Burden Of A Athlete s Beauty Test - 1204 Words

Juanita Mainoo Professor Warren English 1302-59 31 October 2014 Burden Look to the left. Look to the right. Who do you see? For some people they see other human beings of all shapes and sizes going on about their daily lives. For others, those human are replaced by bars and standards by which they are comparing themselves too. This overwhelming sense to pass society’s beauty test can lead to psychological illnesses known as eating disorders. The reality is that today’s society pushes people, primarily young women, to physically push their body to the point of perfection. As a collegiate athlete there are many times in which I have seen pro-athletes and even my own teammates feel so much of that same pressure to stay competitive, in†¦show more content†¦Purging anorexia is when weight loss is achieved by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics (Help Guide). Life for anorexia patients becomes centered on only one thought, remaining thin and losing weight, although it is never enough. This is related to why 90-95% of anorexia suffe rers are girls and women. Possessing one of the highest death rates of any mental condition, and typically appearing in the early to mid-adolescence, highlights the importance of knowing exactly what anorexia looks like before help can be offered (NEDA). Bulimia, on the other hand, is characterized by the refusal of the patient to maintain a body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for their age or height. This stems from an intense fear of weight gain. Although the exact cause of bulimia is unknown, there are many possible factors that could play a role in bulimia’s development such as biology, societal expectations, and emotional health. Just as anorexia can be divided into two categories, bulimia can be classified as either purging or non-purging. Purging incorporates regularly self-inducing vomit while a non-purging patent will use other methods to rid themselves of calories such as fasting (Mayo Clinic). In contrast to anorexia, a person suffering from bulimia is usually not underweight. In fact, many people with bulimia are overweight or obese