When Weightloss Becomes Dangerous

Throughout this semester, I have blogged on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This includes the foods you choose to put into your body, and the ways you work out your body. I have always emphasized that I do not set any numerical goals. What I mean by this, is that I don't set any specific weight goal, or measurement goals for my body. I just try to eat the best foods I can, and work out in a safe and healthy manner. I feel that as long as I feel good about my body, that it was I consider healthy.
Some people take a "healthy" lifestyle too far. One may get carried away with restricting themselves and forcing themselves to work out. When someone becomes so obsessed with the idea of weightloss that nothing else seems to matter to them, it is called an eating disorder (Staff). This can become very dangerous and crosses the line of a healthy lifestyle, into an extremely unhealthy lifestyle. Most of the time, this is almost out of a person's control. It is considered a mental illness, instead of a physical one.
There are a few main types of eating disorders that are recognized around the world. The American Psychological Association defines these as:

• Anorexia nervosa: Individuals believe they’re fat even when they’re dangerously thin and restrict their eating to the point of starvation.     
• Bulimia nervosa: Individuals eat excessive amounts of food, then purge by making themselves vomit or using laxatives.  
• Binge eating: Individuals have out-of-control eating patterns, but don’t purge

These disorders can affect anyone, including both men and women. These conditions can be just as dangerous as any physical illness, because the mental illness is so severe that it affects the person's body. Many patients must be admitted to facilities to help them relearn how to react to food and weight loss. In severe cases, medicine is needed to help the patient.
It is important to keep an eye on yourself when starting a diet change. It is easy to slide into an obsessive behavior when dealing with eating and work out habits. Personally, I see many women around me that have become obsessed with counting calories. All they do is make sure they stay under a specific number of calories for the day. This is why I try to avoid keeping numerical goals. I personally believe that it promotes unhealthy ideas concerning my self esteem.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Definition." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 08 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eating-disorders/DS00294>.

"Eating Disorders." Eating Disorders. N.p., 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://www.apa.org/topics/eating/>.