Is it an actual disease, like genetically, or just us being "conceited" and trying to fit the "norm" and be skinny. I read somewhere in one of my Woman Studies course readers, that it was highly believed for many years, that anorexia was just a mental and social thing that girls or boys dealt with because of the social barrings and peer pressure. But like recently they discovered like this anorexia thing is an actual disease? I'm not all so sure, but just want to know your take on this.

Moved to Health

It's a disease, from what I know.

it's an actual disease. from what i remember from psych class, i think it's a psychosomatic disease

I think Anorexia and Binge Eating tend to be more of a pyschological kind of disease while Bulimia is kinda more...social?

I;m not sure how to word this right.

Moved to Health.

move it back >_>

i think this belongs in the Health section though.

It could also go in Debate.

lol.
okay where would you prefer i move it to?

This is on an exam i'm sitting tomorrow, so i hope for my sake that this is right

Its a mental disorder. People with anorexia nervosa often look in the mirror and see themselves as massively obese, even when their BF% is dangerously low. Its thought eating disorders originate more from expectations than peer pressure. If parents and teachers often have high expectations for someone, they may feel that they have to be perfect. They'll never feel like they have the perfect body and will keep losing weight to try and look better.

since anorexics see themselves as obese, I wonder how they see actual obese people.

I have an extremely bad eating disorder, and I have no clue how to stop it. Instead of staying away from food, I gravitate towards it.

^ Me too.

When I was in middle school I became really depressed and as a result I didn't want to eat. I got really skinny and pretty unhealthy. I don't think it's just genetics. It's a combination of enviroment, self worth, and having a distorted view of yourself.

Tung, I think it could feasibly be a bit of both. Social pressure to be thin is HUGE (probably not the best choice of words. haha). I can completely understand why it would cross someone's mind, especially a young female.

I'm not sure if it's a hereditary thing or not, I'd have to do some research on that. I think that perhaps someone might be more inclined than someone else to act upon the thought of anorexia or bulimic behavior and if they're genetically predisposed, they would be more apt to have an eating disorder than your average teenager wanting to be thin and thinking something along the lines of "maybe if I puked my food", but never act upon it.

that's what i've always wondered.

Exactly what I was thinking Dee.

Another factor is that there are a lot of bad female role models out there. Actresses and singers who make a big deal out of their crash diets and size zero status. What kind of message is that sending out to teenage girls? Women in the media are often portrayed as underweight, yet men are nearly always shown as ideal weight, with lots of muscle.

*bumps*

As other people above me have pointed out, it is an actual disorder. The idea that it is just conceit or something of the sort is not true when...how do I say.. the person actually has anorexia or bulemia (or both, which can occur).

It is a form of control for many (if not all-I am not sure) of those that suffer from one or both of the eating disorders.

The terms disease vs. disorder for them have always sounded iffy to me though. Because lots of the time they're acquired because of social pressures. Others kind of pretend to have them and eventually DO have them. Then others have it at a very young age just because of how their brains are wired.

I dunno, disease sounds like something you catch, like malaria...

I think it can be both :S
I think for some people it may be mental, from like, seeing models and wanting to be that thin etc etc.

But in my case, my mum had anorexia when she was my age, and ive been struggling with my thoughts and compulsions, so.. I think both.

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^ Well, I think there deffinitely is a genetic predisposition to developing an eating disorder. But there is also a genetic predisposition to depression, and depression may be a cause for an eating disorder.

I do agree that images in the media put a lot of pressure on young girls. I hate seeing stick thin models. I think that a fit and toned body is beautiful. Not a girl who is ready to pass out with sunk in eyes.

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