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Engages the reader by establishing a context, creating a persona, and otherwise developing reader interest
The introductory paragraph establishes the information that is to be presented in the body of the work.

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Develops a controlling idea that conveys a perspective on the subject
The adopted perspective is an overview of eating disorders. The general information one would expect from an overview is present; symptoms, problems, and treatments are all touched upon. As a result, the information included is appropriate.

Includes appropriate facts and details, and Uses a range of appropriate strategies, such as providing facts and details, describing or analyzing the subject, narrating a relevant anecdote, comparing and contrasting, naming, and explaining benefits or limitations;
• The article includes a number of appropriate strategies. Facts and details are used to add weight to each section of writing. For example, the section entitled “Treatment for Anorexia and Bulimia” contains the following sentences, which show that treatment can be effective though not guaranteed: “Twenty percent of the people with serious eating disorders die without treatment. With treatment, that number falls down to two or three percent.” Another strategy employed is the addition of personal quotations. Comments from Adriana Rivera are peppered throughout the piece.

Provides a sense of closure to the writing.
The article attempts to provide a sense of closure by providing a positive outlook for those afflicted with eating disorders. However, this strategy is inappropriate considering the perspective of the article (general overview) and the strategy used in the introduction. A more fitting conclusion would present a summary of the information of the article, and perhaps point out where further information could be found.

Creates an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
This section, "Triggers to Develop an Eating Disorder," would be better-placed earlier in the Feature Article, particularly if the writer wanted the article to follow a chronological format. After introducing the topic, it would be logical to discuss how people develop the disease, how it affects them, how to test for it , and finally how it may be treated.

Uses a range of appropriate strategies, such as providing facts and details, describing or analyzing the subject, narrating a relevant anecdote, comparing and contrasting, naming, and explaining benefits or limitations.
This writer should address the information in this image instead of letting it speak for itself. A brief comparison of men and women would help explain the side of this graphic.

Thin Body, Thick Head

There are many types of diseases and disorders related to food, eating and weight. But in this world, the term “eating disorder” has come to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In this article you will read about both of these disorders and the main facts about them.

Symptoms of Anorexia & Bulimia

Anorexia nervosa is the relentless pursuit of thinness. Nearly all anorexics refuse to maintain normal body weight for their age and height. Anorexics also deny the extreme dangers of low weight and are terrified of becoming fat. Anorexics report feeling fat even when remarkably thin and weight eighty five percent or less than what is expected. In women menstrual periods stop. Young girls with anorexia do not start to menstruate at the proper age. In men, levels of sex hormones fall. And these are just some anorexic symptoms. Bulimia is also known as the diet-binge-purge disorder. Bulimics binge eat most of the time and feel out of control while eating. Bulimics also vomit, misuse laxatives, exercise, or fast to get rid of calories. “I always used to fast, mostly in school. I wouldn't eat anything at lunch,” confides Adriana Rivera, a nineteen-year-old girl who had anorexia for two years. Bulimics may also be promiscuous and abuse alcohol, drugs, and credit cards.

Medical & Psychological Problems

What these people don't comprehend is that both these disorders can take your life if you don't get treatment right away. Anorexia can also originate other medical and psychological problems. Some medical problems that anorexia and bulimia can cause are diabetes, cancer, parasites, irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, kidney damage, or liver damage. They can also cause destruction of teeth, rupture of esophagus, loss of muscle mass, disruption of menstrual cycle, or a weakened immune system. Swollen glands in neck, anemia, fractures and other lifelong problems are also plausible to happen if you have any of these disorders.

Some psychological problems that anorexia and bulimia can cause are depression (which can lead to suicide), anxiety, self-doubt, guilt, shame, fear of discovery or uncontrollable behavior. Anorexia and bulimia can also cause hyper vigilance, obsessive thoughts or preoccupations, feelings of alienation and loneliness, or feels hopeless and vulnerable.

