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Could You Be At Risk For An Eating Disorder?

By: Kim Archer There must be some reason why some girls are never happy with the way their bodies look while other girls are always comfortable in their own skins. Why is this? There are many factors, and self esteem issues are only one of the possibilities.

Gender is an issue. Eating disorders are more common in women than in men, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of boys and young men who have developed the same eating disorders that their female peers experience; both anorexia and bulimia are seen.

Age may be a factor but not necessarily the only determinant. Anyone can suffer from an eating disorder, and they can arise in middle-aged people. Most victims can trace the roots of their disorder to their teens or early twenties.

If someone near to you has an eating disorder, such as a close relative, your chances of following the same path increase. You might think such a situation would convince you of the dangers, but too often it can make such behavior seem perfectly acceptable instead.

An eating disorder can easily strike those with an obsessive compulsive disorder - it's just another way to exert control over their lives. Similarly, women who are depressed or anxious are more likely to have an eating disorder.

Another risk factor is having a fixation with exercise. If you're overdoing it at the gym or you participate in competitive athletics, then you could be more likely to develop an eating disorder because you incorrectly think that depriving your body of food will improve your performance.

And then there are the societal pressures that impact your self image to a huge extent. If your mom or sister frequently remarks on your less-than-perfect body and hints that you could lose a few pounds, even with a teasing approach, things can take a terrible twist into an eating disorder that destroys your body.

To prevent yourself from developing or further involving yourself in an eating disorder lifestyle, youll want to take action if you fit any of these profiles. Discuss this issue with your physician and have him or her help you determine what would be considered a healthy weight and diet for your particular body type.

Don't pay attention to the negative voices that try to sway you. Develop your self confidence and hang out with upbeat people who don't constantly belittle you.

Also, don't fall into the mindset that there is something wrong with you if you don't look exactly like the models on the covers of magazines. Remember two things: First, most people do NOT look like this and many of these models do not look like this in real life! Second, even these same models will tell you that they are grateful for digital photo technology for making it possible for their own imperfections to be covered up for these photos.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Kim Archer writes about women's wellness. She is publisher of The Internet Spa, where you'll find up-to-date information to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit.

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