Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders highly prevalent among the teenagers.   Anorexia Nervosa is a condition which affects individuals who are looking for perfection of their body shape, but which has devastating psychological and the physiological effects on the individual. It is usually characterized by extreme low body weight and distortion of the body image.Most of those who become anorexic have an obsessive fear of gaining excess weight resulting to various voluntary easting disorders including starvation, purging, excessively engaging in physical exercises to create a negative energy balance, and other measures like diet pills or the use of diuretic drugs.The condition has also shown a gender dimension where female adolescents are mostly affected although research shows that about 10% of anorexia condition has been diagnosed in males.  The condition comes with various neurobiological, psychological, and sociological effects which may lead to the death of the victim. While individuals may have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, anorexia nervosa may have severe negative effects more than what can be attributed to being overweight.What is anorexia nervosa?While the battle ranges on fighting the rising case of overweight, there are more efforts directed on the opposite direction.   The rising cases of anorexia nervosa especially among our teenagers has been a matter of concern   to health experts promoting action on some social events like modeling competition which promote anorexic conditions especially one teenage girls (Ellison, 1999).Anorexia nervosa, which is simply referred to as anorexia, is eating disorder which affects individuals who have obsessive fear of becoming overweight.   It is a psychological disorder which goes beyond eating disorder. Apart from fearing begin overweight, it is also an unhealthy way of trying to cope with various emotional problems, perfectionism and the desire to have control.Anorexic indi viduals usually equate themselves with how thin they are.   While it starts out as a simple way to diet, the condition may spill out of control and become chronic therefore difficult to overcome (Simpson, 2002).  Anorexic individual tend to maintain a body weight that is far below their normal body mass index, which is a ratio of individual height and weight, and which is used to assess the weight status of individuals.   In some extreme cases, individuals becoming skeletally thin although due to psychological disorder they think they are still fat and therefore continue losing more weight. This extreme thinning comes with various health effects including psychological and physiological effects.Causes of anorexia nervosaAlthough there is no known cause of anorexia nervosa, it is postulated that biological, psychological and social cultural factors at play which leads to development of the condition.  Ã‚   Let us look at these factors.Biological predisposition is one of the l eading factors which lead to development of the condition. Research has found out that teenagers with parents or older siblings who have developed the condition are at a higher risk.   This may indicate a genetic link to the development of the condition (Ellison, 1999). Studies of twins have been used to support this possible genetic link.There is a probability that individual have genetic component towards perfectionism, sensitivity and perseverance which are traits associated with the condition.   However, there is no evidence that serotonin, which is the hormone associated with depression, has a role in development of the condition.Psychological factors have been explored far and wide.   It is postulated that it is possible that people with anorexic individuals have psychological and emotional characteristics which may predispose the individual to the condition.These individuals tend to have obsessive-compulsive personality traits which may influence them to stick to a stri ct diet despite their continued hunger (Ellison, 1999).   They may also have an extreme drive to perfectionism.For social cultural factor, research has found out that the modern western culture reinforces the desire to have a thin body.   The media has created the desire to have waif-like images of models and actors who become role model for the teens.   Peer pressure may also have a factor to play (Simpson, 2002).How does Anorexia Nervosa evolve?Anorexia nervosa is a chronic condition which evolves in different stages.   An understanding of these stages is important to assist physicians to identify the most appropriate intervention that will be appropriate intervention.The first stage is the identification of weight problem, which is an obsessive problem although the individual may not be overweight. At this stage the individual begin dieting. The stage may last four to six months. The mind of the victim is occupied with the need to lose weight and control the body. Close f riends and family members are helpless to the victim.The next stage is the stagnation stage. At this juncture, the weight loss reaches its bottom and the individual cannot lose more weight (Lucas, 2005).   This is a long period which is usually filled with frustrations individuals want to lose more weight which they cannot and at the same time they are not ready to gain weight.The third stage is regaining of weight.   In this period, the individual fails to gain more control of her body as body cells respond to starvation. This is usually one of the most terrible periods for the individual as one cannot have more control of the body.The individual may have bulimic episodes but continued weight gain makes one frustrated and unhappy which is followed by self hate and sometimes depression (Lucas, 2005). The individual seems to improve physically but psychologically feels incompetent setting in the paradox of anorexia.The last stage is confronting the reality.   At this stage, the individual is physically correct and their weight become normal again and has no more bulimic episodes or if present they are less intense. At this stage, individuals are able to accept themselves but with help from counselors, friends, and family members. (Lucas, 2005)

