Eating Disorders

If you know of someone that is enduring an eating disorder, there is help for such individuals. An eating disorder can be dangerous and it can ultimately lead to poor health and death. There are three primary eating disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, and Overeating. Although the latter is rarely viewed as an eating disorder, but because overeating can lead to dangerous health effects, it too must be counted among eating disorders.

Anorexia is a disease in which the victim starves themselves. The starvation is brought on by an extremely poor body image and the person, although they are in no way overweight, believes themselves to be fat. In a continued effort to lose weight, a victim of Anorexia will go on a starvation diet, depriving themselves of all the nourishment a healthy body requires. They will also induce vomiting when forced to eat, begin strange and overly cumbersome exercise regimens and most of all, will lie and hide their actions from others. The reason an individual with Anorexia will lie is because the disease makes them desire the thinnest body possible and they will do whatever they have to to keep thin.

Anorexia is a disorder that affects both males and females, although it is more commonly reported in females. The symptoms of Anorexia can be revealed in the sudden appearance of dramatic weight loss, brittle hair, extremely dry skin from lack of nourishment, the individual partaking in bizarre eating habits (like counting how many times they chew their food), and a poor image of the self.

Bulimia, a cousin to Anorexia, is the result of a poor body image. Yet, with Bulimia the victim will eat massive amounts of food and then work feverishly to rid the body of the food that has been ingested. Bulimia victims will use laxatives, will induce vomiting and will abuse diuretics, all to rid themselves of the food or drink they have taken in. Like Anorexia, Bulimia is extremely dangerous and can eventually result in death. The imbalances created within the body from binging and purging can ultimately affect the heart of the victim, the esophagus can be damaged or ruptured from repeated acts of vomiting, and the enamel can erode from the victims teeth because of repeated vomiting.

Overeating is also a disorder. Some people engage in overeating as a way to quell emotions they have difficulty dealing with while other individuals may overeat because of an addiction to certain foods. Obviously, overeating can result in weight gain and significant weight gain has consequences of its own. For example, high blood pressure, heart trouble, diabetes, and respiratory problem can be caused by obesity.
There are associations aimed at battling disorders that evolve from issues with eating. Such organizations aim to educate the public about the different disorders that exist, the symptoms associated with such disorders and what steps should be taken to help people with disorders that have evolved from food issues. Thus, there is help available for individuals in need and the sooner the victims of such disorders get the help they need, the better off they will be.
A normal person eats according to its hunger and stops eating when he feels the signal of satisfaction. A normal person cannot eat more than his capacity but on the other side an eating disorder is when a person overeats or refuses to eat in order to satisfy a psychic need and not a physical need. The person doesn’t listen to bodily signals or perhaps is not even aware of them.

There are mainly three kinds of eating disorders that are classified as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Anorexia is associated with a distorted body image; thinking you are fat even though you are underweight. Serious health consequences can result from literal starvation. Bulimia is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating and purging. Binge eating disorder refers to a pattern of consumption of large amounts of food, even when a person is not hungry.

These disorders are now affecting people (both male and female) of all races and socioeconomic groups. Such victims need help and support from professionals and family. If left untreated, these eating disorders cause many physical and emotional problems.

The main symptoms of anorexia are unusual eating habits or refusal to eat normally; excessive weight loss, extreme physical activity; hair, nail or skin problems, depression and low self-esteem, denial of the problem. The symptoms of Bulimia are abuse of laxatives or diuretics, secretive behavior regarding eating habits, weight fluctuations, depression and denial of the problem.

The common circumstances that contribute to the development of eating disorders include: family problems or a troubled home life, major life changes, social problems, trauma. The other psychological factors include low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and anger. The interpersonal factors include troubled family and personal relationship, difficulty in expressing emotions and feelings.

The treatment for such disorders is very necessary and it consists of a number of components, which include comprehensive assessment, psychiatric evaluation, coordinated care plan, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and medication.

