5, 2010): 263-272. Dovepress.Web. 19 November 2010.

Segal, Jeanne, Smith, Melinda, Barston, Suzanne. Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder: Advice for Parents, Family Members and Friends , 2010. Web. 19 November 2010.

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Can I Write About My Eating Disorder In College Essays?

A crucial part of appealing to the college admission board is writing a good personal essay. The topic isn’t limited to anything as long as it’s that student’s personal experience. Some of the well-known compositions found amongst college students are related to family members and the part they played in their life.  Here we will see about Can I Write About My Eating Disorder In College Essays?

Eating disorder is a mental illness that many remain uneducated about, so it’s generally recommended not to write an essay about it. People familiar with various eating disorders have either friends or family who dealt with it or dealt with it themselves. Many people have false assumptions about this mental illness based on loose descriptions shown in TV shows and movies. 

When it comes to writing a college essay, people will recommend a student to write about something that highlights the positive aspects of their lives. It could be about how you solved a difficult problem that you faced during a tough moment, personal growth essays about if anything happened in your life that made you change your beliefs, and many more. The main theme remains that you learned something positive out of it. 

Recovering from an eating disorder can indeed be an amazing topic, but there is no guarantee that everybody would look at it the same way. If a student is determined to write an essay about this topic, they should word it carefully and focus essentially on the recovery part of the eating disorder than the tough times that it put you through. Unfortunately, many people still view mental illnesses as a crucial weakness in a person and you never know who’s going to be the one reading your essay and their personal experiences with the topic. 

As long as you keep the focus of your essay on how powerful your growth out of an eating disorder has been, it can be a good college essay. 

Write about Eating Disorder and Other Mental Illnesses in College Essays

People often suggest against delving into issues that involve mental illnesses to write college essays, it’s often recommended that if you want to include your battle with an eating disorder in your essay, do it in a manner so that it doesn’t remain the focus of the essay. Why do people say that and why is it often recommended not to write about this?

The truth is that even though a student might highlight how much they’re fought to overcome the psychological imbalances in their body, it doesn’t leave a good impression on most college admission boards. Shifting from high school to college is a big deal, and it’s like the first step into adulthood where you won’t be confined to the safety of your home. College is much more stressful and competitive than high school where you have to stay on top of the game to excel in your field. 

A student that holds enough value to the mental illness that they fought to the point where they write about it in their college essay, there is a chance for relapse. College is a stressful environment where even the students that don’t suffer from mental illnesses suffer mental breakdowns. If you put a person who already dealt with that in the past, it’s uncertain how they’d react to this change even if they’re on medication or they’re still getting counseling. 

If a student’s desired college has a high acceptance rate, they could write about their journey recovering from an eating disorder and still get accepted. If they’re aiming for a top school with a less than average acceptance rate, then it’s recommended to choose a topic that sheds most of the light on the positive moments of their life and qualities that show their mental strength. 

Colleges with a low acceptance rate and high graduation rate only choose students who show the determination to thrive under a lot of stress. If a student discusses mental illnesses such as an eating disorder in their essay, there are high chances of them not getting accepted even if they have amazing grades and good references.

You Make The Ultimate Decision

The truth is that some essays surrounding an eating disorder can be well-received by your college of choice. It depends vastly on chance. The chances of getting into a top school with an essay like that are low because many people choose to write about various mental illnesses that they suffered from. 

The bottom line is that it depends on how you word it and how your college admission board will perceive it. Some exceptional writers can word their essays in a captivating way and engage the reader to emotionally tune in to their growth from this eating disorder. They strategically weave how much they grew from their experiences and shed as much positive light as they can upon their character after they overcame their mental health issues. 

There are no restrictions when it comes to writing a personal essay for college. As long as the experience was yours or if you feel strongly about the topic you chose, you’re free to write about it. This is one of the first things your college will look at when they look at your application and it shapes the way they view you as a person. If you’re confident about writing about your eating disorder and believe that it will shed a positive light on your application, you can write about it. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Eating Disorder Is Common Among College Students?

Anorexia and bulimia are not only common among college students but also two of the most common types of eating disorders globally. College students might also suffer from other types such as BED (Binge eating disorder) and EDNOS (Eating disorder not otherwise specified).

