Eating Disorders

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An increasing number of college students are obsessed with their bodies and food intake, which can lead to conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. Anorexia is characterized by self-induced starvation, extreme preoccupation with food, and a body weight less than 85 percent of a healthy weight. Bulimia is characterized by cycles of bingeing (eating large amounts of food) and purging by vomiting, abusing laxatives and/or diuretics, exercising excessively, and fasting. People with a binge eating disorder do not purge the calories after the binge. Individuals with binge eating disorder tend to eat secretively and are often clinically obese.

Anyone who is struggling with an eating disorder should seek medical attention. Eating disorders can be life-threatening if they are not treated by a health care professional. Contact your student health center for more information or contact the National Eating Disorder Association (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org or 1-800-931-2237) to find a professional in your area who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders.

IN THE MEDIA

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In The Media

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Are Doritos the Perfect Food? Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter Michael Moss’s article “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food” was published in the New York Times on February 20, 2013. Adapted from his book Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us, published in spring 2013 by Random House, Moss’s article explores food science and how companies have worked to get consumers addicted to their products. For instance, Moss explains how Doritos are the perfect food for gaining “stomach share.” In short, you can eat Doritos forever and never, ever feel full.

For Reflection: What is your reaction to learning that companies have intentionally developed junk food that is addictive? Do you think that this practice is justifiable? Why or why not?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all.