Anorexia
...emerge. Obesity is the most common eating disorder in North America. "Over 60% of North America adults are overweight, and 40% of them are obese" (Wardlaw 341). Obesity is described as a body mass index over 24.9 or over 25% body fat in men and over 35% body fat in women (350). Some other less common eating disorders may arise with food abuse. Female athlete triad occurs in appearance-based and endurance sports. It is characterized by disordered eating, lack of menstrual periods, and osteoporosis. A study of college age female athletes found that 15% of swimmers, 62% of gymnasts, and 32% of all varsity athletes exhibited disordered eating patterns. Binge-eating disorder occurs in almost 2% of the North American population ( 433). Binge-eaters binge on their favorite sweets and fatty food two or more times per week; however, unlike anorexics and bulimics binge eaters do not purge (expel food though vomiting, laxatives and/or enemas).
Anorexic and bulimic symptoms overlap in many cases, but they are very different disorders. The most reliable way to tell the disorders apart is weight. Bulimics sustain a normal body weight, and anorexics drop weight very fast and are below average body weight. Bulimia is episodes of binging and purging. Anorexia is the fear of gaining weight. To be diagnosed with anorexia a person must be fifteen percent or more below the average body weight and in women have the loss of menstruation. Bulimics must binge and purge at least two times per week for six months to be diagnosed. Bulimia and anorexia are both very dangerous disorders, but bulimia can be more dangerous because it goes untreated longer than anorexia due to normal body weight and very secretive activity. Though, anorexia has longer lasting permanent side effect than bulimia. The disorders overlap because anorexics often binge and purge, and bulimics often exercise...
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