What Should I Avoid Writing In A College Essay?

Students generally avoid writing about controversial topics (such as related to politics), negative experiences they’ve had with high schools and academia in general, and a whole essay dedicated to the awards and achievements you’ve won since you were a child.

Anorexia - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body shape. Essays on anorexia could delve into the prevalence, causes, and psychological, social, and physical impacts of this eating disorder. Discussions might also cover the treatments, the portrayal of body image in media, and the societal pressures contributing to anorexia. Analyzing the support systems, recovery narratives, and the ongoing research can provide a holistic understanding of anorexia nervosa and its profound impact on individuals and society. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Anorexia you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Effects of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is one of the most commonly known eating disorder. It can occur in women and men including adults, kids, and teenagers. Anorexia is a ""mental disorder that is caused by the unsound terror of gaining weight. Anorexia nervosa is an ""emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing food, commonly known as anorexia. Experts believe anorexia is caused by ""personality, genetics, environment, biochemistry, and overall emotional health. There are many horrific effects of anorexia […]

Anorexia Nervosa is a very Serious Eating Disorder

Anorexia Nervosa is classified as an eating disorder and a disease where individuals go through extreme measures to lose weight such as excessive workouts or extreme food diets in hopes to change their perspective on themselves. Individuals that embody this disease have a distorted body image of oneself and will still feel fat even after taking drastic measures to lose weight. These individuals think poorly and see themselves as overweight even if the individual is underweight. This has a lot […]

Eating Disorder is a Growing Problem in Modern Society

There are many misconceptions about eating disorders. One that stuck out to me is that people believe that eating disorders are a choice. Eating disorders arise from part of a person's genetic makeup and due to environmental factors. ( 'Eating Disorder Myths.') Their are many studies out their that help prove that eating disorders are often influenced by a person’s genes. Twin studies are useful in proving that eating disorders can be a family affair. ('Understanding Eating Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, […]

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Cause and Effect of Anorexia

The first time i ever heard about anorexia was from Degrassi: Next Generation. A character named Emma was trying to lose weight so she would barely eat and sometimes would make herself throw up. Being young I never really understood Anorexia, and the causes and how it can affect your body. According to experts, Anorexia Nervosa occurs in about 1 in 100 to 200 young women. Anorexia is an eating disorder that is also known as self starvation. It can […]

The Real Skinny on Anorexia a Merciless Battle with the Mirror

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) (2018), at least 30,000,000 people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder at any given time in the United States. Of those 30,000,000, at least one person dies every 62 minutes as a direct result of their disorder. Most often, eating disorders affect women between the ages of 12 and 35. Compared to all other mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate (National […]

The Thin Documentary Analysis: Eating Disorder

Thin documentary is a film that follows four women at the Renfrew facility in Florida who are undergoing treatment for eating disorders. These women include Polly, Shelly, Brittany, and Alisa who range from 15 to 30 years old. The film follows them as they interact with their therapists, nurses, staff, other patients and with one another. Indeed, the documentary exploration regarding the struggles these anorexic women face in this institution in their attempt to improve and live a positive life. […]

Anorexia Nervosa: Literature Review

Anorexia nervosa, or better known as anorexia, is an eating disorder with which countless women and men battle every day, with worldwide prevalence. Anorexia is considered to be a psychiatric illness, which has long term effects on those who suffer from it, both psychologically and physically. The etiology of anorexia is multifactorial with genetic, biological, environmental, psychological and sociocultural influences. There are many different models of intervention to treat anorexia, which are each met with different measures of success. Social […]

Anorexia Nervosa: Serious Eating Disorder

Anorexia Nervosa is a very serious eating disorder that many people suffer from. People with Anorexia Nervosa go days without eating. People who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa have an intense fear of gaining weight. “The core psychological feature of anorexia nervosa is extreme overation of shape and weight”(“Anorexia”1). Even the people who suffer from Anorexia are very thin they still fear gaining weight. ¨The word ¨Anorexia¨ literally means ¨loss of appetite¨ (Watson, 7). Anorexia Nervosa is a coping mechanism for […]

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Mental disorders are something that can be found in any human. One of the deadliest mental illnesses is anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is defined as a serious eating disorder that is characterized primarily by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss. It has a higher mortality rate than any other mental illness. This disease affects people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientation, and ethnicities. One in 200 American women […]

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Anorexia Nervosa is a very common, widespread eating disorder that affects individuals psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Those suffering from this eating disorder are commonly suffering from extremely low self-esteem and body weight. Individuals struggling with Anorexia typically fear to gain weight and are always conscious of what they are eating. They perceive their body as a distorted image, instead of viewing reality. Anorexia victims fear their body image as disproportional to their height and weight. An introduction to this disorder […]

What is Anorexia?

