Crossing the Line: Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are complex conditions that come from a combination of behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors.
While eating disorders may begin with a preoccupation with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food. People with eating disorders often use food and control over food as a way to cope with feelings and emotions that may be overwhelming. For some, dieting, binging and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control, but ultimately these behaviors damage a person's physical and emotional health, self-esteem and sense of competence and control. All eating disorders require professional help.
Source: National Eating Disorders Association; www.NationalEatingDisorders.org
- What is Anorexia Nervosa?
- Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by: 1. Intense fear of becoming fat which does not diminish with weight loss; 2. Maintenance of an inappropriate body weight with weight loss 15 percent below that expected for normal health; 3. Disturbance in the way one's body weight, size or shape is experienced, e.g. claiming to "feel fat" even when emaciated; 4. An absence of three menstrual cycles in females.
- What is Bulimia Nervosa?
- Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by: 1. Recurrent episodes of binge-eating with an average of two or more binges per week; 2. Termination of the binge by purging with self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives and/or diuretics (drugs that make you urinate), strict dieting, diet pills or excessive exercise.
Individuals with either Anorexia or Bulimia practice harmful weight control measures and a denial of their illness. About 33 percent show evidence of having both disorders or switching back and forth between these disorders.
Symptoms and physical signs of Anorexia and Bulimia:
Symptoms |
Physical Signs |
| Fear of being fat or gaining weight | Complaints of feeling bloated or nauseated when eating normal amounts of food |
| Feeling out of control; fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily | Swollen and/or infected parotid glands (the glands under the jaw) |
| Loss of energy, fatigue | Dry Skin, thinning hair, brittle nails |
| Mood swings - depressed, irritable or anxious | Calluses or sores on the hand from self-induced vomiting, slow wound healing |
| Self-disparaging thoughts (reproachful, disapproving) | Teeth sensitivity |
| Intense dieting or exercise when not overweight; denial of hunger | Increased discomfort and intolerance to cold |
| Low self-esteem, which may not be initially apparent | Poor circulation, tingling bluish fingers |
| Excessive concern about food and calories | Red eyes from bursting blood vessels |
| Difficulty concentrating | |
| Perfectionist thinking; sensitive to changes | |
| Frequent weighing and overemphasis on scale weight |
Possible Medical Complications:
| Arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) | Dehydration and kidney failure |
| Endocrine and electrolyte imbalance (sodium and potassium abnormalities which may cause muscle spasms, kidney problems or cardiac arrest) | Severe digestive problems: Hypokalemic alkalosis from vomiting of stomach acid; gastric ulcers, esophageal bleeding |
| Dental problems: loss of tooth enamel, tooth decay | Menstruation irregularities or loss of menstrual periods |
Social and Emotional Consequences:
Social |
Emotional |
| Social isolation | Depression and loneliness |
| Loss of friendships | Loss if self-esteem, lack of self-worth |
| Absenteeism | Sense of increasing shame |
| Financial loss (medical, dental psychological treatment, plus funding "binge" eating) | Numbness, loss of awareness |
| Increased anger and irritability | |
| Problems with drug and alcohol use | |
| Anxiety, feelings of panic | |
| Helplessness and loss of control |
All eating disorders require professional help. For more information, call the National Eating Disorders help line at 1-800-931-2237, or locally, call 1-801-387-7861. Web sites for eating disorder information are: www.NationalEatingDisorders.org , www.anred.com (anorexia nervosa and related eating disorders inc.), www.edreferral.com (eating disorder referral and information center).
