Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can change a person's life and affect the people around he or she. People engaged in eating disorders are usually referred to as victims, because of the horrible and dangerous effects of these diseases. Eating disorders are serious, sometimes life threatening illnesses. There are three different types of common eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating. There are also two not as common disorders recognized by most people today; they are pica, anorexia and bulimia in combination. One must first know how to recognize them in order to help one's self or others battle. Eating disorders are very common and people should know what they are, what causes them, how to detect them, and most importantly how to help. Anorexia nervosa is one type of eating disorder in which a person starves them self in order to gain and maintain their idea of "perfection." This condition happens when a person is constantly dieting to an extreme because of a mental image they have of their body that is incorrect. It usually strikes women around the time when they are beginning puberty and has also been known to happen in the late teens and early twenties. This state of starvation leads to a loss of 150elow normal body weight. Of the 7 million women between the ages 15 and 35 who have anorexia, 65 percent will die due to the complications of the disorder (Wellness Web 2).

Anorexia often occurs as a result of emotional problems. Control over eating may be the only area where they feel they have control. Part of recovery often involves helping the anorexic gain independence (Greenberg 114). Anorexia may not be noticed in its early stages because it usually starts as an innocent diet. It is important to notice this disease in either yourself a family member or a friend before it is full blown (Wellness Web 2). Some signs of an anorexic are; the person will appear to never have an appetite, exercising excessively, engage in ritualistic eating patterns like cutting food into small pieces (Moe 127). "Common signs and symptoms of starvation are dry skin, soft hair, brittle nails, yellow skin, low heart rate, constipation, early satiety, low blood sugar, absence of menstrual cycles and fainting (Cottrell 121)." By hiding behind layered and/or baggy clothing it is hard for family members to notice the disease in its dangerous stages but by being aware of the signs you can help (Wellness Web 2). If the disease is noticed, in dealing with the anorexia most family members and friends force the victim to eat. This will make the problem worse, because it will only make the anorexic eat to avoid being nagged, and then they will then get rid of it through purging (Cottrell 123). Treatment for an anorexic requires a team of professionals, physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, family psychologists, and dieticians all working together. Anorexics need mental health counselling (Greenberg 115). Steps to help a friend get better the safe way include: First, speaking to the victim, but it must be a time when you are feeling calm, not when you're feeling angry or hurt. Second, find a time and place where you can talk without being interrupted. Third, consider writing down what you might want to say to your friend. Fourth, you should practice the discussion. Finally if you think the problem has reached a state of emergency, tell your friend you are going to get help for them because you care (Moe 130).

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Bulimia is another dangerous eating disorder; it is also called bulimia nervosa, bulimarexia, and dietary chaos syndrome (Cottrell 123). Bulimia, a characterization of a person binge eating, is beginning to become more and more known. Bingeing is when a person eats large amounts of food over a very short period of time. After bingeing the victim will then purge, which is when a person either throws up or uses a laxative to get the food out of the body quickly (Greenberg115). Bulimia bingeing cycles may occur several times a day. The person is usually aware that their eating pattern is abnormal and may experience fear or guilt associated with the binge-purge episodes (. Throwing up causes the enamel on the teeth to dissolve from exposure on the teeth to dissolve from exposure to acid from the stomach, which leads to tooth decay (Greenberg 115).

Bulimia generally appears from the teen years through adulthood. It is more common than anorexia. The exact cause of bulimia is still unknown but many factors contribute such as family problems, maladaptive behaviour, self-identity conflict, cultural overemphasis on physical appearance, and depression. The disorder is usually not associated with any underlying physical problem, although the behaviour could be associated with neurological or endocrine diseases. It occurs most often in females during adolescent. Bulimia can be hard to diagnose because its victims appear to be of normal weight. One can only recognize it after the person has had the disorder for a long time (Greenberg 116). Ways to notice Bulimia are people engaging in recurrent episodes of binge eating (eating a lot, fast, like within 2 hours), a fear of being unable to stop eating during binges, engaging in either self-induced vomiting, laxative use, or rigorous dieting or fasting in order to counteract the effects of binge eating, a minimum average of two binge-eating episodes per week for at least 3 months (Cottrell 124). Therapy includes training the sufferer in appropriate nutritional eating habits and encouraging them to engage in activities that develop confidence and build self-esteem (Greenberg 116). Many private nutritional counsellors and therapists have extended their practices to include the treatment of bulimia, as psychiatrists and psychological counsellors do.

