However, some experts are concerned that the nationwide focus on losing weight could be laying the foundation for a huge surge in eating disorders. In particular, experts fear that the obsession with weight loss could increase incidence of the two most common eating disorders - anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Anorexic individuals restrict their caloric intake, often to dangerously low levels. Bulimics, by contrast, binge eat and then purge themselves of the calories consumed by various methods, including self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives and compulsive over-exercising.
Approximately 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States suffer from one of these two disorders, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.
(Source: www.cbsnews.com)
Labels: obesity
Posted By: Aspen Education Group