Distorted perception of one's own body is considered to be a mental issue which ultimately leads to a variety of physical problems. Eating disorders, as those are called, even though usually associated with women, are a serious threat for both sexes' health and development.
The influence of the famous happens to be the most prevalent cause of such condition, especially among young people. Teenagers and young adults, to whom healthly nutrition is crucial, tend to mimic their idols' physical image, which often also includes trying to achieve a similar body shape. Celebrities, who more often than not have gone through numerous plastic surgeries and used, not necessarily cheap or even safe, drugs supposed to help them lose weight, usually lie that their physique is natural - causing the fans to start a rigorous diet that has not been approved by a specialist, or even starve themselves (which is the main symptom of anorexia).
The impact of others appears to be an important factor entailing an eating disorder; in many cases, a person whose love interest is attracted to skinny people (or even openly states that they find unhealthy low weight attractive) tries to draw their attention by dieting and drastically changing their body shape in a short period of time. Such process usually involves excessive exercising or forcing consumed food out of the body - a characteristic behaviour of a victim of bulimia.
The need for acceptance and praise also plays a role in developing an eating disorder. One might believe that changing their physical apperance is what is essential to gaining friends or even improving their social status. In this case, counting calories and exercising is likely to become an obsessive behaviour, continuing for a time long enough to cause health problems and affect mental functions.
Finally, being even slightly overweigth can result in a low self-esteem. Instead of seeking professional help, a person desperate to feel comfortable in their own body might start to force it to look differently, without considering any possible negative consequences of their way of achieving the goal. Such irresponsibility is a major and characteristic obstacle in overcoming unhealthy eating habits.
Causes of eating disorders are not intricate and do not differ much from one another - the opinion and influence of others is usually the key factor in developing them. Effects, however, vary in intensity, and can affect multiple aspects of one's health.
Anorexia and bulimia result in severe problems with internal organs, such as heart and liver, as well as with a bone structure, leading to multiple fractures from minor injures; smaller changes, like weakened hair and purple spots on the skin are present too. The disorders also disturb a mental well-being, forcing the sufferer to strictly count calories, weight themselves daily, and induce a manic fear of gaining even a little weight. False perception of one's own body, a result of the said obsessions, prevents the person from recognizing the hazardous state they are in, which, at the same time, allows them to continue dieting. If left without a specialist's supervision and help, a victim of an eating disorder is almost certain to die from malnutrition and organ failure.
In conclusion, the enviroment and level of self-esteem of the person play an important role in triggering unhealthy eating habits. Whether it is the desire to look more like a certain public figure, or the effect of detracting self-values, both bulimia and anorexia can result in a variety of physical and mental struggles.
