Eating Disorders

Intentional Eating Disorder

2009-07-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

It is a way of life that whenever you look at yourself on the mirror you make it a point that you lay your eyes on a proud, seemingly pretty face. Before you go out to work or attend your classes in school, you ask everyone you see in the house if your look is right in its proper place. This pressure of looking good in the eyes of the public and well, at times considered as your very own fanatic audience tends to lead some individuals into dangerous territories. Mechanisms in order to maintain or attain that oh so gorgeous body in women; nowadays even in men are being pushed through. The field of medicine is constantly in contact with certain eating disorders. One of which that you are about to know is done intentionally.

Folks meet anorexia nervosa, the lack of desire to consume that body fuel called food. This sickness involves the psyche as fear of putting on a few pounds or more settles in. Due to this fear, the person is established with decreased body weight and there is a psychological breakdown due entirely to distorted body image. There are various gruelling mechanisms en route to the objective of not gaining weight. There is the painful purging of consumed food, extreme fasting ways, aggravated exercise program, and well the famous engagement with dieting procedures and drugs.

This unpleasant way of facing food affects the person in every angle and aspect which can gravely lead to death. Make sure that you get this correct. We’re talking about anorexia nervosa not anorexia only. The two are very different as in most cases they are considered as of conceptualization. Anorexia is simply having a decrease in appetite.

Come and let’s take a closer look at an individual with this uncalled for eating habit. The physical presentation of anorexia nervosa are well-documented extreme loss of weight, decreased growth rate, amenorrhea or absence of menstruation in young girls, impotence and insufficient libido in guys, a deficient metabolic rate leading to slow heart rate and hypotension, hair thinning, electrolyte level imbalance such as in potassium and zinc, decreased WBC count, compromised immune system functionality, constipation, pallor or pale complexion, bone and muscle weakness and wasting, headaches, dry skin and oral mucosa, and sunken eyes.

The person’s psychological aspect can be seen as having too much basis and reliance on how he looks or appears physically, thoughts are extremely focused on the relationship between food and body weight, denial that present drop in weight cannot do any harm, full of misconceptions about self and others, and doubtful about image perception especially for himself. Moreover, the person’s emotions are shaped by having a very low self-confidence and reliance, sudden changes in moods, depression which can go severe, and having a really good scare out of gaining extra ounces of insulation.

The person’s behavior would then be inclined to too much secrecy involving exercise and dieting regimen, ill-fated attempts to hurt himself or even commit suicide, routine way of checking weight and image progression, and increase eagerness to exercise on high levels and regular schedules without consuming proper dietary requirements.

Initial Steps When Your Child Has Eating Disorder

2009-07-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

As a parent the first step to effectively intervene in your child's eating disorder is to understand that what he or she experiencing is not merely a food or weight problem. "Healthier eating habits and stronger willpower are not the missing ingredients that will make the problem disappear," says Michele Siegel, author of the book “Surviving an Eating Disorder.”
Eating disorders are actually a psychological problem that involves the use of food intake and weight control to solve hidden emotional difficulties. Being a psychological problem, eating disorder calls for more attention to your child. Your goal is to guide him or her to make responsible choices. However, each eating-disordered child situations calls for various approaches. Some situation calls for immediate openness with the disorder while some calls for backing off at first.

When your child has eating disorder, family rules should evolve. Changing original family rules will help the family adjust to the disordered child and develop a healthy attitude toward food and dieting.

How would you bring up the situation to the rest of family members? What are the things you will say to your child? First approaches requires planning in advance as conversation can cause discomfort that can potentially harm your child's recovery. The following guidelines according to Siegel might help:

Think through who the best person is to do the talking - Decide with your spouse if you should be the one to talk, or if you should be there, or you should be not. Decide who would have an easier time talking to your child. Don’t involve the rest of the family until after your child is spoken with privately.
Pick a time to talk when you are feeling calm - Your feeling may interfere with your achieving the goals that you have in mind. Do not bring up your concerns in a middle of a fight, you are angry, upset, or hurt. Confrontations will resort a person to be defensive and shutting down potential lines of communication. He or she might perceive your communication as an criticism or attack.
Pick a time when you know you won't be interrupted - Time pressure may limit you and your child to discuss the situation. Pick a time when both of you have as much time as is needed to talk.
Consider writing down what you want to say ahead of time - It is inevitable to feel anxious opening up the subject of eating disorders to your child. Take time to practice your lines to him or her. Write a note and plan your lines.

