Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders are common in a
culture obsessed with fast food, dieting and body image. Body
dissatisfaction and dieting often lead to unhealthy and dangerous
eating behaviors. Sometimes, these eating patterns can become
eating disorders. Fortunately, there is now awareness about these
types of illnesses. Eating disorders are treatable and you can get
help!
What are eating disorders?
There are three types of eating
disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and ED-NOS ("Eating
Disorders Not Otherwise Specified"). Girls with these disorders
often have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted image
of what they look like. When girls begin to be afraid of gaining
weight and are starving themselves, bingeing and purging, and
over-exercising, they are considered to have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are dangerous and can be fatal if they aren't
treated.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa mostly affects young
women. Girls with anorexia do not eat enough to keep their bodies
working properly. Anorexics lose a lot of weight so that they
become weak and unhealthy because of a poor diet. Often, people
with anorexia exercise too much trying to burn up calories. They
"feel fat" even when they are losing weight. Anorexia also has
many emotional and psychological aspects such as low self-esteem.
People with anorexia may convince themselves and those around them
that they are not hungry.
Girls with anorexia may sometimes use
diet pills to control digestion and lose weight. These pills often
make girls feel anxious or nervous. Others may drink beverages
with caffeine, which can give a false sense of energy. Diet sodas
keep the body from absorbing calcium, which is important for
strong bones.
What are some of the health problems
that girls with anorexia face?
Girls with anorexia may have
dizziness, heart problems, low blood pressure, low temperature and
fainting spells. Anorexia causes hair and fingernails to become
brittle and loss of hair on the head. Dry skin, dehydration, and
constipation are also symptoms of anorexia. People with anorexia
often feel depressed, tired and cold. Anorexia also causes lanugo,
which is the growth of furry soft hair on face, back and arms.
Anorexia can result in slow or stunted growth. Anorexia can cause
menstrual periods to stop since there is not enough estrogen to
maintain the body's normal function. Not having enough estrogen
can lead to osteoporosis or weak bones. The combination of
osteoporosis and over exercising can lead to stress fractures.
If you have these symptoms you are at
risk for serious health problems and you should contact a health
care provider immediately.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is another type of
eating disorder. Girls who have bulimia may binge eat which means
eating a lot, even if not hungry and feeling like the eating is
out of control. Bulimia may make people want to get rid of food
and calories by vomiting or by exercising. People with bulimia
often feel like they have no control over their eating; they will
eat in private and hide what they eat from others or eat until
they are uncomfortable and exhausted. This illness can make people
feel afraid, anxious and ashamed of overeating.
What are some of the health problems
that girls with bulimia face?
Girls with bulimia may suffer from
serious electrolyte problems, irregular menstrual periods,
dehydration, swollen face, sore throat, tooth decay, dry, flaky
skin, constant upset stomach, heartburn, constipation, depression
or weight fluctuations. Low potassium levels, from the body losing
too much potassium from vomiting, can lead to serious heart
arrhythmias and even death.
Bulimia is hard to detect from
looking at a person since the health problems are not as obvious
as with anorexia. For example, someone may have a normal weight,
but still have bulimia. Also, they may keep their eating habits
secret so that even their family and friends are not aware that
they have a problem. However, bulimia is very serious too. It can
cause permanent damage to the teeth, bowels, stomach, heart,
nerves and metabolism.
What are ED-NOS?
ED-NOS is when someone has some of
the symptoms of anorexia or bulimia. Girls suffering from ED-NOS
may:
-
only binge
eat. (This means eating a lot, even if not hungry, and feeling
like eating is out of control).
-
have a low
weight. (Unlike anorexia, girls with ED-NOS may have a very low
weight, but they still get their menstrual period).
-
have a
consistently stable weight, but still have many of the other
symptoms of eating disorders.
What causes eating disorders?
There are many different theories
regarding the causes of eating disorders. Most likely, eating
disorders are caused by a combination of psychological, family,
genetic, environmental and social factors.
An individual may have a family
history of mood disorders such as depression. Eating disorders are
often associated with feelings of helplessness, sadness, anxiety,
and the need to be perfect. This can cause a person to use dieting
or weight loss to provide a sense of control or stability.
Research shows that patients with eating disorders have a higher
incidence of substance abuse as well.
Teens who participate in sports and
artistic activities, which emphasize thinness and competition such
as ballet, running, gymnastics, and skating are more likely to
develop an eating disorder.
Family stress of any kind can also be
a significant factor contributing to the development of these
illnesses. Dealing with difficult transitions, loss, or teasing
about weight from friends or family may trigger eating disorders.
What do I do if I think I may have an
eating disorder?
If you think that you may have an
eating disorder, it is very important that you talk to your health
care provider immediately! If you are too nervous or scared to
contact your health care provider on your own, try talking to a
close friend or someone you trust. They can help you and make sure
that you receive the help you need. Even if it is scary to get
help for an eating disorder, your life may depend on it!
What do I do if I think may friend
has an eating disorder?
It can be very hard to talk to a
friend who you think has an eating disorder. Often times, people
who have eating disorders are in denial or do not want to talk
about their problems. They may get defensive or upset with the
people in their lives that try to get them help for these
illnesses. Do not let these emotions prevent you from trying to
help someone you care about.
Remember what a difference you can
make by helping a friend confront this illness and seek treatment.
Many people who get treatment for anorexia or bulimia are able to
do so because of the support from others in their lives. It is
often very hard for people with this illness to make a phone call,
or come in for their appointments. They often need friends and
family to take the first steps.
You may want to think about how to
approach your friend. It is helpful to have some names and numbers
of eating disorder resources to give your friend so she can take
the steps to get help. You may want to talk with someone first
like an adult or another friend to find out more information.
