An eating disorder happens out of 2 reasons: compulsion to eat, or avoid eating at all. Both this cases many have a negative effect on one’s physical and mental health. Without the proper intake of food, you health may be disrupted.
According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, the feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one’s experience of emotional well being are determined by what one has or has not eaten. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are 2 most common eating disorders that occur in man. The medical classification schemes have estimated that about 5 to 7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes suffer from these 2 common disorders.
The 3rd type of eating disorder is known as Binge Eating Disorder. This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food within a small span of time and cannot stop eating and feels totally out of control. It can lead to severe health conditions like morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardio-vascular disease.
There is an organization called ANAD or the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders that aims to fight against these disorders. ANAD primarily works in areas of research, educating the public and running a hotline calling all people afflicted by disorders to support groups, therapists, or inpatient or outpatient clinics.
Eating disorders can affect both men and women of all ethnic and racial groups around the world. While it is stated that mainly women suffer from eating disorder, it is seen that younger children seem to have higher chances of eating disorder. It is seen that most children develop eating disorders between the age 11 and 13. An abnormally low body weight or a very high weight, both may be caused by eating disorder.