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A few weeks ago I was knocked into reality about something I thought
would never affect me. What I am talking about is an eating disorder that a
close friend of mine developed, called anorexia. I realized how much
something like this could affect the people around the person who develops the
disorder. I decided to research the eating disorders bulimia and anorexia
and give you Whyvillians information on them and some of the symptoms
to watch for.
I will start with anorexia. Anorexia is characterized by a
significant weight loss coming from too much dieting. Most women and an
increasing number of men are motivated by a strong desire to
be thin and a fear of becoming overweight. Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their
actual weight is. Often they don't actually realize they are underweight and may
still "feel fat" at 80 lbs. I learned in my research that anorexia can become
extremely dangerous and can even lead to death when the person with the disorder
avoids food and calories at all costs. Through my research I found that people
with a mother or sister who has had anorexia are 12 times more likely than
others with no family history of that disorder to develop it themselves. They
are four times more likely to develop bulimia. (Eating Disorders Review. Nov/Dec
2002) The symptoms of somebody with anorexia may be: (brace yourselves,
this is an extremely long list!)
* Noticeable weight loss
* Becoming withdrawn
* Excessive exercise
* Fatigue
* Always being cold
* Muscle weakness
* Obsession with food, calories, recipes
* Excuses for not eating meals (i.e. ate earlier, not feeling well)
* Unusual eating habits (i.e. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)
* Noticeable discomfort around food
* Complaining of being "too fat", even when thin
* Cooking for others, but not eating themselves
* Restricting food choices to only diet foods
* Guilt or shame about eating
* Depression, irritability, mood swings
* Evidence of vomiting, laxative abuse, diet pills or diuretics to control
weight
* Irregular menstruation
* Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation)
* Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
* Frequently checking weight on scale
* Fainting spells and dizziness
* Difficulty eating in public
* Very secretive about eating patterns
* Pale complexion (almost a pasty look)
* Headaches
* Perfectionists attitude
* No known physical illness that would explain weight loss
* There was also a list of physical/medical complications
that are involved with anorexia, but it was too long to add into this article.
The second eating disorder that I would like to discuss is bulimia.
Somebody with bulimia goes on a cycle of eating sprees -- purging (doing away
with the body's calories) usually follows the eating spree. The sprees can be
different for everyone; for one person a spree may be gaining 1000 to 10,000
calories, but for someone else, eating one single cookie may be considered an
eating spree. The methods of doing away with calories usually involve vomiting,
excessive exercise, and use of diet pills. Just like anorexia, bulimia is
extremely unhealthy and dangerous to the body. Unlike anorexics, bulimics do
realize they have a problem and are more likely to seek help. The signs and
symptoms of somebody with bulimia my be as follows:
* Binge eating (eating sprees)
* Secretive eating (food missing)
* Bathroom visits after eating
* Vomiting
* Laxative, diet pill or diuretic abuse
* Weight fluctuations (usually with 10-15 lb range)
* Swollen glands
* Broken blood vessels
* Harsh exercise regimes
* Fasting
* Mood swings
* Depression
* Severe self-criticism
* Self-worth determined by weight
* Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
* Self-deprecating thoughts following eating
* Fatigue
* Muscle weakness
* Tooth decay
* Irregular heartbeats
* Avoidance of restaurants, planned meals or social events
* Complains of sore throat
* Need for approval from others
* Substance abuse
* Once again, there was also a long list of physical and medical complications
that would have been too much to put down.
I found an excellent site explaining what may start an eating disorder. I strongly suggest you look at the web site:
http://www.anred.com/causes.html
Now that you know more about these eating disorders, I hope you realize how
dangerous they can be and you'll try to never develop one. Also, I am pleading you
that if you think a close friend or family member has an eating disorder, speak
out, stop it before it can become an extremely dangerous problem. Eating
disorders can be stopped!
Thanks for reading! Signing out,
Boo44
Resources:
-Surviving an Eating Disorder: Perspectives and Strategies for Family and
Friends by Michelle Siegel, Ph.D., Judith Brisman, Ph.D., and Margot Weinshel,
Ph.D. Harper & Row Publishers, NY, 1988.
-Walking A Thin Line by Pam Vredevelt and Joyce Whitman -- Mullnomah Press,
Oregon 1985.
-Eating Disorders Handout -- Sudbury General Hospital Eating Disorders Clinic
(information for handout obtained from NEDIC)
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