You may need to give your friend some
time after you first confront the issue. Do not expect that your
friend will immediately be able to understand you or begin looking
for help right away. Be honest, and patient. Dealing with eating
disorders is tricky and can take a long time.
How are eating disorders treated?
Since eating disorders are usually a
medical and psychological problem, treatment usually includes
working with a therapist, nutritionist, and a doctor. The
treatment that health care providers choose will fit each
patient's own needs.
What does a medical doctor do to
treat an eating disorder?
The doctor can keep track of health
by checking height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and
temperature. Also it may be necessary to draw blood for certain
lab tests, to make sure the electrolytes are stable. Electrolytes
are the sodium, potassium, chloride, and carbon dioxide levels in
your body. These electrolytes keep the heart and body working
properly. The doctor may recommend a hospitalization if the
medical condition is unstable.
The doctor may also obtain special
tests such as an EKG to monitor heart rhythm and a bone density
test (DEXA) to see if osteoporosis is present. The doctor
discusses treatments such as healthy eating, weight gain, calcium
intake, vitamin supplements, exercise, estrogen replacement, and
antidepressant medication.
What does a therapist do to treat an
eating disorder?
In order to fight back against these
eating disorders, a young woman will need to improve her body
image, and self-esteem, and address other emotional issues. If you
have an eating disorder, you may discover that you have other
problems in your life such as depression, obsessive compulsive
disorder, or substance abuse. You may explore feelings of sadness,
anxiety or anger with your therapist. Therapy provides the time
and space where you can confidentially discuss your needs, your
goals and your understanding of the eating problem (this is called
psychodynamic, interpersonal talk therapy). Therapy helps to
explore eating disordered thinking and behaviors and develop
specific strategies to become healthy.
Family therapy can be an important
part of getting well if family tensions, difficult relationships,
or poor communication exist. In the family treatment meeting, the
family members can talk about problems and develop solutions and
coping skills.
Group therapy is also a very
effective way of getting well. Many people find that talking with
other people who have had an eating disorder is helpful, because
they can share stories, coping strategies, and feelings.
Parents often need a therapist or a
group for support and education surrounding eating problems.
Can medication help an eating
disorder?
Often medications are prescribed to
help treat an eating disorder. Depression, anxiety and obsessive
compulsive disorder commonly exist as part of this illness. There
are new types of anti-depressant medications called
serotonin-specific re uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which can help
stabilize the mood symptoms and reduce the impulse to binge eat or
vomit. These medications can help balance the chemicals in the
brain. SSRIs are used in conjunction with therapy since drugs
alone can't get to the underlying causes of eating disorders. A
doctor needs to monitor the medicine and discuss questions.
Help can a nutritionist help to treat
an eating disorder?
A nutritionist creates a safe eating
plan and answers questions about food. In a culture obsessed with
dieting, body image, and fast food, people get many mixed messages
about food and health. If you have an eating disorder, the
nutritionist can discuss some of the harmful myths regarding food
and diet and help guide you to healthy eating and healthy living!
How can I prevent an eating disorder?
Having a positive self-image, eating
a healthy diet and exercising for fitness and enjoyment will help
you to maintain a healthy balance in your life and decrease your
risk of developing an eating disorder. The following tips are good
ways to stay healthy, build a good body image, and to feel better
about who you are.
-
Identify
and respect everything about yourself- the inside and the outside.
-
Be
yourself. Don't try to look like models in magazines.
-
Try to discuss
weight, calories, and food less of the time.
-
Learn more
about eating disorders.
-
Try to make
eating a positive experience: eating fuels both your body and
mind!
-
Don't diet!
Try to eat healthy foods.
-
Get daily
exercise.
Developing good coping mechanisms
such as talking to friends, listening or playing music,
exercising, and doing art are good ways to deal with tough
situations. Having healthy ways to deal with stress may help you
avoid using food to deal with problems.
What can I do to prevent eating
disorders among teens?
In order to successfully prevent
eating disorders from our culture, it is important for us to look
at our attitudes and behaviors in our own life. Teasing and
harassment about weight and body shape often leads young men and
women to eating disordered behaviors. Although it may not seem
like a big deal to mention weight, it can be very painful and
unkind to judge people in this way. Also, conversations and
activities that focus on thinness and weight and dieting can be
harmful.
Magazines, movies, and the tobacco
industry promote unrealistic role models for beauty and weight.
Often, we are presented with only one image of beauty in the
movies, magazines, and on TV. This image is usually one that is
extremely skinny and unlike most woman. When we use this image as
one to compare ourselves to the problem begins because we are all
different in shape and size.
The dieting industry also may push us
to try and change our bodies into something we are not. Most young
women have come to accept dieting as a part of growing up.
However, dieting and restricting calories can cause serious
psychological and physiological consequences like inability to
focus in school, tiredness and feelings of sadness.
It is very difficult to avoid or
fight back against the industry that places these ideas in our
head, but we can try! Accepting these unreasonable standards to
measure bodies may create eating disordered thinking, behavior and
generally low self-esteem. Together we can reverse the social
environment and mind-set that creates eating disorders!
What are some of the advances in
eating disorders treatment and prevention?
Many researchers are working to
figure out how to treat eating disorders. New therapies and
medications to prevent osteoporosis, the mood disorders and
hormonal problems associated with eating disorders are being
studied. The development of new school curricula promoting
awareness around eating disorders as well as healthy attitudes
about body image and food is aimed at the prevention of eating
disorders. In addition, there is a national effort to offer
screening to adolescents and young adults for eating disorders in
community health centers and schools so they can get help early.
Many health professionals and researchers are striving to prevent
eating disorders and to find new treatments. |