The Danger of Delayed Diagnosis of Eating Disorder in Children

2009-07-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Eating disorder problems are also affecting children. The dangerous side to it is that not too many parents and even doctors are aware of it. Often, eating disorder is associated with young adults and adults who tend to regulate eating abnormally to achieve weight loss goals. Children could also exhibit signs of suffering from eating disorder problems. Unfortunately, such problems are not often taken seriously unless the condition leads to life-threatening events.

Many cases of eating disorder in children are left undiagnosed until the condition has taken hold, often with very disastrous consequences. This could be because there are significant gaps in awareness within the community and health-care system levels. The problem could also be worsened with generic diagnostic tools that often lead to misdiagnosis. The main and exact reason behind eating disorder problems in children remains a mystery these days. It could be that at early ages, children are now becoming aware that obese and overweight people are not looked at with admiration and respect by the society in general.

There is another interesting twist to this issue. A published research in Medical Journal of Australia in 2009 has found that more boys are experiencing eating disorder problems than girls of the same age. Such conditions remain undiagnosed until such boys are subjected to really serious and possibly life-threatening complications. Worse, most doctors do not expect that boys would have such problems because traditionally, males are not conscious and caring much about vanity. The times have really changed.

Take note that experts underline the fact that serious complications could be effectively avoided if eating disorder problem is diagnosed and dealt with early. Children who are treated properly for eating disorder have about 70% to 80% more chances of getting completely healed in a year. About 90% improve conditions in five years. In contrast, a typical adult could have a recovery rate of just about 50% in five years.

Moreover, eating disorder is not all about food. Dieting and eating disorder behaviors are often coming along with anxiety and stress. There are suspicions that children with higher stress levels are more vulnerable to the temptations of unnecessary dieting and weight loss. Media messages have been proven to make matters worse because young children are getting the impression that beauty and social acceptance is synonymous to appearance and ideal weight. This must be dealt with accordingly.

The other side of good looks

2009-07-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

No doubt. Beauty and sexiness sells. You see it on the red carpet as Hollywood stars prep up to upstage one another with their model-thin bodies clad in designer gowns. You see it in the way looks win over talent when it comes to reality shows and even in the music industries.

People like Jennifer Hudson with her golden voice will probably not have the same kind of success that Britney Spears enjoyed before. It will not be impossible for Jennifer Hudson to reach those heights with her talent but the road will be much rougher and harder than for someone with Spear’s looks. Even people with little singing or acting talents have made it big in the music and movie scene because they… well… look good. It is a fact of life that is really hard to deal with but nevertheless accepted by all.

This obsession over good looks and model-thin bodies may have started in surreal settings such as the catwalk and the movie screen but it has now crossed over to real life stage where hundreds and thousands, maybe even millions, of young people are living. Look around and more and more people are having problems with their bodies and are developing eating disorders. This trend is actually alarming quite a number of health officials and adults. Having an eating disorder is not just something that can cause physical and health problems. It can also have a very large impact on the social and emotional life of these teenagers. Also, having little food in their stomach will also not contribute much to their mental well-being and performance in their jobs.

When this continue, experts feel that it can bring about a superficial society that is more focused on looks rather than on mental pursuits and successful job. It also minimizes the value put into hard work and mental capabilities. It allows people to falsely perceive that success in this world is as easy as looking beautiful all the time.

Combating eating disorders is something that all sectors of society are actively pursuing. It is however hard to do as it is not only the fault of the movie or the modeling industry but all people in society: the parents, the teachers and even the youngsters themselves. They must realize that eating disorder is something that can arise from different reasons: lack of self-esteem; peer pressure to be thin and in; lack of parental support; and school bullying. It is a multi-factoral problem and the earlier we admit to this, the faster we can fight against it.

Surprising Facts on How Our Attitudes Might Trigger Eating Disoders

2009-07-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

"You look so good. Did you lose weight?" This usual comment on one's physique perpetuate the importance of being thin. A study at Harvard University and Radcliffe found out that "body dissatisfaction and the desire to lose weight are the norm for 70 percent of young women." Our culture seems to describe thinness as beauty and most of the time such kind of thinking begins at home. This along with other attitudes on food and dieting trigger eating disorders.