Anorexia and Bulimia in combination is the most dangerous. It is everything that goes on with between anorexia and bulimia combined. About 30 to 50 percent of anorexics also go through the binge-purge cycles like a bulimic victim would. Throwing up is a way anorexics maintain their low calorie consumption and keep their weight down. When a person has both eating disorders it just increases the health risks (Greenberg 116).

Compulsive eating is another disorder, but in this case older women tend to have it, and experts estimate that the disorder also affects as many as 4 percent of college age women.

Compulsive eaters consume food to comfort and soothe wounded feelings they are dealing with. Many magazine models influence women's minds into believing you have to look a certain way. The exact definition is an irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation (Cottrell 125). The category has adapted a new name over the years: binge eating. The victim tends to eat even when they're not hungry. The person may eat impulsively or almost continuously. Although the compulsive eater realizes that their behaviour is abnormal, they seem powerless to stop it. The compulsive eater is different from a bulimic person, because they do not try to purge by vomiting or using laxatives (Moe 14).

Health risks include diabetes, cancer, arthritis, premature death, sleep disturbances, inability to participate in recreational activities (sports), inability to perform jobs, prejudice in school and work place, and restricted opportunities for romantic relationships. Causes of compulsive eating are just like every other disorder, it includes depression, stress, sedentary lifestyles that require no physical effort, and it is genetically proven that children of heavy parents are more likely to be overweight (Yahoo Health 1). To identify if a person is a compulsive eater you have to look for symptoms. According to Barbara Moe some ways to identify the disease are, Constant dieting and talking about weight while at the same time gaining weight, a social life that revolves around food, or the absence of social life because of concerns about weight and food, bingeing or eating too little in public, avoidance of activities such as physical education or sports because of concern about weight, and fantasies and talk about how good life will be when the person [gets thin] (Moe 128).

You can only help a compulsive eater the same way as a bulimic and anorexic, by getting them help after you talk to them about their problem. If they deny it, you must use I messages, state your problem with behaviour. Such messages require careful thought because most of us are not used to giving them (Moe 130). You can also help them by being supportive and caring, realizing that the person will not change until he or she wants to, continue to suggest professional help. You should not pester the victim, but most importantly, don't give up. Always remember they need you. Talk about the advantages of recovery and a normal life. Some things that are not required of you as a friend are, to never criticize or shame, don't pry, respect privacy, don't give advice unless they ask you, don't ignore stolen food, or evidence of purging, and don't overestimate what you can accomplish.

Pica is a little known eating disorder that involves eating things that are not considered food. People who experience pica have cravings for such things as clay, soil, and laundry starch. This disorder generally occurs among pregnant women. Most pica is reported among pregnant African American women living in rural areas of the southern United States. The disorder is also found in certain groups living in Austria and Africa. There is some evidence to suggest that pica results from cultural beliefs related to pregnancy, along with changes in food preferences among pregnant women.

The health dangers of pica result from eating harmful bacteria that could be present in clay, soil, or laundry starch. Eating these substances can change the way minerals are absorbed by the body, and mineral deficiencies can result. Eating large quantities of clay can also block the intestines (Greenberg 117).

Anorexia, bulimia, compulsive eating, pica, and anorexia and bulimia combined are all very serious disorders. In order to help someone one must be alert to the signs of these diseases. It's very important to know how to help someone, which involves the basic understanding of these diseases, before the problem gets worse. After researching these diseases, I've learned how dangerous and complicated eating disorders could be. These disorders should not be over looked but helped immediately. Victims of eating disorders are not bad people but are people in search of a happy, perfect life.