Genetically modified food Essay

War, famine, disease, hate, overpopulation; these are all constant struggles that humanity must face every day. How to address these problems so that the world will be able to continue in a stable, productive way is constantly on the minds of scientist, politicians, peacekeepers and the everyday person. The issue I’m choosing to discuss is starvation. With our population ever increasing, how are we going to provide billions of people the proper nutrition? Do we continue using the farming traditions of the past, or do we look to technological advancements and genetic modification for the answers? With technology ever changing, our knowledge of genetics is growing and all the while farmland shrinking. When farmers are producing less harvest per year and having to use more and more pesticides to keep their crops alive, exploring the possibilities of genetic modification (GM) within food is a wise choice. In fact, I’d say it was the way of the future. GM foods have several benefits and in many ways are better and more efficient than sustainable agriculture crops. Scientists have been studying agricultural biotechnology for decades, looking for the best ways to advance our lives. It involves many complex procedures such as moving key genes from one organism to another, crosspollination and selective breeding of plants. These and other processes create beneficial traits within the plant species that allow it to grow and survive better than standard, farm grown produce. Some plants have become resistant to disease and can actually repel potentially devastating insects; this removes the necessity for pesticides. Sustainable agriculture is the other proposed solution to solving the world’s food crisis. Sustainable agriculturists believe that with proper irrigation methods, natural fertilizers and insecticides crops of equal yield can be produced, matching that of bioengineered foods. GM food products are already a part of our every day life. â€Å"Recent estimates show that 60-70% of foods in the U. S. markets contain GE ingredients, meaning they contain at least a small quantity of some crop that has been genetically engineered. (Genetically Modified Food & Human Health). † As our knowledge grows and technology advances they will only become more integrated into our society. Biotechnology has the possibility to remove harmful allergens by altering the plant’s protein structure. â€Å"†¦ Genetic modification can be used to remove or change proteins that are known allergens in plant foods such as the soybean. Recent research has demonstrated that a particular protein causing soybean allergies can be eliminated by modern biotechnology. (Genetically Modified Food & Human Health). † â€Å"†¦ Vast areas of irrigated land have become waterlogged. Chemical fertilizers have run off into rivers and lakes causing ugly, slimy blooms of algae. Crop diseases such as late blight in potatoes, the virulent fungus responsible for the Irish famine, appear to be spreading again†¦ (Will the World Starve? : Feast and Famine)† These are only some of the effects from poor attempts at sustainable agriculture. As afore mentioned, with GM, crops can be made resistant to disease, able to grow faster and stronger, and without the need of harmful chemical fertilizers or pesticides (Will the World Starve? : Feast and Famine). As our population grows exponentially and our farmable land is continuously being reduced we need to find a solution that takes up less space while at the same time providing quality food in the amounts required. Less farmland is available due to commercialization and soil nutrient atrophy. This doesn’t mean that other plots couldn’t be converted into farmland. â€Å"Farm acreage could increase by 10% over the next 40 years†¦ †¦ In many cases it would mean destroying forests or other sensitive habitats†¦ (Will the World Starve? : Feast and Famine). † Protagonists of sustainable agriculture argue that GM foods are unhealthy, unsafe to eat and may have adverse effects in the future. They say that the problem isn’t a lack of food, it’s the poor countries inability to afford the necessary provisions. They also say that, â€Å"If done properly†¦ † sustainable agriculture will be sufficient enough. In response, â€Å"Currently, genetically modified foods on the market are considered safe to eat and no adverse effects have been reported since their introduction in 1995 (Genetically Modified Food & Human Health). † In the short term, GM research will be expensive and costs will need to be recouped from the consumer, but in the long run food will last longer, be more nutritious and cost less to grow greater yields. Once we are able to make this technology available to third world countries at an affordable rate they will be able to prosper more rapidly than if they were to keep using the old sustainable agriculture methods. The process of sustainable agriculture requires a large amount of land and skilled farmers and laborers. If done improperly the land will quickly loose its ability to sustain life. This would require farmers to have much more education in the areas of irrigation, natural pesticides and herbicides, as well as increased research on global climate conditions and the future of these necessities. Why require all this ever-changing knowledge and research when we can create a nutritional plant that is doesn’t require these processes and is immune to natural hazards? In the long run, this would seem the better decision. Though we are still in the early stages of genetic modification, I believe that this is a science with unlimited possibilities which will inevitably benefit mankind in many ways. Discovering and learning about new processes takes time, funding, caution and diligence. The art of farming has been around for centuries and the process has worked in the past, but now today’s society has different necessities and newer knowledge. The past is just that, the past. It’s now time to meet the future.

