Exploring Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Pica in Biology

This biology assignment delves into the realm of eating disorders, specifically focusing on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and pica. It begins by defining eating disorders as psychological conditions impacting eating habits and then explains the potential positive impacts of a balanced diet and proper nutrient intake. The assignment details the characteristics of each disorder, including symptoms such as excessive weight monitoring, food restriction in anorexia, binge eating in bulimia, and the consumption of non-food items in pica. It further explores the physical and psychological effects of these disorders, such as bone thinning, infertility, and the development of fine hair in anorexia, and discusses the potential negative impacts, including genetic predispositions and related health issues like obesity and thyroid problems. The assignment also identifies behavioral signs of eating disorders, such as meal skipping, restrictive diets, and excessive focus on healthy eating, providing a comprehensive overview of these complex conditions.

`````
1.1 Identify eating disorders
Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy
eating habits to develop. They might start with an obsession with food, body
weight, or body shape
1.2 Explain the identified eating disorder
Anorexia nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is likely the most well-known eating disorder.
It generally develops during adolescence or young adulthood and tends to affect
more women than men
Bulimia nervosa: Bulimia nervosa is another well-known eating disorder. Like
anorexia, bulimia tends to develop during adolescence and early adulthood and
appears to be less common among men than women.
Pica: Pica is another eating disorder that involves eating things that are not
considered food.
1.3 Explain the signs and symptoms of the identified eating disorders
People with anorexia generally view themselves as overweight, even if they’re
dangerously underweight. They tend to constantly monitor their weight, avoid
eating certain types of foods, and severely restrict their calories. People with
bulimia frequently eat unusually large amounts of food in a specific period of time.
Individuals with pica crave non-food substances, such as ice, dirt, soil, chalk, soap,
paper, hair, cloth, wool, pebbles, laundry detergent, or corn starch.
1.4 Explain possible effects of having an eating disorder
Anorexia can be very damaging to the body. Over time, individuals living
with it may experience the thinning of their bones, infertility, brittle hair and nails,
and the growth of a layer of fine hair all over their body. On the other hand, Binges
can happen with any type of food but most commonly occur with foods the
individual would normally avoid.
2.1 Explain things that can have a positive effect on an individual
If the person is eating balanced diet and he intakes proper amount of
nutrients, then there are no chances of such people to suffer from eating
disorders.
2.2 Explain issues that may have a negative impact upon an individual
The main cause of eating disorder is genetics. If a person has this problem
in genes, then there is no way of removing this disorder. Due to rigorous eating,
people sometimes suffer from obesity, thyroid, etc.
2.3 Explain reasons for eating disorders
Skipping meals or making excuses for not eating
Adopting an overly restrictive vegetarian diet
Excessive focus on healthy eating
Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats
Biology eating disorders