Eating Disorders

            Your body is the vehicle to your dreams.
            
             In the world we are living in today, it's not surprising if you feel pressured into looking a certain way in order to be happy or even healthy. However, there may be things that you"re subconsciously doing to attain that "ideal look," where it could easily spin out of control. This could lead to a distorted body image or even a serious, life-threatening eating disorder. Do you spend time wishing parts of your body looked different? Are you unhappy with your reflection in the mirror? Do you skip meals, or avoid eating in front of people? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be experiencing an eating disorder or a poor view of the "ideal" body image. Did you know that it is estimated that one in every five girls, at one point in their lives, has experienced signs of bulimia? Also, it is interesting to note that 25% of seven to ten year olds have dieted to lose weight. With these alarming statistics, we must take the necessary precautions to decrease the occurrences of eating disorders. .
             Think of all the times you have said or over-heard the phrases, "I am fat," "my butt looks big in this," and, "I wish I had her body." This is how many people view themselves. Body image is just that. It is the mental picture we have about the way we think we look. This is our opinion and our feelings about our size, shape and weight, which have been severely influenced by the media to merely sell products. .
             An eating disorder occurs when a person's attitude about food, weight and body size leads to very rigid eating and exercise habits. This jeopardises their health, happiness and safety. An eating disorder may begin as a way to lose a few pounds or get into shape, but these behaviours may quickly get our of control and become an obsession. There are four types of eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating and Obesity. .
             Anorexia Nervosa is a cycle of self-starvation where the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, thus, the body is forced to slow down it's processes to conserve energy.