I decided to create a poster, titled “Eating Disorders and their Relationship with Hormones”. I chose this theme as I gained an insight from my reading into the effects that hormones have on how people deal with food. I believe the topic of eating disorders is so important because, not only does it affect millions of people, but it is also an area of science that we simply do not know enough about.

We are aware that hormones play an important role with food ingestion and digestion from what scientists have discovered about the endocrine system, but why don’t we know how to treat people with eating disorders?

Of course, if it were as simple as prescribing drugs to rid of them of these disorders, we would be there by now. Unfortunately, countless other factors come into play. Nature vs nurture, hormones vs psychology and the fact that food is not just something we ‘need’ but it is also something that we ‘want’ makes it all that more complex. Therefore, I chose to create an exhibit on this topic as I believe there needs to be more awareness about eating disorders and how we can take the necessary steps in the near future to help people who suffer every day.

I was inspired, from my reading, to further investigate endocrinology and the role that hormones play with appetite, obesity, starvation and other issues and concerns surrounding the human ingestion of food.

Food seems like such a simple part of everyone’s lives but, when you delve deeper into the hormonal and even psychological control that our bodies have over us when we eat, or do not eat, you realise the vast range of issues that these factors can lead to in so many people. Most people eat when they are hungry and stop when they are not but, for some, it is not that simple at all.

My reading showed me how hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid gland issues largely contribute to eating disorders. In the past, overweight people were looked down on as there was a preconceived notion that obesity was caused by overeating. We know now that this is not always the case.

Research has led to vital discoveries in this topic, which can explain why some people always feel hungry and why others find it difficult to put on any weight at all. There is so much about eating disorders and the science behind how our bodies react to food that is completely misunderstood. Therefore, I was inspired to create an exhibit of this ever so relevant and present theme, as I believe more people should be aware of what’s actually going on inside our bodies when we have problems with food.