Essay 1: Eating Disorders
In this essay I needed to revise my transitions because I did not have any or not very good ones. I also needed to revise my thesis statement because it was a run-on sentence.
Alex Smith
English 3
Persuasive Essay
5/8/13
Eating Disorders
Leslie Hornby Armstrong, better known as 1960’s British model Twiggy weighed 97 pounds and was 5’6”. Her thin frame was different than the 50’s fuller figured women, one of the women being Marilyn Monroe. “Before Twiggy, the average fashion model weighed just 8 percent less than the average American woman, but today fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women” (Prah). Many young girls and women try to look like these models. The media’s constant coverage of frail women tends to have a large impact on society. Most people today put the blame on the media for their glorification of celebrities that suffer from eating disorders; although it is not completely to blame. People do not develop eating disorders specifically because of what they see in the media, the causes for them can stem from within the brain or from other external factors.
An eating disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by abnormal eating habits associated with emotional and physical factors. In order for it to be considered an eating disorder there must be a disturbance in body image and eating behavior. The three main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. “Anorexia and bulimia affect nearly 10 million females and 1 million males. Binge eating affects an estimated 25 million men and women, according to the National Eating Disorders Association” (Prah). Anorexics only eat enough to survive. They do not eat enough to maintain a healthy weight because they have a fear of being fat/gaining weight. One is considered anorexic when: their weight is 15 percent under average for their height, extremely underweight but sees themselves as fat, and has amenorrhea, which is when a female no longer receives her period. One is considered bulimic if they have a warped self-image, binge, and purge at least twice a week. Bulimics eat a lot of food and to avoid gaining weight will vomit (“binge and purge”), fast, excessively exercise, or use laxatives. Binge eaters uncontrollably consume too much food. The risks of binge eating include obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The risks of anorexia and bulimia are heart failure, malnutrition, kidney problems, osteoporosis, tooth decay, electrolyte imbalance, hair loss, stomach and esophagus erosion, and people with eating disorders may be more susceptible to substance and alcohol abuse.
Although eating disorders have become more prevalent in the past twenty years, cases of fasting have been recorded dating back to the seventeenth century. Women who were extremely thin were considered witches or unhealthy and sick. The term, anorexia nervosa, was coined in the 1870s by London surgeon, W. W. Gull. The Greek word for anorexia nervosa is “lack of appetite” (Prah).Gull also believed that it was a psychological disease. It finally became accepted as a disease in the 1940s. The 1940s and ‘50s were also a time when full figures were popular. “In the 1960s and ‘70s, Hilde Bruch, a professor of psychiatry, suggested that anorexics had an ‘inadequate sense of self’ and restricted their eating to act out their frustration and feelings of inadequacy” (Prah). Mattel created the first Barbie Doll in 1959, which had unrealistic measurements for a real woman. 1967 was when the ideal beauty of full figured women transitioned to tiny figures like teen model Twiggy. In 1979, Gerard Russell, a researcher at the University of London, coined the term, bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is Greek for “bull’s appetite” (Prah). Doctors in London during 1998-’99 found that brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite may connect to anorexic behavior. Websites with blogs and tips on eating disorders become popular in 2001.Throughout the past 80 years eating disorders have had more attention and analysis but there were still small cases in the past.
The media and their coverage of Hollywood’s elite is everywhere today and have a strong impact on how women view themselves and their bodies. Naturally, young girls idolize these skinny celebrities; therefore they try to achieve the same look. With ads plastered on practically every corner, it’s hard not to be influenced by them. However the press also covers stories that show how dangerous it is to have an eating disorder. The story of Australian twins, Rachel and Clare Wallmeyer, who have suffered from anorexia for fourteen years, has been shown on television before. It describes that their combined weight was 105 pounds and for a time, “lived on watermelon, diet coke, and at least 20 laxatives a day” (Prah). There are also magazine articles that display how thin celebrities become and how emaciated they look. The media is not all to blame for advancing eating disorders.
An eating disorder is considered a mental illness. It causes one to believe that they are fat when they are truly underweight in most cases. Research shows that although eating disorders are not genetic, some people may have a high likelihood to develop one. “Experts say eating disorders are caused by biological, psychological and social factors, such as brain chemistry, metabolism, coping skills and personality, along with the culture that promotes thinness” (Prah).