Parents are the child's role model. If parents have unhealthy eating habits it is hard for them to teach responsible choices on food and dieting. Trisha Gura, Ph. D., in her book Lying in Weight narrated how her childhood experiences affected her concept on food and dieting:

"I remember one Christmas when I was 10 years old. My extended clan, half-Czech, half-Slovak, had grown so large over the years that this one holiday we spent more than six hours joyfully opening presents. My mother, wringing her hands on her apron, stole into the kitchen every fifteen minutes to baste her roast, long since done. Time passes. Too much time. At last, when my family finally sat down to dinner, my mother watched, horrified, as she imagined everyone passing judgement on the stringy beef brisket. In reality, the family was oblivious. I alone noticed my mother's face, pinched and growing whiter. In my typical preteen mode of trying to make everything right, I took the platter, forced a radiant smile, and raised the serving fork to take a giant piece. Offended my mother lost her composure. She jerked the platter from my hands, marched into the kitchen, and dumped the meat into the trash. The room went silent. This was the moment when I learned to equate food with perfection."

Parents approaches on food and dieting affects children. Children come to relate more to their parents in series of experiences with mealtime. Food is one of the medium for parent and child's communication. It is an integral part of the child's psychological development. In her book The Hungry Self, Kim Chernin says that "food is so charged, so significant, so informed with primal meaning that we might well expect the communications that take place through food to carry more weight than those that arise when a child totters about knocking into furniture or pushes a truck across the floor." "Food can be withheld or given too freely, or given for purposes other than nutrition, Trisha Gura, Ph. D. explains in her book Lying in Weight.

Neglectful and unmindful parent's approaches on food and dieting can lead to eating disorders of a person in later years. For example: a parent may sooth her child by giving her candy. As she grows up she learns to reward herself with that indulgence. On her teens, she may battle with addiction to sweets. If unguarded she may have a more difficult time regulating her addiction to sweets which will largely affect her weight and diet.

Recovering From Eating Disorders

2009-07-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are not only sickness among adults, alarmingly 15 percent of young women shows eating disorders. When put into numbers, that would be 1 out of 100 American women have eating disorders. Males are also not left out, about 5 to 10 percent of anorexics and bulimics are males.

The sad thing is that these figures are the reported ones, a large number of eating disorders cases remain unreported. Therefore, the numbers are deemed to increase. This is because of media hype about standards of beauty. Sadly, the idea of is that “thin is beautiful.” Because of this influence in pop culture, women would have to conform to be accepted in social circles. As young as 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders are already thinking or being afraid of getting fat.

For an individual to recover from eating disorders, it would be an emotional and long process. Suffering from eating disorders can be because of physical, mental or psychological problems. As part of the recovery plan, it is important for the individual to consult a psychiatrist or a therapist. There are different types of eating disorders, whether it is anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, it is very important to get professional help.

Getting psychological assistance would help the individual to identify the reasons why he or she view their body in a negative way. Another reason can be biological factors. There are eating disorders that are genetic just like Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Not like dieting or treatment of any kind of disease, there are no specific period how long would be the recovery period. It depends on every individuals attitude, case and speed of improvement. Experts would recommend different things that could ensure and speed up recovery.

• Be comfortable and love yourself. Individuals who are suffering from eating disorders would have low self-esteem and confidence. They are also not content with their body shape and show that in their attitude. Starting to love yourself would encourage you to rest and exercise more and eat healthier foods.

• Start the healing process by clearing your closets or removing this around the house which can dampen your spirits and emotions. You could make friends or relationships with people that lead a healthy lifestyle so your would be able to adopt their habits.

• Another part of the healing process is forgiving. Eating disorders could be because of a traumatic experience which left a huge impact on how the individual view and value herself. It is important to forgive other people and yourself.

• Find a creative outlet or you can start getting involved in some physical activities like camping or walking to clear your mind and at the same boost or increase your energy. Some eating disorder sufferers also lack energy because of little physical activity.

• Get the support you need. A recovering eating disorder patient would need to surround herself with positive people. Aside from that it is important that they get the support from friends, family, relatives and loved ones. If they cannot give you the understanding and support you need, there are support groups which would be very happy to help and accommodate you. There can be members who have undergone the same problem but were able to overcome it, you could learn so much from their experiences and how they dealt with their issues.

Types Of Eating Disorders

2009-07-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are taking its toll, not only to adults but to youngsters as well. The National Institute of Mental Health cited in their reports that about 5 to 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men suffer from eating disorders. Aside from these alarming numbers, there are still many unreported cases.

Most common reasons and cases of eating disorders would be because of the increasing social pressure to achieve a thinner body shape and appearance. This can be associated with the changing standards of beauty as described and portrayed by media and popular culture. Subconsciously, everybody is creating an image that being thin is being beautiful.

