More Common Than You Know-Spread Awareness

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages and ethnicities. It is sometimes difficult to determine whether or not someone has an eating disorder by looking at their outer appearance. Those with this disease are generally of normal body weight, and they seem noticeably healthy to relatives and close friends. Constantly weighing oneself, self-critical attitude, isolation, elimination of food groups, and sudden change in habits are just a few warning signs that may indicate someone may be suffering from an eating disorder. Dieting, cultural pressure, body dissatisfaction, and self-esteem are other risk factors that contribute to the complexity of men and women of all ages who suffer from eating disorders.

It is important to realize that there isn't a single treatment or cure for someone suffering from anorexia or bulimia; it is an ongoing battle. A definition for successful treatments has not been clearly established simply because treatment goals are created on an individual basis. Eating disorders are considered both behavioral and psychological; therefore, patients are encouraged to embrace the multidisciplinary treatment. This approach consists of a variety of treatments including counseling, family therapy, behavior modification, and medication. Complementary therapeutic approaches are also included within the multidisciplinary treatment, such as art, music, movement, yoga, nutrition, and exercise.

Prevention programs have consistently failed throughout middle and high schools, so there has been a strong argument from beginning knowledge and prevention as young as elementary school. Researcher would like to improve knowledge and understanding of MyPyramid, enforcing the concept that no food is bad. Instead they should be labeled as "sometimes" foods, and most importantly expressing the role of genetics and puberty on body fat. To avoid personal contribution to someone's eating disorder refrain from praising another's appearance, talking negatively about your own body, and thinking and labeling foods as "good" and "bad". In order to decrease the number of students that suffer from eating disorders each year, it helps to start educating kids at a young age about the dangers involved.