Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice. They are often defined as a fatal illness that cause severe disturbances to a person's eating behaviors. Many people who have obsessions with food, body height, and shape may also have signs of an eating disorder. The most common disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. My research strategy is to find out how each of these eating disorders are defined and what can cause people to have the urge to do this to themselves. Research statistics on students, men, women, media, athletes, morality rates, etc. My goal is to bring people to the attention of this horrible disease and how it effects their lifestyle.

In a survey of 185 female students on a college campus, 58% felt pressured to be a certain weight, and of the 83% that dieted for weight loss, 44% were already "normal" weight. Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression. Eating disorders have the highest morality rate of any other mental disorder, the reported number of deaths caused by easting disorders may ultimately die of heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide. Significantly higher rates of eating disorders found in elite athletes, 20%, than in a female group, 9%. Female athletes in aesthetic sports (gymnastics, ballet, figure skating) found to be at the highest risk for eating disorders. I could change my research strategy by adding more personal experiences in my future research.


This article informs you on definitions, signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatments and therapies for eating disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health website explains anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder into further explanation. These disorders affect both genders, although rates among women are 2 one-half  times greater than men. Adequate nutrition, reducing excessive exercise and stopping purging behaviors are the foundations of treatment. Psychotherapies and medications are often used to reduce stress on families and the person who is going through this awful illness. According to NIMH, scientists are finding that eating disorders are caused by a complex of interaction genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. Researchers are using the latest technology and science to better understand eating disorders.