Internal factors like personality characteristics and the brain play a role in eating disorders. “Genetic studies have found that anorexia nervosa is five times as likely to co-occur in identical twins than in fraternal twins or non-twin siblings” (All About Eating). Common personality traits associated are self-esteem level, perfectionism, fear of losing control, impulsive, and obsessive compulsive disorder to name a few. The part that the brain plays is actually a neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that sends signals to other cells in the brain. When they attach to the other receptor sites it “triggers signals that either allow or prevent a message to be passed on to other cells” (Genetics and Biology). Serotonin controls behaviors such as appetite, depression, sleep, anxiety, and mood. People with low levels serotonin often are depressed, so when they binge, it increases the levels of serotonin, therefore making the person feel better. Although people with high levels tend to have anxiety and starving themselves lowers the levels and calms them. Unfortunately, binging and starving can also disrupt serotonin levels leading to other problems. Keeping serotonin levels normal are maintained by keeping stress levels normal and leading a healthy lifestyle.
A person’s surroundings and social life has a huge influence on one’s personal life, therefore plays a potential role in developing an eating disorder. The influences range from self-esteem, coping with emotions, abuse, family life, and history of addiction in the family. A doctor said that a really high percentage of the eating disorders clients that they work with have parents that have undiagnosed anxiety or compulsive behavior type. The children may learn to have these behaviors just from living in the environment (Biology and Genetics). Sometimes people live in an unhealthy environment and have no control over their lives. Not everyone who lives in a dysfunctional home has an eating disorder but it can be a contributing factor.
Even though the media has a negative reputation for showcasing slender models, they also promote actual women. They even advocate real beauty and appeal to real women and making them feel beautiful in their own skin. Dove, personal care brand, has recently launched a campaign for real beauty. In a new advertisement, they conducted a social experiment by bringing in Gil Zamora, a trained FBI artist to sketch a portrait of a woman based on her description of herself and then another based on a description of her from another person. The results showed that the other person’s description was more accurate to the woman’s actual appearance than the woman’s description of herself, which tended to look older and less attractive. The purpose was to show women that instead of focusing on the insecurities that lessen them, they should focus on their positive attributes that make them special and beautiful (Real Beauty Sketches).
Today, the pressure to be slim is a heavy burden that many people struggle with everyday. The media is not all at fault in the promotion of being excessively thin and some companies endorse real women to be happy the way that they are. With the stress from the media and other contributions, people develop eating disorders. The three types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Eating disorders can be influenced by many things such as personality traits, self-esteem, emotional stability, and metabolism. Besides that, a person’s everyday life can affect their eating habits. Also, serotonin levels, which controls things like mood and appetite. Even though there are multiple factors that can count against someone in developing an eating disorder, it is ultimately up to them to realize the dangers and to live a healthy and balanced life.
Alex Smith
English 3
Persuasive Essay
5/8/13
Eating Disorders
Leslie Hornby Armstrong, better known as 1960’s British model Twiggy weighed 97 pounds and was 5’6”. Her thin frame was different than the 50’s fuller figured women, one of the women being Marilyn Monroe. “Before Twiggy, the average fashion model weighed just 8 percent less than the average American woman, but today fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women” (Prah). Many young girls and women try to look like these models. The media’s constant coverage of frail women tends to have a large impact on society. Most people today put the blame on the media for their glorification of celebrities that suffer from eating disorders; although it is not completely to blame. People do not develop eating disorders specifically because of what they see in the media, the causes for them can stem from within the brain or from other external factors.
An eating disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by abnormal eating habits associated with emotional and physical factors. In order for it to be considered an eating disorder there must be a disturbance in body image and eating behavior. The three main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. “Anorexia and bulimia affect nearly 10 million females and 1 million males. Binge eating affects an estimated 25 million men and women, according to the National Eating Disorders Association” (Prah). Anorexics only eat enough to survive. They do not eat enough to maintain a healthy weight because they have a fear of being fat/gaining weight. One is considered anorexic when: their weight is 15 percent under average for their height, extremely underweight but sees themselves as fat, and has amenorrhea, which is when a female no longer receives her period. One is considered bulimic if they have a warped self-image, binge, and purge at least twice a week. Bulimics eat a lot of food and to avoid gaining weight will vomit (“binge and purge”), fast, excessively exercise, or use laxatives. Binge eaters uncontrollably consume too much food. The risks of binge eating include obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The risks of anorexia and bulimia are heart failure, malnutrition, kidney problems, osteoporosis, tooth decay, electrolyte imbalance, hair loss, stomach and esophagus erosion, and people with eating disorders may be more susceptible to substance and alcohol abuse.