Anorexia is described by a distorted body figure, with a fear of being overweight or may some call it obese. Anorexia is commonly associated with women. Many signs of anorexia include low blood pressure problems, low electrolyte levels and being cold. Many tend to become binge eaters and have very bad behavior issues. Also people with anorexia tend to be excessive exercisers with lots of energy, have urges to feel unwanted and or left out. How does one find out […]

Anorexia Journal Article

Reading the journal article, it was apparent that the authors main purpose of this journal is the finding of a link between weight overestimation and disordered eating behaviors among normal weight women (Conley &Boardmen,2007).The authors go on further explaining how there is little to no research done with associating normal weight women and their possibility with acquiring an eating disorder because of how they might overestimate their weight and might be at risk of developing anorexia nervosa. The key concepts […]

Types of Eating Disorders and Treatments

Feeding and eating disorder affects more than 13% of men and woman coming from western countries (Reichenberg & Seligman, 2016). Out of that portion of the population, only about 40%-60% of those affected are said to be in remission from their disorder (Reichenberg & Seligman, 2016). There are many factors that come into play that contribute to the onset of such disorders including, family history, peer dieting, concepts of an ideal body, and some cultural considerations (Reichenberg & Seligman, 2016). […]

Negative Consequences of the Anorexia Fashion Research Argument Project

While Fashion Week is around the corner, the featured ""double zero sized models begin to prepare for the event by depriving themselves of all things indulgent to be as thin as possible. Fashion Week is an event where professionals from the fashion industry come together (usually in New York) twice a year to promote and display their latest creations of the season in a runway fashion show to buyers and the media. Models purge themselves in order to achieve this […]

Experience of Women who have Survived Anorexia

Anorexia is most commonly known as a fear of food and fear of getting fat. It usually begins in girls and women when they are young, often during adolescence or early adulthood. Some women I've mentioned in my essay will testify to their experience with anorexia. In my research, I found that much of adolescent and young adult anorexia can be attributed to social media and peer pressure at school. Social media can make women feel inadequate within just thirty […]

Anorexia is Primarily a Disease of the Nervous System

Eating disorder is a chronic clinical mental disorder that disrupts the psychological and social development of young people. Throughout research, it has been proven that face-to-face therapy is a better treatment than group treatments. Family-based treatment is a very effective treatment for teenagers who have anorexia. For family-based treatments, it has been proven that it is better for the parents to watch what their children are eating instead of having more multi-family settings. Another approach that has been studied is […]

Eating Disorders Anorexia

"Abraham, Suzanne, and Derek Llewellyn-Jones. ""Bulimia Nervosa.""Palla, Barbara, and Iris F. Litt. ""Medical Complications Of Eating DisordersIn Adolescents."" Medical Complications occur with eating disorders take place inanyones life. Adolescents being at such a young age if medical complications occur can affect them when they are older as well. For example, bulimia nervosa can mess with a young women's menstrual cycle and when they get older, they might not be able to have kids. This article will help when informing adolescents […]

Relationship between Depressive Disorder and Eating Disorder

Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by intense and persistent feelings of melancholy and disinterest in regular activities for an extended period of time. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a type of eating disorder categorized by significant weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of how one views their body shape or weight. These disorders frequently co occur with one another, in fact, according to a study posted on the National Eating […]

Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorder

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, characterized by the refusal of an emaciated individual to maintain a normal body weight (CITATION ENCYCLOPEDIA). More specifically, its diagnosis is based on three distinct criteria presented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5): First, consistent restriction of energy consumption resulting in a relatively low body weight must occur. Second, there is an irrational fear of weight gain. Finally, there is […]

