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Eating Disorders

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are illnesses associated with disturbance in eating behavior, severe body image distortion and an obsession with weight. Sufferers are terrified of gaining weight and continue to diet or binge and purge even as their mental and physical health deteriorate. Generally, the three types of eating disorders are:

Anorexia nervosa. Essentially self-starvation, this disorder involves a refusal to maintain body weight at a minimally normal body weight.
Bulimia nervosa. This involves repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by ways of trying to purge the body of the food or expected weight gain.
Binge eating disorder. This is characterized by frequent episodes of overeating without purging.

None of these disorders are easily recognized by the individual, a friend, or even a family member. However, even if they are recognized, denial usually follows and the disorder goes untreated. An eating disorder is very serious and should not be taken lightly. Major health hazards including death may occur if an eating disorder goes undetected and untreated. Help and treatment are available.

Mayoclinic

National Eating Disorders Screening Program (www.nmisp.org/eat.htm)

Signs and Symptoms

	Anorexia	Bulimia	Binge Eating
Signs	Weight Loss	Recurrent episodes of binge eating	Recurrent (at least two a week) episodes of compulsive overeating not followed by purging
	Refusal to maintain normal body weight	Feeling you can't control behavior	No control over eating behavior
	Intense fear of gaining weight	Eating much more in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack	Feelings of shame or guilt
	Negatively altered body image	Self-induced vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise or fasting following a binge to prevent weight gain
	Anxious or ritualistic behaviors at mealtime
Symptoms	Absence of menstruation or menstrual changes	Dehydration	Join Pain
	Fatigue	Irritability	Gallbladder disease
	Depression	Depression	Increased blood pressure and cholesterol
	Irregular heart beat	Irregular heart beat	Fatigue
	Light headedness	Damaged teeth and gums	Obesity
	Mild anemia	Swollen cheeks from vomiting
	Brittle hair and nails	Dry, sometimes yellowed skin

Causes

While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food.

Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. Scientists and researchers are still learning about the underlying causes of these emotionally and physically damaging conditions. We do know, however, about some of the general issues that can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

People with eating disorders often use food as a control in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem over-whelming. For some, dieting, binging, and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one's life. Unfortunately, these behaviors will damage a person's physical and emotional health, self-esteem, and sense of competence and control.

Psychological Factors that can contribute:

Low self-esteem
Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life
Depression, anxiety, anger, or loneliness

Interpersonal Factors that can contribute:

Troubled family and personal relationships
Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings
History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight
History of physical or sexual abuse

Social Factors that can contribute:

Cultural pressures that glorify "thinness" and place value on obtaining the "perfect body"
Narrow definitions of beauty
Cultural norms that value people on the basis of physical appearance and not inner qualities and strengths

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Medical Complications

Eating disorders not only cause emotional suffering, they can also lead to many serious medical complications and in some cases even death.

Anorexia

Heart disease: Anorexia can cause irregular heart rhythms and result in smaller heart muscles. Heart disease is a common cause of death for people with anorexia.
Hormonal changes: Changes in reproductive hormones and in thyroid hormones can cause absence of menstruation (amenorrhea), infertility, bone loss and retarded growth.
Imbalance of minerals and electrolytes: Your body needs adequate levels of minerals, particularly calcium and potassium, in order to maintain the electric currents that keep your heart beating. Disruption of your body's levels of fluids and minerals creates an electrolyte imbalance. Unless restored, this imbalance can be life-threatening.
Nerve damage: Anorexia may cause brain and nerve damage, seizures and loss of feeling.
Blood disorders: Lack of nutrition can reduce your body's levels of vitamin B-12, causing anemia and affecting your body's ability to produce enough red blood cells.
Digestive problems: Anorexia can cause constipation and bloating.

Bulimia

Teeth and gum problems: The presence of gastic acid in your mouth from regular vomiting may cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Low potassium levels: The purging process tends to make your body dehydrated and to lower the level of potassium in your blood. This can cause weakness and irregular heart rhythms.
Digestive problems: Purging may cause irritation to the walls of your esophagus. Repeated purging may also cause constipation.
Behavioral and emotional problems: Bulimia may lead to depression and can be associated with a variety of impulsive behaviors such as sexual promiscuity, stealing, alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
Abuse of medications: The variety of over-the-counter drugs you may use during purge cycles may cause a drug dependency. These include laxatives, diuretics, appetite suppressants and ipecac, a drug that induces vomiting.

Binge Eating Disorder

High blood pressure
Elevated cholesterol levels
Heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Gallbladder disease

How to Help

The Do's and Don'ts of helping a friend

Do's

Do increase your knowledge about eating disorders; learn everything you can about them.
Do talk with the person about your concerns in a loving and supportive way. It is important to discuss these issues with honesty and respect.
Do talk with the person at an appropriate time and place� in private, free from distractions.
Do encourage the person to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Do be prepared to hear the person deny that there is a problem. If they refuse to get help, it will be important to tell someone else about your concerns.
Do listen with a nonjudgmental ear. Let them know that you are there to provide help and support.
Do talk about things other than food, weight, and exercise.
Do watch for signs of deteriorating physical and emotional health.
Do be patient. Be caring and show continued friendship by listening and attempting to understand their perceptions about the situation.
Use "I" statements, avoid accusational "You" statements.

Don'ts

Don't try to solve the person's problem or help with the eating disorder on your own. These are serious issues that require attention from experts.
Don't confront your friend with a group of people or in front of a group.
Don't talk about weight, food, calories, or appearance.
Don't try to force or encourage your friend to eat, or insist they gain weight.
Don't try to analyze or interpret their behavior.
Don't gossip about the person to others.
Don't be scared to talk with the person.
Don't expect to be the perfect friend, reach out for support when you need it.
Don't expect your friend to be "cured" after treatment. Recovery can be a long process.
Don't agree to keep their eating disorder a secret. Remember, their life may be in danger.

Statistics

Eating Disorders affect 5-10 million Americans and 70 million individuals world wide.
Approximately 1 million male have an eating disorder.
The most common behavior that will lead to an eating disorder is dieting.
It is estimated that currently 11% of highschool students have been diagnosted with an eating disorder.
15% of young women have substantially disorded eating attitudes and behaviors.
91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to ocntrol their weight through dieting.
35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting.
Bulimia often occurs in athletes such as gymnasts, wrestlers, dancers, football players, and runners.
The onset of Binge Eating Disorder usually occurs during the late adolescemce or in the early twenties.

Are you constantly thinking about your weight and shape?
Are you dieting and/or have lost a lot of weight?
Are you more than 10% below your healthy weight?
Are people concerned about your weight?
Is your energy level down?
Are you cold?
Are your periods abnormal?
Are you overeating and feeling out of control?
Are you vomiting, using laxatives or water pills, herbal agents or trying to fast?
Are you experiencing physical problems or are people concerned because of your excessive exercise?
Is your weight repeatedly fluctuating?
Does all of the above interfere with you enjoying life, relationships, or everyday functioning?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have an eating disorder.

If you answered yes to more than 5, we would encourage you to get a professional evaluation.

USU Services

Nutrition

Dietitian� Student Health
Brooke Parker
797-1010 by appointment
email: parkerb@cc.usu.edu

Medical

Student Health and Wellness
797-1660 by appointment
website: www.usu.edu/health/

Therapy

USU Counseling Center
TSC 306
797-1012
website: www.usu.edu/counsel