What are eating disorders?
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Eating disorders are extreme expressions of food and weight issues experienced
by many individuals, particularly girls and women. They include anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Eating disorders are dangerous
behaviors that result in big health problems.
People with eating disorders can do major damage to their bodies. Restricting
what you eat can make you sick—like feeling nauseous, tired, dizzy,
or irritable. If this behavior goes on too long, it can mess up the menstrual
cycle in girls, dry out your hair and skin, and might even cause early
osteoporosis—a disease of the bones. The physical consequences can
become life threatening.
But the physical problems are only half the story. The emotional problems
can be serious too. An unhealthy attitude about food and body image is
the main problem. Some people use food to make themselves feel better;
others stop eating to feel like they are "in control" of their
life. Both behaviors leave people feeling bad about what they are eating.
And worst of all, the more people begin to obsess over what they are eating
(or not eating), the less they care about other things—like school,
friends or other activities.
How do People Get Eating Disorders?
Experts don't know exactly how people develop eating disorders, but it
is likely the result of many factors. Many people who suffer from eating
disorders have low self-esteem. Most people with eating disorders share
certain traits such as a fear of becoming fat, feelings of not measuring
up to other people's expectations, or feeling helpless. Some people with
eating disorders feel they have to be perfect in every way—having
a perfect body, getting perfect grades, and being the perfect child. People
who suffer from eating disorders may be depressed or feel they lack control
over their lives. Sometimes, they also feel like they don't fit in or
don't belong. Sometimes they model their behavior on things they’ve
seen in their family. Often the problems begin when a person is dealing
with a difficult transition, shock, or loss.
People often experiment with different ways to lose as much weight as
possible or to keep their weight down. Here are some examples of unsafe
methods people use to control their weight:
- Diuretics (or water pills) make your body lose water but also important
nutrients. In extreme cases, this can cause heart problems.
- Laxatives can cause stomachaches and cramp as well as other serious
problems to your digestive system. Laxatives can become habit-forming.
- Self-induced vomiting even once in a while can pop blood vessels in
your face and swell up your neck glands. Because your food isn't being
digested right, you may suffer stomachaches, constipation, heartburn,
or diarrhea. Also, repeated vomiting can ruin your teeth and give you
cavities.
- Diet pills can cause your heart to beat faster and make you jittery.
They also are habit-forming. Once they wear off you become hungry and
want to eat, so you reach for another pill to control your appetite.
- Serious over exercising is another unhealthy way some people control
their weight. Exercising for long periods of time when it is not part
of a program (like with your school coach) is not smart. Over exercising
will make you feel tired and increase your chance of injuries.
Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
People who suffer from this disorder have an intense and irrational fear
of gaining weight because they see themselves as being fat, even when
everyone else doesn't. Anorexics feel that they are heavier than the rest
of the people around them and want to do something about it. They feel
the need to become thinner and thinner and that the quickest way to lose
weight is to not eat at all. Food, calories, and body weight take control
of the person's life. Anorexics often become isolated. They stop seeing
friends and having fun.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Missing periods (in girls)
- Strange eating habits, like restricting certain foods or drastically
reducing how much food you eat
- Feeling moody
- Denying hunger
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape
- Over exercising
- Significant or extreme weight loss
Bulimia Nervosa
People who suffer from bulimia eat large amounts of food in a quick,
automatic, and helpless fashion. This is called a binge. This may numb
their feelings for a little bit, but eventually people suffering from
bulimia feel physical discomfort and anxiety about gaining weight. As
a result, they purge the food they have eaten by making themselves vomit,
using laxatives, overexercising, or limiting their diets. Some people
use a combination of all these forms of purging.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Sneaking food
- Making excuses to go to the bathroom after meals
- Eating large amounts of food on the spur of the moment
- Taking laxatives, vomiting, and/or over exercising to "purge"
food
- Extreme concern with body weight and image
- Enamel on teeth begins to wear away causing cavities
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating is another type of eating disorder. Here, a person eats
an amount of food larger than what others would eat in the same amount
of time. When someone is bingeing, they usually don't have much control
over how much they are eating. Binge eating is different from anorexia
and bulimia because people do not regularly vomit, overexercise, or abuse
laxatives after they have eaten.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Eating large amounts of food, even when not hungry
- Eating faster than normal
- Eating alone or in secret
- Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating disorders are very serious. Don’t ignore them! Many people
die from eating disorders. Family members may want to help and take care
of the problem at home. But people with eating disorders need medical
and professional help.
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