Countless Individuals Suffer from Eating Disorders
Ladies, think about the last time you went shopping. Did you or one of your friends utter something to the effect of "I look so fat in these jeans"? Most of us make comments like that and don't think anything of it, but for approximately 10 million people suffering from eating disorders, those comments take on a whole new meaning.
Everywhere we turn today we see images of super-thin models and messages that there is an "ideal" weight and body type. The fact of the matter is that most people cannot, and should not, look like the models that are airbrushed in our magazines and there isn't one ideal image for all of us.
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are the three main types of eating disorders, but there are many subtypes. Anorexia is characterized by an obsession with food and being thin, sometimes to the point of starvation. Bulimia is recognizable by the binging and purging episodes during a short amount of time. With binge eating, one will eat excessive amounts of food, sometimes for hours on end, even if not hungry.
While those images we see don't help, eating disorders aren't all about feeling fat or thinking that food is the enemy. They have a combination of behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and social factors. The control of food is an attempt to overcompensate for feelings and emotions that are overwhelming and a lack of control in other areas of their life.
If you think someone you care about has an eating disorder, talk to them. You can also talk to your physician about symptoms and treatment options. Eating disorders are treatable, but the first step may be hard to take and the road to recovery may take a while, but with support from loved ones and physician direction, the future can be a lot brighter.
Take a look at the symptoms below these are the key signs to these disorders:
Anorexia
Preoccupation with food
Hair that thins, breaks or falls out
Soft, downy hair covering body
Dehydration
Bulimia
Sores/scars on knuckles or hands
Damaged teeth and gums
Swollen salivary glands in cheeks
Going to the bathroom after eating
Written by Karen Cashin of HAP visit www.hap.org/solo
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