Influences that Can Cause Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological eating disorder that is the fear of gaining weight. People that suffer from anorexia eat very little food, which can then lead to starvation, or even death. There are many things that can influence anorexia, such as bullying, social media, stress, traumatic life events, and even low self-esteem. These things don't cause anorexia, but they are some of the strong contributing factors. Bullying Most people start to get bullied about their weight and size at […]

Anorexia Nervosa: Hunger and Satiety

Anorexia Nervosa is defined as a lack of appetite. It is a state of mind that makes the person affected believe that they are too fat and must lose as much weight as possible. ""People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories, and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat. (www.nationaleatingdisorders.org). It is a heart-breaking disorder and has affected millions of people every year […]

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Treatment for Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

Abstract The purpose of this study was to help treat patients with the illnesses of anorexia and bulimia nervosa and report their remission and relapse rates with a method of treatment in a randomized controlled trial. These eating disorders are major health problems that occur mostly in young women. Anorexia is when a person eats only small amounts of food while losing body weight, whereas bulimia is when a person eats large amounts of food and vomits immediately after to […]

Eating Disorder: Specific Model of Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Going off of these findings, Rieger et al. (2010) came up with an eating disorder-specific model of interpersonal psychotherapy. Due to the significance of social relevance in eating disorders, Rieger et al. laid out factors that played an important role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. For example, a 2010 study of 208 patients who were diagnosed with AN or bulimia were assessed for interpersonal issues pre- and post-hospitalization. Eating pathology, symptom severity, and interpersonal patterns were examined. […]

Anorexia Nervosa: Abnormally Low Body Weight and Fear of Gaining Weight

""Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that has abnormally low body weight and fear of gaining weight. People with anorexia care about what others think of them. Society plays a key role to people who have anorexia because; they put very thin people on the cover of magazines and advertisement. This causes individuals with anorexia to feel, un-pretty, rejected, and fat. This is all based on what the media puts out to the world. (works cited: 1). ""People with anorexia […]

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia

Introduction Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are serious disorders among our adolescent girls. According to the eating disorder hope website Anorexia has the highest mobility rate out of all mental disorders, it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms (Hamilton, 2018) so these girls can get the treatment they need. Warning Signs There are many warning signs to Anorexia and Bulimia. According to Nicole Williamson PhD at the Tampa General seminar, (May8, 2018) People with Anorexia might dress in layers, […]

The Movie Desperately Hungry Housewives Portrays the Struggles of Dieting and Anorexia

In the documentary, "Desperately Hungry Housewives," four women grapple with varying severities of dietary problems. Through a first-person perspective, they share their daily life and treatment options. These women provide a credible insight into the experience of handling dietary disorders in Britain as modern housewives. Besides showing how they managed their disorders, they also revealed the effect of these disorders on their children and how their families perceive the women themselves. Despite a lack of statistical data in the film, […]

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Should I write about my eating disorder in college essays?

<p>Just for background info, I developed an eating disorder toward the end of freshman year and received treatment for it during the summer after sophomore year. I am now a junior and I still struggle with my demons, but I can proudly say my eating disorder no longer strongly interferes with other areas of my life. During sophomore year, when I was deepest in my struggle with bulimia, my grades slipped–I earned a 4.2 weighted GPA freshman year and a 3.8 weighted GPA sophomore year. This year my weighted GPA is in the 4.3-4.5 range.</p>

<p>My question is whether it would be a good idea to write about my struggle with bulimia in college essays. Not only would I be able to write a great essay about a topic I have deep feelings about, but I would also be able to explain why my grades slipped sophomore year. I by no means think an eating disorder can be used as an excuse but I do think it is reasonable to be able to explain myself to colleges.</p>

<p>I understand that a cliche essay about an eating disorder would not be a good idea (“so then I got better and I love myself now!!!”). However, I really think I could explain a lot about what I’ve learned from my battle with the disorder and I would explain that while I still have to confront the disorder on a day to day basis, I am confident that I am strong enough to beat a relapse.</p>

<p>I worry that colleges will read the essay, and no matter how well written it may be, will worry about admitting me and having an ill student on their campus. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any advice for me?</p>

