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What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight
that harms a person's well-being. Although we all worry
about our weight sometimes, people with an eating disorder
go to extremes to keep from gaining weight. There are two
main eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
What causes eating disorders?
We don't know exactly. Possible causes include feeling
stressed out or upset about something in your life, or
feeling like you need to be "in control."
Society also puts a lot of pressure on people to be thin.
This pressure can contribute too.
Did you know?
- 8,000,000 or more people in the United States
have an eating disorder.
- 90% are women.
- Victims may be rich or poor.
- Eating disorders usually start in the teens but
may begin as early as age 8.
Source: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and
Associated Disorders.
We don't know exactly. Possible causes include feeling
stressed out or upset about something in your life, or
feeling like you need to be "in control."
Society also puts a lot of pressure on people to be thin.
This pressure can contribute too.
What is anorexia?
People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They
don't want to eat, and they are afraid of gaining weight.
They may constantly worry about how many calories they
take in or how much fat is in their food. They may take
diet pills, laxatives or water pills to lose weight. They
may exercise too much. Anorexics usually think they're fat
even though they're very thin. People with anorexia may
get so thin that they look like they're sick.
What is bulimia?
Bulimia is eating a lot of food at once (called bingeing),
and then throwing up or using laxatives to remove the food
from the body (called purging). After a binge, some
bulimics fast (don't eat) or over exercise to keep from
gaining weight. People with bulimia may also use water
pills, laxatives or diet pills to "control"
their weight. People with bulimia often try to hide their
bingeing and purging. They may hide food for binges.
Bulimics are usually close to normal weight, but their
weight may go up and down.
What's wrong with trying to be thin?
It's healthy to watch what you eat and to exercise. What
isn't healthy is worrying all the time about your weight
and what you eat. People with eating disorders do harmful
things to their bodies because of their obsession about
their weight. If it isn't treated, anorexia can cause the
following health problems:
- Stomach problems
- Heart problems
- Irregular periods or no periods
- Fine hair all over the body, including the face
- Dry, scaly skin
If it isn't treated, bulimia can cause the following
health problems:
- Stomach problems
- Heart problems
- Kidney problems
- Dental problems (from throwing up stomach acid)
- Dehydration (not enough water in the body)
Can eating disorders be treated?
Yes. For anorexics, the first step is getting back to a
normal weight. If you're malnourished or very thin, you
may be put in the hospital. Your doctor will probably want
you to see a dietitian to learn how to pick healthy foods
and eat at regular times. For both anorexics and bulimics,
family and individual counseling (talking about your
feelings about your weight and problems in your life) is
helpful.
What are the warning signs?
The following are possible warning signs of anorexia
and bulimia:
- Unnatural concern about body weight (even if the
person is not overweight)
- Obsession with calories, fat grams and food
- Use of any medicines to keep from gaining weight
(diet pills, laxatives, water pills)
More serious warning signs may be harder to notice
because people who have an eating disorder try to keep
it secret. Watch for these signs:
- Throwing up after meals
- Refusing to eat or lying about how much was
eaten
- Fainting
- Over-exercising
- Not having periods
- Increased anxiety about weight
- Calluses or scars on the knuckle (from forced
throwing up)
- Denying that there is anything wrong
Source:
All the information on this page was copied from:
familydoctor.org
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