Treatment for Anorexia & Bulimia

Anorexia and bulimia affect primarily people in their teens and twenties, but studies report both disorders in children as young as six and individuals as old as seventy-six. “I was about seventeen and a half years old when I found out I had anorexia,” Adriana Rivera states.

Twenty percent of the people with serious eating disorders die without treatment. With treatment, that number falls down to two or three percent. With treatment about sixty percent of people with eating disorders recover. In spite of treatment, about twenty percent of people with eating disorders make only partial recoveries. The remaining twenty percent do not improve even with treatment. They are seen repeatedly in emergency rooms, eating disorders programs, and mental health clinics. “I've been attending therapy for a little more than a year and it has been going great for me!” declares Adriana.

Tests Needed

There are a number of tests needed in order to find out if you really have any of these disorders. The tests needed are a blood pressure test, a heart examination, and a urine test. You will also need a physical examination, where they look for swollen lymph nodes, masses and other signs of cancer.

People at High Risks of Developing and Eating Disorder

Some people are at high risk for developing an eating disorder because of intense demands for thinness – such as cheerleaders, dancer, gymnasts, models, actresses, sorority members, entertainers, and runners.

Triggers to Develop an Eating Disorder

Some clinicians find that a high percentage of their clients with eating disorders also have histories of physical and sexual abuse.

If people are vulnerable to eating disorders, sometimes all it takes to put the ball in motion is a trigger event that they do not know how to handle. A trigger could be something as seemingly harmless as teasing or devastating as rape or incest. Triggers often happen at times of transition, shock, or loss. Such triggers might include puberty, starting a new school, beginning a new job, death, divorce, marriage, family problems, breakup of an important relationship, critical comments from someone important, graduation into a chaotic and competitive world and so on.

Types of Abuses to Lose Weight

Some eating disordered individuals misuse laxatives as a means of purging. These individuals are under the false impression that through the use of laxatives they can get rid of unwanted calories. Since most of the calories eaten are absorbed by the small intestine right after eating, the method is actually ineffective.

The misuse of laxatives can cause significant and severe medical complications. Abusing laxatives may cause abdominal pain, bloating, fullness and dehydration. Some eating disordered individuals participate in the dangerous activity of using ipecac syrup as a means of purging. Ipecac syrup is a plant extract from the ipecacuanha shrub found in Brazil . When ingested, the syrup stimulates the central nervous system and the stomach, causing the person to vomit. Ipecac's sole purpose is to facilitate vomiting in an individual who has ingested poison or overdosed on medication. The use of Ipecac is for a single use, and the intent is for the syrup to never be used on multiple occasions.

The misuse of Ipecac syrup can cause significant and severe medical complications and even result in death. Karen Carpenter, the recording artist who suffered from an eating disorder, actually died from the misuse of Ipecac syrup that had caused severe damage to her heart, which eventually lead to her going into cardiac arrest and subsequently dying. Complications of the misuse of Ipecac include cardiac arrest, shock, high blood pressure, hemorrhaging, and blackouts.

Individuals suffering from eating disorders sometimes misuse diuretics in an attempt to lose or control their weight. In reality, diuretics do not facilitate weight loss, but instead only reduce the amount of water in the body. Water in your body is vital for the appropriate functioning of all systems. The misuse of diuretics can cause kidney damage, dehydration, headaches, and dizziness.

I know that going through this isn't easy, but if you put your effort into overcoming this, I'm sure that you will conquer this horrible situation. Recognize that you have a problem and get help before it's too late. Remember that you are not alone.

Additional Comments

The adopted perspective is an overview of eating disorders. The general information one would expect from an overview is present; symptoms, problems, and treatments are all touched upon. As a result, the information included is appropriate.
The structure of the article replicates the organizing structure found in newspapers and magazines. The article is presented with columns, with subtites and picture placed fittingly throughout. The structure is appropriate considering that the article is written within this genre.

Overall Score: Approaching/Meets Standards