<p>Yeah, I think it’ll be fine, as long as you present it creatively. Colleges probably get tired of boring, cliched essays on eating disorders, but that would make an original essay on the same topic stand out more.</p>

<p>No, do not write about it. It may be a great topic and potentially a great essay, but with so many good students there is no need for them to have to deal with a student with a eating disorder. A school can’t discriminate, but they may see your illness a big liability on them because you could have a relapse in college due to stress. If you were my kid, I would tell you not to mention it.</p>

<p>“With so many good students there is no need for them to have to deal with a student with a (sic by the way) eating disorder”…?</p>

<p>Colleges can’t deny that there are problems with eating disorders on pretty much any campus in the United States, whether it be Northeastern Illinois or Princeton. ESPECIALLY at more prestigious, higher pressure schools, eating disorders are rampant. The way you say “dealing with” a student with an eating disorder is not only offensive to anyone with this disease but also is ignorant of the number of students on college campuses with eating disorders. At Dartmouth, in fact, the website states that eating disorders have been a problem at the school and that Dartmouth has created support services for such students. I don’t think colleges (especially more prestigious ones) would turn you down for being honest and insightful about your struggles with bulimia.</p>

<p>My daughter’s private school is “dealing” with a girl with eating disorder in 8th grade(my younger daughter’s grade). The girl has been in and out of the hospital all year. The school has been very good about it and the whole class has been very involved one way or another. You are “dealing with” eating disorder just like you would be “dealing with” cancer or any other illness. What is offensive about it? You don’t have a choice to deal with it when it happens, but if you had a choice would you not choose not to have to deal with it?</p>

<p>Getting into college is a campaign, it is a complete marketing of one self. Full disclosure has nothing to do with it, offensive or not.</p>

<p>Oh, the girl is not coming back to the school next year because the parents felt the school may be too competitive and too stressful for their daughter. It is exactly as baconloretta has stated that many of those top tier schools have students with eating disorder because of high pressure. Don’t you think adcoms would want to admit students that could thrive and handle the pressure? I am also in no way implying that OP or anyone who has had eating disorder would not be able to handle pressure or stress ever again, but some adcoms may jump into conclusion that past would predict the future.</p>

<p>Both of my girls are dancers, it is something we are constantly watching out for. It is not my intent to offend anyone, and do not appreciate baconloretta to paint it as such.</p>

<p>there was a HUGE thread about this same thing about a year ago (though the mental “disorder” may have been a little different). if you could find it, it has about 60+ pages of conversation about the posatives and negatives of writing about such a situation.</p>

<p>If you were my kid, I would say the same thing. I would bet you can come up with a lot of other great ideas for essays.</p>

<p>I understand your point of view oldfort.</p>

<p>But how would I be able to explain a dip in grades without mentioning the disorder that consumed most of my time, energy and thoughts for more than a year?</p>

<p>Coordinate this with your GC. You wouldn’t want not to say anything and have your GC mention it in your recommendation letter. I personally don’t think your grades were that bad. The dip happened sophmore year and you pull it back up later.</p>

<p>i definitely would not. that’s a really bad and risky idea.</p>

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Eating disorder.

1107 words | 4 page(s)

Anorexia nervosa is a social problem that affects many young people in the American culture due to the issues of body image and the perception of being too fat. Idealized beauty images of women who are portrayed in media representations as thin and attractive can be a contributing factor in the development of anorexia nervosa. These issues have wide psychological and social implications, which the Karen Carpenter story brings to light. Her losing battle with the most devastating effects of the disease, including heart failure and death at the early age of 32, was an example for the world in the 1980s to learn the underlying causes of anorexia. However, the issues of anorexia nervosa are still an important problem today which continues to take the lives of young girls in the prime of life.

There are three major forms of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder (Maher, 2014). All three of these types of disorders are physiologically and psychologically harmful to the young people who are suffering. They are associated with various progressive diseases, up to and including death as the Karen Carpenter story clearly demonstrated. The statistics on anorexia nervosa are alarmingly high. 0.9% of American women suffer from anorexia in their lifetime (Hudson et al., 2007). The condition will cause a person to lose so much weight that they will appear emaciated and deathly ill to observers—which, in fact, they are—and yet they will refuse to eat any normal portions of food.