A Lesson Before Dying

He tagged along with two men who were on their way to a liquor store. The storeowner began arguing with them, and a shootout occurred. The storeowner and the two men died, and Jefferson was left at the scene of the crime alone with the gun. He was arrested and tried for murder. Jefferson’s lawyer argues in court that Jefferson is nothing but a hog, and therefore incapable of committing such a crime. The jury still brings back a guilty verdict. Upon hearing the lawyer’s speech, Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma, wishes for Jefferson to die like a man, not a hog. She asks Grant for help, as he is an educated man. He despises the wrongdoings done to his fellow black men, but he does not want to get involved in Jefferson’s case. However, after immense amounts of force from his aunt Lou, he agrees to try to help Jefferson. Jefferson resists Grant’s attempts to reach him. Grant spends many uncomfortable visits in the cell with Jefferson. When Grant attempts to teach Jefferson about dignity, Jefferson insists that dignity is for humans, not hogs. He imitates a hog and tries to anger Grant with ignorance, but Grant keeps his cool. Each visit ends in failure, but Grant continues to try to reach Jefferson. On his fourth visit, Grant gets Jefferson’s attention with a conversation about his final meal. Jefferson admits that he wants a gallon of ice cream because he almost never had any. This conversation begins to break down the barrier between Grant and Jefferson. Grant buys Jefferson a small radio and brings him a notebook to write down whatever thoughts come to his mind. Jefferson promises that he will, and by Grant’s next visit, Jefferson has filled a page with thoughts on the difference between hogs and men. Amidst Grant’s visits with Jefferson, he regularly visits with his girlfriend Vivian for advice and comfort. Grant continually suggests that they run away from their hometown and their past in the South. The Reverend Ambrose is unable to reach Jefferson, and instead asks Grant to save Jefferson’s character and soul. Jefferson asks Grant if he believes in heaven and Grant replies that he does not, but his atheism does not make him a good man. In fact, Jefferson will save even Grant’s soul if he carries the cross like Jesus did. Grant explains that the blacks in the quarter have always been enslaved to white men, and that when Jefferson was called a hog, the entire black community was degraded even more. Now, Jefferson has the opportunity to stand up for his race. In March, the governor sets the execution date for two weeks after Easter. People young and old from the quarter come to Jefferson’s cell to speak to him. Jefferson realizes that he has become much more than an ordinary man, let alone a hog, and that his death will represent much more than he thought. Grant cannot find it in himself to attend the execution. At the time of the execution, he orders his students to kneel at their desks and pray for Jefferson. After the execution is over, Grant finds himself numb, heavyhearted, and crying. The protagonist and narrator of the novel is an African American school teacher in his twenties. Grant is intelligent and witty, but also a bit hypocritical and depressed. Spending his life in an extremely racist community has made him bitter. He has no faith in himself, society, or his religion-or lack thereof. He does not believe anything will ever change in the south, and that escape is the only option. He fears getting involved in possible lost causes. This attitude makes him demean responsibility, and he is testy against his aunt for forcing him to help Jefferson. Over the span of the novel, however, he learns to accept responsibility for himself, for his actions towards other people, and for his role as an educator and leader for change in his community. An honest, quiet, young black man of below-average intelligence, Jefferson is a normal citizen of Bayou. When his lawyer calls him a â€Å"hog,† Jefferson takes the name to heart and begins to consider himself a lowly barn animal far less than any human being. He becomes withdrawn and sulky, accepting his death sentence and therefore becoming a symbol of his oppressed people. Grant tries many times to fix Jefferson’s mental state. He believes that Jefferson can become the positive change the black community needs. One of the many themes in A Lesson Before Dying is redemption of one’s death. With its consistent references to Jesus Christ and his crucifixion, this novel implies that a man’s death can be a meaningful and even uplifting to a struggling community. Jefferson has had a quiet life, working as a plantation worker for years and never misbehaving. When convicted for a crime he did not commit, Jefferson is acting like the animal the whites think him. However, his death sentence liberates him, and he finds the strength of the Lord. By the end of the novel, Jefferson understands that by dying like a man, he is more of a man than any of the white men who wrongfully convicted him of murder. He knows that by refusing to surrender his morality in his final moments, he will uplift his community. For these reasons, he walks to his execution with his head up, and witnesses say he is the strongest man in the room. A Lesson Before Dying is a very inspiring novel for many young people on how their lives and the way they carry themselves affects their community. Gaines used commonly spoken southern dialogue in his novel to portray the characters in a very life-like and historical sense. Although the general aspect of the theme was well played throughout the whole story, Gaines’ pacing was entirely too slow for my taste. It seemed like the first fifteen chapters where very repetitive. Grant basically is arguing every chapter with Tante Lou about seeing Jefferson. The book could’ve been reduced in chapter size significantly. Once Grant started going to see Jefferson, however, the plot and action in the story started rolling.