Although eating disorders have become more prevalent in the past twenty years, cases of fasting have been recorded dating back to the seventeenth century. Women who were extremely thin were considered witches or unhealthy and sick. The term, anorexia nervosa, was coined in the 1870s by London surgeon, W. W. Gull. The Greek word for anorexia nervosa is “lack of appetite” (Prah).Gull also believed that it was a psychological disease. It finally became accepted as a disease in the 1940s. The 1940s and ‘50s were also a time when full figures were popular. “In the 1960s and ‘70s, Hilde Bruch, a professor of psychiatry, suggested that anorexics had an ‘inadequate sense of self’ and restricted their eating to act out their frustration and feelings of inadequacy” (Prah). Mattel created the first Barbie Doll in 1959, which had unrealistic measurements for a real woman. 1967 was when the ideal beauty of full figured women transitioned to tiny figures like teen model Twiggy. In 1979, Gerard Russell, a researcher at the University of London, coined the term, bulimia nervosa. Bulimia is Greek for “bull’s appetite” (Prah). Doctors in London during 1998-’99 found that brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite may connect to anorexic behavior. Websites with blogs and tips on eating disorders become popular in 2001.Throughout the past 80 years eating disorders have had more attention and analysis but there were still small cases in the past.
The media and their coverage of Hollywood’s elite is everywhere today and have a strong impact on how women view themselves and their bodies. Naturally, young girls idolize these skinny celebrities; therefore they try to achieve the same look. With ads plastered on practically every corner, it’s hard not to be influenced by them. However the press also covers stories that show how dangerous it is to have an eating disorder. The story of Australian twins, Rachel and Clare Wallmeyer, who have suffered from anorexia for fourteen years, has been shown on television before. It describes that their combined weight was 105 pounds and for a time, “lived on watermelon, diet coke, and at least 20 laxatives a day” (Prah). There are also magazine articles that display how thin celebrities become and how emaciated they look. The media is not all to blame for advancing eating disorders.
An eating disorder is considered a mental illness. It causes one to believe that they are fat when they are truly underweight in most cases. Research shows that although eating disorders are not genetic, some people may have a high likelihood to develop one. “Experts say eating disorders are caused by biological, psychological and social factors, such as brain chemistry, metabolism, coping skills and personality, along with the culture that promotes thinness” (Prah).
Internal factors like personality characteristics and the brain play a role in eating disorders. “Genetic studies have found that anorexia nervosa is five times as likely to co-occur in identical twins than in fraternal twins or non-twin siblings” (All About Eating). Common personality traits associated are self-esteem level, perfectionism, fear of losing control, impulsive, and obsessive compulsive disorder to name a few. The part that the brain plays is actually a neurotransmitter in the brain called serotonin. A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that sends signals to other cells in the brain. When they attach to the other receptor sites it “triggers signals that either allow or prevent a message to be passed on to other cells” (Genetics and Biology). Serotonin controls behaviors such as appetite, depression, sleep, anxiety, and mood. People with low levels serotonin often are depressed, so when they binge, it increases the levels of serotonin, therefore making the person feel better. Although people with high levels tend to have anxiety and starving themselves lowers the levels and calms them. Unfortunately, binging and starving can also disrupt serotonin levels leading to other problems. Keeping serotonin levels normal are maintained by keeping stress levels normal and leading a healthy lifestyle.
A person’s surroundings and social life has a huge influence on one’s personal life, therefore plays a potential role in developing an eating disorder. The influences range from self-esteem, coping with emotions, abuse, family life, and history of addiction in the family. A doctor said that a really high percentage of the eating disorders clients that they work with have parents that have undiagnosed anxiety or compulsive behavior type. The children may learn to have these behaviors just from living in the environment (Biology and Genetics). Sometimes people live in an unhealthy environment and have no control over their lives. Not everyone who lives in a dysfunctional home has an eating disorder but it can be a contributing factor.
Even though the media has a negative reputation for showcasing slender models, they also promote actual women. They even advocate real beauty and appeal to real women and making them feel beautiful in their own skin. Dove, personal care brand, has recently launched a campaign for real beauty. In a new advertisement, they conducted a social experiment by bringing in Gil Zamora, a trained FBI artist to sketch a portrait of a woman based on her description of herself and then another based on a description of her from another person. The results showed that the other person’s description was more accurate to the woman’s actual appearance than the woman’s description of herself, which tended to look older and less attractive. The purpose was to show women that instead of focusing on the insecurities that lessen them, they should focus on their positive attributes that make them special and beautiful (Real Beauty Sketches).
Today, the pressure to be slim is a heavy burden that many people struggle with everyday. The media is not all at fault in the promotion of being excessively thin and some companies endorse real women to be happy the way that they are. With the stress from the media and other contributions, people develop eating disorders. The three types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Eating disorders can be influenced by many things such as personality traits, self-esteem, emotional stability, and metabolism. Besides that, a person’s everyday life can affect their eating habits. Also, serotonin levels, which controls things like mood and appetite. Even though there are multiple factors that can count against someone in developing an eating disorder, it is ultimately up to them to realize the dangers and to live a healthy and balanced life.