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Of all the eating disorders, anorexia nervosa is the most prevalent disease that causes early death. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (http://www.anad.org) stated that between 5-10% of anorexics die within 10 years, either from suicide or actual death by starvation and its associated complications. Yet only 1-10 people with anorexia receive comprehensive treatment. They are frequently sent home without effective medical prescriptions or any type of help. A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 – 10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18-20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover (ANAD, 2016). These figures are even more shocking when taking into account that young girls between the ages of 18-24 are the most common victims. Anorexic girls may go to great lengths to hide the fact that they are not eating to their families; they may pretend to be eating at mealtimes and the family may not notice until they have lost so much weight that the condition is unmistakable. Meanwhile, in girls who are not receiving psychological treatment the rates of suicide also are likely to rise (Arcelus et al., 2011). This factor is an obvious circumstance of the necessity for both psychological and physical medical attention concurrently. “Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) is a ratio between the observed number of deaths in a study population and the number of deaths would be expected. SMR for anorexia nervosa is 5.86” (Arcelus et al., 2011). These high rates of suicide indicate that the social problems of anorexia nervosa go much deeper than the issues of beauty image and dieting for body awareness. For people who have anorexia nervosa, the importance of following a behavioral/cognitive psychological treatment plan may be the only program that can save their lives.

Yet in many cases the real physiological health issues associated with anorexia nervosa are not treated seriously within the psychological community, which has exacerbated these issues: “the focus of psychiatric epidemiology has shifted towards the community…assignment to a diagnostic category may stretch such categories to the point where they assume a tenuous relationship with what had been originally intended” (Szmukler, 2013, p. 143). What this essentially means is that a young woman who has an eating disorder will not be treated for her symptoms until it is actually too late to make a positive difference. By the time she has begun to fit into a diagnostic category, the harmful damage on her body will have gone too far.

Because these kinds of eating disorders are associated with feelings of shame and a poor body self-image in young women, these issues are frequently hidden from others so that really no one knows about it until it is too late. “Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness affecting predominantly young women, characterized by self-induced starvation, endocrine dysregulation, and comorbid psychiatric disease” (Lawson et al., 2013, p. 451). For these reasons, it is hard to determine the exact numbers of people who have eating disorders. Also, most insurance companies do not provide coverage for eating disorders so that makes it even more difficult to provide exact statistics. In short, eating disorders are not classified as a disease until they have progressed to a point of crisis such as occurred with Karen Carpenter. Noone actually knew about her condition, as a celebrity singer in The Carpenters duo, where she and her brother sang together and earned Grammy awards and other important celebrity recognition.

As far as a solution to the major issues involved with anorexia nervosa, there are many organizations online which can point to increased awareness and support groups. Due to the high statistics on anorexia as an adolescent and young girls’ issue, beauty image factors and the explicit cultural role where the advertising media promotes thinness as an attainable and desirable goal seems central to the problem. It is highly unlikely that the advertising corporations will be changing their approach any time soon. Beauty and self-image in young girls will continue to have a prominent role in advertising and media culture. The psychological and social aspects of body image, therefore, must be an important concern within the family, the education system, and the cultural representation of women in American society.

• ANAD (2016). Your future is worth fighting for. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Retrieved from http://www.anad.org/
• Arcelus, J., Mitchell, A. J., Wales, J., & Nielsen, S. (2011). Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders: a meta-analysis of 36 studies. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(7), 724-731.
• Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348–358.
• Lawson, E. A., Holsen, L. M., Santin, M., DeSanti, R., Meenaghan, E., Eddy, K. T., … & Klibanski, A. (2013). Postprandial oxytocin secretion is associated with severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in anorexia nervosa. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(5), 451-457.
• Maher, I. (2014, Oct. 2). What’s new in eating disorders treatment and research. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/qa-whats-new-in-eating-disorders-treatment-and-research/2200489
• Szmukler, G. I. (2013). The epidemiology of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 19, 143-153.

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‘The Very Real Insanity of College Admissions’

Readers offer suggestions and personal stories in response to two guest essays.