Pursuit of happiness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pursuit of happiness - Essay Example According Jon Krakauer, McCandless was a member of well-off family, belonging to the upper middle class who could not have possibly lacked in material provision (Krakauer, 12). However, he chose to leave this life of comfort, ventured into the wilderness and severed ties with his family immediately after his graduation, only to be discovered dead in 1992 (Krakauer, 7). Henry David Thoreau also sought to separate from the world of abundance and provision, and learnt to live a simple life and a life of self-sufficiency for a period of two years to search for essence of life (Thoreau, 2). Therefore, the actions of these two individuals serves to show that the pursuit for happiness is characterized by separation from material provision, so that an individual can learn the essence of life outside of the comfort that is created by materiality. The materiality concept causes people to lose touch with the essence of life, rather becoming more engrossed in the accumulation of the material wea lth, while failing to celebrate life itself. The tranquility of mind is a basic necessity for achieving true happiness (Pursuit-of-happiness.org, n.p.). The tranquility of mind on the other hand is achievable in a state of solitude. Solitude as a core element of self-awareness and realization is an important component in the pursuit for happiness. The actions of the three outsiders serves to show that solitude is the fundamental step towards deep reflection of life, capable of developing the meaning of life, in a manner that social life cannot be able to do. This is because; social relationships come with responsibilities which hinders free existence and the exploration of leisure (Thoreau, 77). Therefore, it is only by managing to stay away from social relationships that an individual can manage to dream fully, experience unlimited leisure and freedom. The same case is identifiable in the lives of both

Businees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Businees - Essay Example By selecting an individual from this way we will be able to understand this particular topic more clearly. If you cannot think of an firm, individual or industry according to the need, the we can go to Auraria Library and review the Denver Business Journal: Book of Lists, which is annual publication that provides contact information for top ranking companies in Denver, across a range of discipline. But it must be keep in mind that while selecting the data regarding this that the individual who will be choose for the interview must be the founder , co-founder or member of the original management team that started the company. The company must also still be in existence today. The choice of company or sector is completely upon the interviewer. It may be a high wealth company, a small company, a small lifestyle business, or a company that started small but is now experiencing significant growth. 1. First step regarding this is to one has to contact with the desired company or interviewee as soon as possible. Entrepreneurs are busy person. So to get an appointment from a busy person can be a bit difficult job. If positive results are not coming in the first approach then have to try again and again. 3. Now a convenient meeting time and place have to be fixed for both the interviewer and the interviewee. The time must be set in such a way so that the interviewer can get time to prepare the question what is going to be asked in the interview. 2) A recording can be done of the interview with the permission of the entrepreneur. This is so because lots of information can come within half an hour. So if any point is missed by the interviewer he/ she can get it through the recording. The outcome of the interview is iTriage is a consumer health care company founded in 2008 by two emergency medicine physicians. Over 9 million health care consumers

Business and Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business and Accounting - Essay Example I can always listen to music conveniently while at home or at my car. Eventually, I knew I had interest in business making and saving money. For me, learning is not only a process of gaining knowledge, values and skills through formal study but from experiences in working as well. After realizing my interest in the business field, I decided to work for a few months in a company that was owned by my father's friend before going to the United States. Even by just being a receptionist, I learned that it takes a lot of diverse skills such as good communications and sensitivity of other's needs is needed to do a good job in any business. I started working for my father's company as an accounting assistant in year 2005. I was assigned in making simple statements of different accounts and doing money wire transactions to companies that we deal with. Aside from this, I learned to use information systems to track the financial performance of the company. Through work, I discovered more on the enormous potential of the business world. To develop knowledge and skills required in this world, I therefore believe that studying the Business and Economic program offered in the University of California would prepare me to become a successful businessman. I consider leadership as a significant quality that I can contribute to the Universit

Ethics in Group Counseling Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Ethics in Group Counseling - Article Example Ultimately the paper aimed to provide a kind of resource for practitioners interested in implementing group counseling in the school. As a starting point the paper illustrated that family issues are an important topic for group counseling insofar as many children learn aggressive behavior in their home. Moreover the paper postulated that parental abuse also is an important area of focus because substance abuse issues are a serious problem in the home and substance abuse often leads to physical abuse. The article then provided an overview of group counseling. Group interventions can be quite helpful but the question is what format should be utilized. Three main group types were outlined. Education/guidance groups may address social skills issues, Counseling Groups are target towards children with developmental challenges, and therapy groups are used for more severe issues. Group counseling formats incorporate four stages (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing & Adjourning) which are directed towards first establishing a relationship, establishing boundaries, addressing basic rules, developing increased responsibility and recognizing unrecognized issues. The next major section of the paper involves legal & ethical consideration for schools on a definition basis. The paper defined consent, which is permission to participate in counseling (typically from parents). The paper then defined confidentiality which is the legal obligation not to disclose information surrounding treatment. Breaching confidentiality was covered insofar as confidentiality must be broken when a student poses a risk. Special consideration should be given to how groups are selected & formed. Next special consideration was given for which topics should be considered in groups. Lastly the paper covered details around adequate notification, dangerous behavior parental disclosure, dual relationships and counseling notes, Ethical risks and professional