Essay --

â€Å"There’s no magic bullet; there’s no pill that you take that makes everything great and makes you happy all the time. I’m letting go of those expectations, and that’s opening me up to moments of transcendent bliss. But I still feel the stress over ‘Am I thin enough? Am I too thin? Is my body the right shape?† –Anne Hathaway. It seems as if every young girl’s desire is to become a model. Eating disorders affect an increasingly large number of people, especially young women, in today’s modern societies. One study even found that some girls are more afraid of being fat, than of a nuclear war or getting cancer. The most common types of this disorder are anorexia, bulimia, and purging, each having a discrete effect on different people. Right now, one percent of all American women- our sisters, mothers, and daughters, are starving themselves to death. â€Å"I will not eat cakes or cookies or food. I will be thin, thin, pure. I will be pure and empty. Weight dropping off. Ninety-nine... ninety-five... ninety-two... ninety. Just one more to eighty-nine. Where does it go? Where in the universe does it go?†-Francesca Lia Block. Anorexia nervosa is a serious potentially life threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. 90-95% of anorexia sufferers are girls and women. It is one of the main psychiatric diagnoses and is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. We believe that we have to be a certain weight and ideal beauty in America; it’s pretty much the main priority for teens and college students. Anorexia is mainly caused by a low self-esteem, stress, and cultural influence. Intense fear of gaining weight, loss of menstrual period, denial of food, and excessive workout are only a han... ...ological, psychological, social, and cultural factors. Many individuals with bulimia, anorexia, or binge eating disorder, do not seek help until they reach their thirties or forties when their eating is deeply ingrained and more difficult to change. Bulimia is often treated more successfully that anorexia, partly because bulimia patients usually want to be treated. Aside from interpersonal issues, such as depression and OCD, eating disorders are strongly provoked by television, electronic devices, and in some cases because of the influences presented by one's parents or friends. Many are unaware of the harm media causes toward its targeted audience. Overall, the media has completely taken over our lifestyle and continues to gain more control every day. Eating disorders don’t belong to a specific face, race, or shape. Anybody can fall victim to these sicknesses.