To the Editor:

Re “ 2024 Was the Year That Finally Broke College Admissions ,” by Daniel Currell (Opinion guest essay, May 5):

While Mr. Currell effectively lays out the current admissions climate, the sunny last-minute outcomes for the two applicants he follows undermine his otherwise valid critiques.

While Ivy was rejected by her early decision school, she was admitted to her second choice, Dartmouth, an Ivy with a 6 percent acceptance rate. Rania, though disappointed with her Barnard rejection, also found herself a terrific outcome at Wesleyan, another highly acclaimed school, with a free ride to boot.

Both of these outcomes are extreme positive outliers these days. Convincing families to temper these kinds of expectations and consider in-state public institutions for cost reasons as well as excellent but more far-flung liberal arts colleges (such as the College of Wooster in rural Ohio) is the task at hand these days.

Following two applicants who actually had to make significant compromises would have more accurately encapsulated the reality check that college-bound kids and parents need in the face of the very real insanity of college admissions these days.

Jamie Berger Turners Falls, Mass. The writer is an independent educational consultant.

After temporarily settling in the U.S., my high schooler fell in love with the idea of the small liberal arts school. She was lucky to have the support of a counselor who constantly affirmed her self-worth, and was admitted to one of her top schools. The process was stressful, and the result is not pain-free; it will require serious lifestyle changes to be able to afford it.

Coming from the Netherlands, where a reputable university education is still quite accessible for about $2,700 in annual tuition for domestic and E.U. students, I find the system here insane at every level — in its lack of transparency, in privileging the privileged and in through-the-roof costs.

In this land of the free market, the author is right: The college admission process needs scrutiny and accountability. And even a measure of regulation.

Blanche Tax Queens

The most remarkable aspect of Daniel Currell’s piece on admissions to selective colleges is the rare mention of the quality of education, such as the concession that we might “shift our cultural focus toward the hundreds of schools that offer an excellent education but are not luxury brands.”

The education quality offered at those hundreds of schools is often no less than that of the so-called “elite” schools. And that quality is less likely to be influenced by big-money donors.

Mr. Currell has made it clear that the brand, and not the education, is what has become important. Students are going to school not to learn, but to get a badge. And they carry that attitude throughout life.

External displays become more important than interior satisfaction with genuine accomplishment and contribution. The real problem is the very notion of elitism. Why do we want to train people to be snobs? To what end?

Joel Solow Newark, N.J.

I would like to point out one omission in an otherwise interesting article regarding higher education admissions: Much of the breakdown of the admissions process is due to the substantial increase in the number of applications that students submit.

For example, the Common Application reports that the number of college applications increased by 39 percent between 2019 and 2023 (the number of applicants also increased, by 28 percent).

When I applied to college in the late 1950s, students typically applied to three or so colleges (including a stretch school like the Ivies, a safe school like a state college and something in between). This was also the case when my children applied to college in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

But this past year, my grandchildren could apply to up to 20 colleges via the Common Application (although on average students apply to around six colleges). This greatly increases the number of applications that college admissions officers needed to consider.

It was increases in the number of applications that students submitted that contributed to the breakdown.

Marlaine Lockheed Princeton, N.J.

Daniel Currell’s essay catalogs the problems, but offers no solution. A year ago, before my son knew he would be among the more than 100,000 applicants rejected from his dream school (U.C.L.A.), he was looking at the required classes and asked, “Why can’t I just study what I want to study?” “You can,” I answered. “Go to school in the U.K.”

My son had bad grades in classes that didn’t interest him, and was generally unsuccessful applying to U.S. colleges. But he is brilliant, and managed top scores on eight Advanced Placement exams. He got several offers from U.K. colleges, and is now at University College London, which is regularly ranked among the top in the world.

U.K. universities are considerably more costly for international students than for U.K. ones. But for students who are good at studying, they are an excellent alternative to the U.S. beauty contest.

Wayne Camard Palo Alto, Calif.

Re “ The Best College Is One Where You Don’t Fit In ,” by Michael S. Roth (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, May 5):

For students who have had a comfortable and fulfilling K-12 social life, going to a more diverse and socially uncomfortable setting is indeed a good choice. But for the many adolescents who have struggled to find their tribe, choosing a college where they can finally develop a strong social network is critical.

Katharine H. McVeigh New York