There are different types of eating disorders. The three main types of eating disorders are:

Anorexia- this is commonly described as “refusal to eat normally.” In comes from a Greek word which means “lack of appetite.” Most anorexics are described as individuals who fear of gaining weight. The person affected with this kind of disorder rarely eats which is why extreme weight loss happens. Aside from drastic weight loss, the individual also experienced lack of energy for any physical activity, hair, skin and nail problems. Anorexics also suffer from very low self-esteem and most of the times have depression.
Bulimia – is commonly described of incidents of overeating or binge eating and then would induce themselves into vomiting, excessive exercise, over-se or misuse of diet pills or fasting. Bulimic individuals do not have to be underweight like anorexics but they still feel unsatisfied with their body. Just like anorexics they would also have low self-esteem. Long sufferers of bulimia tend to suffer gastrointestinal system problems, and also problems in other parts of the body, mouth, teeth and kidneys.
Binge eating – this disorder is often characterized to be compulsive and excessive overeating. Unlike bulimics, binge eaters do not do anything to treat or counteract their overeating tendencies. Most binge eaters would use food to distract them from uncomfortable moments and problems in life. Food is often used to remove stress or deal with any painful feelings.

These three eating disorders are the main eating disorders. However there are other eating disorders that can be congenital conditions or associated to mental conditions. For example pica, another compulsive eating disorder, is about eating non-food items or foods with no nutrition at all. Pica sufferers would eat items like chalk, plaster, baking soda, paint chips, glue, starch, ice, coffee grounds and eve cigarette ashes. Sometimes, this disorder can be associated to mental deficiencies and developmental delays.

There is also a congenital eating disorder or condition, the Prader-Willi Syndrome. This is mainly due to abnormality in genes. This condition can be described as insatiable appetite which can be often associated to behavioural and mental problems. Prader-Willi Sydrome sufferes would also have motor development problems, abnormal growth, speech impairments, dental problems, obesity and diabetes type II.

Understanding eating disorders is important to know how to address these issues. Increasing number or adults, also teens, are suffering from eating disorders. Increasing our awareness would help us deal with this fast becoming social concern.

Treatments For Eating Disorders in Adolescents

2009-07-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

As a parent, there are number of concerns that need to be addressed when seeking treatment for eating disorders for your adolescent child like: When is the best time to seek treatment? What is the optimal treatment environment? Who should provide the treatment? Being a parent, it is your priority to ensure that the intensity, severity, and motivation setting will lead to the recovery of the eating disorder of your child.

At the onset of the symptoms of the eating disorder, a parent should immediately seek treatment. The book Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders advises "that treatment should occur in the least restrictive setting in which effective treatment can be provided." However, that depends on where the adolescent has access. Large cities offer intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, and inpatient hospitalization. Adolescents may resist seeking treatment to more intensive treatment settings like residential facilities because aside from its distance from home; their family, social and school life can be disrupted. Treatment options in smaller towns, on the other hand, are often limited because of the unavailability of therapists with varying degrees of interest and expertise in treating adolescents with eating disorders. Your adolescent may also be treated at the comforts of your home but the treatment provider must maintain the balance between ideal treatment and available treatment. At present, there are no "agreed-upon" specific treatment protocols for treatment of adolescent with eating disorders. The typical set-up is that adolescent tends to start in outpatient treatment with regular visits to medical and mental health provider then progress to more intensive treatment if there are no positive responses to prior treatments.

The involvement of the family in the treatment process can be critical to its success. Also "if the care providers attribute blame or fault to the parents, it will be difficult to foster a collaborative relationship with parents, (300)." In the year 2003, the Society for Adolescent Medicine (SAM) released new guidelines with five major positions on the treatment of adolescents with eating disorders. The guidelines give highlight on the following:

Diagnosis - as adolescents may have significant health risks associated with dysfunctional weight control practices.
Treatment - should be at lower symptom levels than for adults.
Nutritional management - should reflect the patient's age, pubertal stage, and physical activity.
Family-based treatment - should be considered an essential part of treatment.
Assessment and treatment of adolescent with eating disorders - should be done by knowledgeable team.

Initial Steps When Your Child Has Eating Disorder

2009-07-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Think through who the best person is to do the talking - Decide with your spouse if you should be the one to talk, or if you should be there, or you should be not. Decide who would have an easier time talking to your child. Don’t involve the rest of the family until after your child is spoken with privately.
Pick a time to talk when you are feeling calm - Your feeling may interfere with your achieving the goals that you have in mind. Do not bring up your concerns in a middle of a fight, you are angry, upset, or hurt. Confrontations will resort a person to be defensive and shutting down potential lines of communication. He or she might perceive your communication as an criticism or attack.
Pick a time when you know you won't be interrupted - Time pressure may limit you and your child to discuss the situation. Pick a time when both of you have as much time as is needed to talk.
Consider writing down what you want to say ahead of time - It is inevitable to feel anxious opening up the subject of eating disorders to your child. Take time to practice your lines to him or her. Write a note and plan your lines.

