How Serious a Problem?

Question:

I am doing a research paper in psychology on the subject of eating disorders. I was wondering how serious of a problem this is and how many people it affects?

Answer:

Eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating problems) are a very serious problem for individuals, families and for society, the full impact of which is difficult to measure. An estimated 5 million Americans struggle with eating disorders, approximately 15% of young women have significantly disordered eating patterns and as many as 1,000 American women die of Anorexia Nervosa each year (American Anorexia Bulimia Association).

Medical problems caused by eating disorders include: malnutrition, anemia, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, heart and circulatory problems, gastrointestinal difficulties, hormonal imbalances, infertility, osteoporosis and tooth decay. A good resource for further information about these issues is the Something Fishy website page on physical dangers.

Psychological problems associated with eating disorders range from depression to anxiety, moodiness, isolation, substance abuse, and denial. The Renfrew Center booklist includes many volumes devoted to understanding the underlying emotional and relationship dimensions of eating disorders. I especially recommend Kim Chernin’s classic The Obsession: Reflections on the Tyranny of Slenderness, Jane R. Hirshman and Carol Munter's When Women Stop Hating Their Bodies: Freeing Yourself from Food and Weight Obsession and Father Hunger: Fathers, Daughters and Food by Margo Maine.

I view eating disorders and their impact along a continuum, which includes nearly everyone in our culture. On one end are the most severely ill, for whom the struggle with an eating disorder is fatal. On the other end of the continuum are a great many people who sometimes have self-rejecting body image thoughts and feelings who may also have unrealistic, unhealthy body ideals or the common dream that, "if only I were thinner, everything would be better", but whose basic self-esteem and day-to-day behavior are not affected by these occasional negative moments. In between these two extremes are people whose relationships with themselves, with food, weight, exercise and self-destructive behaviors and their relationships with other people are affected to varying degrees. Some people behave normally though they are afflicted with invisible and terribly painful self-critical eating disordered thoughts and feelings. Preoccupation with food, weight, dieting and body image robs a person of time and energy for dealing with whatever dilemmas they are facing in life and stalls the fulfillment of their potential. For other people, the negative feelings escalate and are expressed in eating disorder symptoms, which can involve all aspects of their lives. Many eating disorder behaviors risk immediate health consequences and may also cause long-term irreversible medical problems.

Consideration of the seriousness of eating disorders must also include the profound impacts on the loved ones of anyone dealing with an eating disorder, as well as the expenses of medical and psychological treatment. Unfortunately, the struggle can be long and costly. Many in the eating disorder field, including The Renfrew Center, have joined together in an organization called Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention devoted to reducing the incidence and severity of eating disorders through a variety of educational campaigns. Fortunately, many people can and do recover from eating disorders and there are more and more resources available to assist sufferers and their families in addressing this serious issue.

Good luck to you with your research paper. I hope that investigating and writing about this topic will not only heighten your awareness of eating disorders and their influence in your environment but also help you to avoid any such difficulties in your own life.