Unhealthy Eating Habits

There are various people who do not eat the way they should. Some people have been diagnosed with eating disorders, this could mean these people do not eat the way they should, or just not at all. No matter what the case, having bad eating habits usually is associated with overeating and malnutrition. Some eating disorders that people are diagnosed with today are called anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is commonly called anorexia today. Anorexia Nervosa is medically described as a person that fears being perceived as fat, becoming fat, or a fearing the loss of control in the quantities of food they consume (Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders, n.d.). Anorexia is more of a mental state than just a simple explanation of someone which does not eat much food.

Some effects of anorexia are visually seen by a dramatically thin person. Some anorexics excessively exercise. Others may count calories and fat grams in the foods they consume. A very common effect is deprivation of food. They might do this in a way that they make excuses to avoid eating, or hide food then declare to have eaten it. A person with anorexia is also stressed, constantly worrying about his or her body image almost constantly.

One should rely on exercise to lose weight, instead of unhealthy eating disorders which in turn harm the body (Causes of Eating Disorders, n.d.). Carbohydrates and fats are important nutrients that give our body energy. These components are commonly ignored in order to meet a thin body lifestyle. But not all eating disorders are not obtained through self-image, some eating disorders come from different factors, such as poverty (Common Causes of Unhealthy Eating Habits, n.d.).

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is just commonly referred to as bulimia. Bulimia is an eating disorder is described by eating large amounts of food, then shortly afterwards purging it from the body (Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders, n.d.). So a person with bulimia will feel the need to eat, consume large portions of food, then induce vomiting or ingest laxatives to get rid of that food shortly thereafter.

One immediate effect of bulimia, is the mental part that the person is aware that they have an eating disorder. Some suffering with bulimia hide food, for the usually binging episodes they take part in. A person with bulimia tends to have great weight fluctuations, from the large amount of food they intake then drastically purge it by inducing vomiting or abusing laxatives. Many bulimics also exercise excessively, in order to lose the large amount of calories they might have consumed in a particular binge episode. Others fast for days after a binge episode, as to not to intake any more calories.

Compulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeating is just a simple addiction with food (Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders, n.d.). Food is the substance of addiction, and it is used to cope with heavy emotions. The addiction with food is also used to create a mental hiding place from daily stress. Others may also feel a void, and they believe that food is the object that they can use to fill that empty space.

There are many effects weighing on a person with compulsive overeating, such as the fact they tend to look overweight, and simply telling them to just go on a diet is emotionally devastating. Those who have compulsive overeating disorder tend to dislike themselves for the their appearance, then stick with eating to cope with these feelings, which creates a big circle that compulsive overeaters constantly go around in. Some people with compulsive overeating tend to hide behind their weight in society, using their body as an excuse. Almost everybody that has compulsive overeating has low self-esteem.

Obesity is a common result of compulsive overeating. Today, it is not hard for this to happen. We see an easy increase in obesity rates, most commonly due to a lack of exercise and eating too many processed foods. The biggest contributions to inactivity levels are television and video games, because many younger children and teenagers choose these actions over a much more physical activity.

Studies have also shown that most advertisements broadcasted during children’s shows were for junk food (FOE, n.d.). Also those processed foods that are consumed contain quite a bit of fat. Sugar-sweetened drinks also contribute to the problem. Another issue within the topic, is that about half of younger kids do not consume enough vegetables or fruits in a day. This results in malnutrition and high consumption of unhealthy foods.

Common eating disorders today are anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating. Many people may stay away from food in hopes of finding a better public image. Others may consume large amounts of food, then later starve themselves or eliminate these large amounts of food from their body. Then there are just some people who simply have an addiction to food, and claim it helps them with their emotions. There are many causes and effects of the common types of eating habits today, and by studying them many people may learn about them and live healthier lives less dependent on food.

References

Causes of Eating Disorders – Factors Responsible for Cutting Down Eating Habits. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Eating_Disorders/causes_5.asp

Common Causes of Unhealthy Eating Habits. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://vista.engines4ed.org/nutrition/docs/NA_UnhealthyEatingHabitsFAQ.htm

Eating Disorders | Anorexia | Bulimia | Binge Eating Disorder | Compulsive Overeating | The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://www.something-fishy.org/

FOE :: Lack of exercise and unhealthy eating are two of the main causes of obesity. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://www.foe.org.nz/facts4.html

Why good nutrition is important. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/nutrition_policy.html