Serious affects of eating disorders

Across the nation Americans are feeling the affect of an increased number on the scale and the pressure to be thin. Media images of rail thin celebrities and new diet trends equate size to success. Stigmas against overweight individuals exist in our society and can be associated with shame, self blame, low self-esteem and depression. These conditions can impair social functioning, leading to negative stereotypes and discrimination. Eating disorders develop due to a variety of emotional, social, biological and environmental factors. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating have become more prevalent among all age groups and genders, not just young women.