body image media influence

What happens to a person that causes him or her to succumb to an eating disorder? A certain brain chemical called neurotransmitter is deficient with patients suffering from eating disorders. These neurotransmitters control the body's production of hormones. The specific neurotransmitters that affect the hormones that assist in controlling the emotions, physical development, heartbeat and memory are lacking in an eating disorder-stricken person.

Karen Carpenter, one of the Olsen Twins and Calista Flockhart are not just popular for the entertainment they provide audiences but also for having an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. This kind of eating disorder make them starve themselves to the point of reaching a thin body figure far from the appealing level considered by a normal person.

Princess Diana, Sharon Osbourne and Elton John did not only have a share of the limelight because of their social status and entertainment values. These figures are also known of becoming formerly or currently afflicted with bulimia. Bulimia is an eating disorder also known as "gorge and purge". This means that after binge eating, induced vomiting follows.

Those are two of the most known eating disorders afflicting many of those prone to such syndromes. Other less popular forms of eating disorder are the following.

Infection-prompted auto immune subtype of anorexia nervosa in young children is another kind of disorder that affects eating. Although it is not yet an official eating disorder, researchers are starting to take notice of it as one. Recent respiratory infections are somewhat blamed as a symptom of this eating disorder. It is considered a psychiatric disorder among the children that needs to be treated by an expert of this certain pediatric health problem.

Rumination syndrome is a type of eating disorder that involves a person eating, swallowing, and regurgitating food back to the mouth then it will undergo the process of chewing and swallowing again. It may happen to a person voluntarily or involuntarily.

Orthorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is described as an excessive fixation on eating "proper" or "pure" kinds of food. The sufferer of this certain eating disorder avoids junk or processed foods. They are obsessed with what to eat, how to eat, how to prepare, and finding the source of the "proper" food. Relationships, career orientation and personal values become placed at the backseat of the priority list of an orthorexic.

Gourmand syndrome is another form of eating disorder that is about the preoccupation of one with fine food. This obsession is even extended to the food's preparation, purchase, consumption and presentation. It is suspected to be caused by an injury to right-side of the brain.

Prader-Willi syndrome is attributed as an eating disorder of people that could resort to lying, stealing and cheating to get food. It is often confused with bulimia but Prader-Willi is more of a genetic defect.

Night Eating syndrome is another eating disorder that is observed in people with little or no appetite for breakfast. Sufferers of this eating disorder are more interested in eating more food after dinner instead than during that certain meal. Patients of night eating syndrome are officially labeled as one when they show this pattern within two months. Sugar-laden and starchy foods are more consumed by these people than other kinds of foods.

Pica is an eating disorder that is characterized by a strong craving for items that are non-food. These non-food items usually include chalk, dirt, clay, coffee grounds, cigarette ashes, burnt match heads, rust, etc. It is common on pregnant women, family with such ethnic customs, persons with impairments, and people with dietary deficiencies that are found on such non-food items.