Reaction Piece: Eating Disorders

I found the topic of eating disorders and body image to impact me the most. Eating disorders interest me because a very good friend of mine was affected by one. It is a disease that a person can never get rid of, and she is constantly fighting the negative feelings associated with it everyday. I have always thought that eating disorders mainly effected woman, so I was shocked by the amount of men that it effects too. I wish this was an issue that did not go so under reported because it would be very interesting to learn just how many people are effected by this disease. It is important for people to learn the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. If a friend or family member can spot these signs before the disease takes over a victim's life, then it could save that person's life. It is also important to educate the population about the detrimental, long lasting effects of an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a terrible reality of our society. The pressures and views of our peers to be skinny and beautiful make it difficult for young men and women to accept their natural beauty.

Additional questions I have about this topic would include: How do I talk to a friend about their eating disorder? How can I help a friend if they do not want help or deny help? What can I do to help a friend overcome their eating disorder?