Eating disorders are not just about food and weight. Often, eating disorders will result from a series of long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. People who have an eating disorder will use food as a way of being able to feel as though they have control on their daily lives. For many, the pain of a past or current event is too overwhelming to cope with and so an eating disorder can be a way of coping with the situation by feeling "in control". However, this disease will, in fact, damage a persons physical and emotional health, self-esteem, and sense of competence and control.

There are numerous psychological factors that can contribute to an eating disorder. Some of these include feeling inadequate, depression, anxiety, anger and loneliness. All of these factors result in the person not feeling in control of their life.

From a personal and relationship standpoint, individuals may have difficulty expressing feelings and emotions, may have been bullied and teased and may have a history of physical or sexual abuse.

From a societal perspective it is important to note the impact that the media plays in influencing young people in regard to body shape and look. This pressure that teens feel to fit in with the right "look" can have a dramatic effect, resulting in an obsessive approach to appearance, weight, dieting, calories and so on.

The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Scientists are currently examining a link between possible biochemical and biological causes of eating disorders. It has been found that in some individuals with eating disorders, the chemicals in the brain that control hunger, appetite and digestion have become imbalanced.

Eating disorders can become a destructive disease if not treated so if you suspect that a loved one is displaying any characteristics related to an eating disorder, seek professional help straight away. Research has shown that when dealt with early with intense treatment, eating disorders can be overcome. If left untreated, they can be fatal.
Eating disorders are characterized by a preoccupation with weight that results in severe disturbances in eating and other behaviors. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Other variations of eating disorders occur, such as purging without bingeing, chewing and spitting without purging, and anorexic behavior with less severe weight loss. Most people with eating disorders are females. Males also can develop eating disorders, but do so less frequently. The exception is binge-eating disorder, which appears to affect almost as many males as females. Treatments for eating disorders may involve nutrition education, psychotherapy, family counseling and medications. Signs and symptoms The signs and symptoms of eating disorders vary with the particular type of eating disorder, which include: ? Anorexia nervosa. Essentially self-starvation, this disorder involves a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight. In severe cases, anorexia can be life-threatening. ? Bulimia nervosa. This involves repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by ways of trying to purge the food from the body or prevent expected weight gain. People can have this condition and be of normal weight.

Anorexia nervosa

The signs and symptoms of anorexia include:

• Weight loss, sometimes achieved by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, use of diuretics or exercise
• Refusal to maintain normal body weight, sometimes weighing 15 percent or more below normal body weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight ? Negatively altered body image
• In females, menstrual changes or the absence of menstruation
• Anxious or ritualistic behavior at mealtimes
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Irregular heart rate
• Baby-fine hair covering the body (lanugo)
• Mild anemia
• Brittle nails and hair
• Low blood pressure

 

Bulimia nervosa

The signs and symptoms of bulimia include:

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Feeling that you cant control your eating behavior
• Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack
• Following a binge with efforts to prevent weight gain — such as self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or other medications, fasting or excessive exercise
• Unhealthy focus on your body shape and weight
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Constipation
• Damaged teeth and gums from gastric acid contained in vomit
• Swollen cheeks from regular vomiting
• Irregular heartbeat

 

Binge-eating disorder

The signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:

• Recurrent episodes of compulsive overeating not followed by purging
• No control over eating behavior
• Feelings of shame or guilt
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Gallbladder disease
• Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Its often difficult to distinguish between an eating disorder and the whims and fads of adolescence. Parents need to be alert to sustained changes in dietary habits, not the occasional quirks that are part of growing up. Many teenage girls, and some teenage boys, go on diets to lose weight and stop dieting after a short time. As a parent, be careful not to mistake occasional dieting with an eating disorder. However, dieting can be a problem when your child stops gaining weight during pre-adolescent years, because your child should be gaining as much as 10 pounds a year.

Other behaviors that may indicate your child has a potential eating disorder:

• Not wanting to eat meals with the family
• Frequent, long visits to the bathroom during or just after meals — your teenage child may run water to obscure the sound of induced vomiting
• Excessive exercise or preoccupation with weight

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