Eating Disorder Help

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Author:
Thomas Morva

Young women and men sometimes starve themselves. It doesn’t matter how thin they may be— in their internal mirror, they are fat. Or they may so afraid of gaining weight, yet so desperately hungry, that they eat and eat until they feel so guilty that they must vomit up all the food. These people suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have nothing to do with the digestive tract of the person. Rather, the illness resides in the mind.

Anorexia and bulimia are the two most common eating disorders. They tend to appear most commonly in women. In fact, 90 percent of all cases are in women. Most eating disorders begin in the teenage years: anorexia most often occurs around puberty, and bulimia hits a bit later. People with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share the same fear, guilt, and shame about food and fat. Still, they are two separate disorders with different symptoms. People with anorexia starve and exercise themselves thin. People with bulimia eat unhealthy amounts of food and then vomit or purge themselves. People with anorexia or bulimia tend to start at normal weights, but then suffer from poor nutrition as well as the mental and emotional effects of having an eating disorder. Some people with eating disorders may have a combination of anorexia and bulimia.

People with anorexia or bulimia, despite their different behaviors toward food, share many of the same symptoms. Both are undernourished, and, as a result, may have dry skin, brittle hair and nails, be constipated, and may be sensitive to temperature changes. Women may have irregular periods. People with eating disorders may develop food rituals, like only eating certain foods or at specific times, and they may eat in secret. Even when thin, people with eating disorders think of themselves as fat and are terrified of gaining weight.

Each eating disorder has its unique symptoms, however. People with anorexia lose dramatic amounts of weight, eat little amounts of food, and exercise excessively. People with bulimia, however, have symptoms related to constant vomiting. Their stomach acid eats away at their teeth enamel, burns their esophagus, and can cause the salivary glands to swell. People with bulimia may also have cuts or bruises on their fingers from inducing vomiting.

Both anorexia and bulimia are completely treatable. People with eating disorders need professional help from doctors and psychiatrists. It may take years to learn to control an eating disorder. Love and support from friends and family are also needed for recovery from any eating disorder.

About the Author
Bulimia Info provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the “pro bulimia” viewpoint. Bulimia Info is affiliated with Original Content.

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Eating Disorders... Anorexia - What Are The Dangers Of The Anorexia Disease? What is anorexia and what are some of the dangers? Anorexia is simply one of several eating disorders that is plaguing many of our young men and women. Over 7 million women and 1 million men struggle with anorexia nervosa within the United States alone. It is a disease that is truly indiscriminate, both men and women, rich and poor, young and old, and all minorities are affected by the disease. When anorexia is reported, 86% of those reports are given by people 20 years old and younger. Since anorexia and other eating disorders are so widespread, the best way to combat their spread is to promote public awareness. So, what are some of the signs someone is struggling with an eating disorder? Those suffering from an eating disorder will have odd habits regarding food, self-image, and exercise. Some skip meals, some will not eat in front of others, while others still will chew their food only to spit it out shortly thereafter. Often times excuses will be used to explain their erratic diet or their appearance to others. Many anorectics eliminate much of the fat from their diet while eating only a handful of carefully chosen foods which they view as “safe”. Other things to take note would be if your loved one is using laxatives and diet pills on top of a highly restricted diet. That’s a sure sign of an eating disorder. To further jeopardize themselves, anorectics will often times exercise on a compulsive level even though their energy is limited. Typically, all of this is done while under the phony facade of contentment. Many refuse to discuss their emotions, claiming that all is fine in the world when exactly the opposite more closely resembles the truth. However, this list is not authoritative, these are only a few of the key points that need to be watched if you believe...