Treatment For Eating Disorder

2009-07-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

Not everyone is excited to undergo treatment for their eating disorder. Most people who suffer from this condition shy away from any medical help due to the fear of rebuke and embarrassment from society. Keep in mind, however, that leaving this condition alone may only compromise your health -- emotional and behavioral scarring is common, as well as physical health problems that may cause death if left unchecked.

This is one reason why people should be very observant with the signs and symptoms of eating disorders if they want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Keep in mind that time is not your luxury at this point, and leaving the condition be will only lead to serious complications later on.

The 3-Step Way

There is a treatment for eating disorder called as the 3-step way. This integrates three basic steps where an individual can get over their eating disorders without having to go through years and years of excessive treatment just to get rid of the problem.

The first step is to find a health care provider that specializes in eating disorders. This will help you identify whether you are suffering from bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or binge eating disorder (BED) to determine the most effective treatment method for it.
The second step involves admittance over the fact that you are suffering from eating disorder. Many fail at this point since their ego or personality would not accept the fact that they are having eating problems for a variety of personal reasons -- mostly out of embarrassment. Once you have accepted that you are suffering from eating disorder -- then the next step is readily available for you.
There are different treatment methods available to you now that have safely determine what your eating disorder is and have overcome the mental and emotional barriers that stops you from getting rid of it from your system. All you need now is to take a specific program and see it to the end.

Work It Out With A Group

Undergoing treatment method for your eating disorder alone may not be a good way to see it through to the end. It is possible that the lack of support, as well as the evidence that you are not alone in this condition, might cause your determination to waver.

Medical experts advise their patients suffering from eating disorder to enrollment in a group or class to share the experience and gain acceptance from society that they think to have shunned them due to the condition. This allows you to share your experiences, while listening to the experience of others regarding their eating disorders; come up with a treatment or diversion with the whole group, and develop camaraderie to build lasting relationships with people who understands what you're going through.

Share The Problem With Your Loved Ones

It is advisable for a person suffering from eating disorder to share the problem with their family and friends. It wouldn’t do you any good to shoulder the condition on your own when you have supportive people around you who are more than happy to help you out of the problem.

To put it simply; once you have people you love understand your condition, there are people who will push you with treatment, as well as coming up with ways and restrictions to get rid of this problem out of your system.

Education Is Key

Information can be a cure for your eating disorder, especially when it is provided by an expert in the subject. The best way to program your mind to get rid of the problem is first know about it to help you identify and accept the condition to remove any mental and emotional barriers that is stopping you from taking any help from experts.

Look for a eating disorder medical expert and ask them to tell you everything you need to know about the condition. You will mostly like be provided with a nutrition or diet plan to keep your body in shape, as well as a strict program to help you counteract the causes that result to this problem.

The start of an eating disorder

2009-07-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

It is actually not hard to imagine how eating disorders have become such a trend in the country and perhaps in the whole world. The model-thin phenomenon is actually the result of a multitude of factors and it is actually not right to just pinpoint it to just one source. Ultimately, even if it is the kind of image that the fashion world and Hollywood have been showing for the past decades, it is still the choice of the person to follow it or not. Also, families have important roles to play in this regard and have actually contributed much to this problem whether they like it or not. Here are some of the things that may have contributed to the rise in the cases of eating disorders in recent years.

The focus on looks

With rising stars in Hollywood all beautiful and sexy but have few and sometimes even non-existent talent, it is not hard to conclude just how much important appearances are when you want to earn the kind of money that they earn and reach the status that they are enjoying. When you see great singers like Jennifer Hudson— who is not your usual model-thin Hollywood star but has the most powerful voice imaginable— not as successful as for instance Britney Spears with her studio-generated voice, you can’t help but think that looks is actually more important than talent.

School bullies

Teenage life is hard enough to deal with without having to deal with bullies who want to always bring you down. These people mask their insecurities by bullying people to think less of themselves and question their worth as individuals. There are a lot of school bullies in school nowadays and most of them are not ordinary stereotypes of big burly boys. Most school bullies in fact are model-thin girls who are beautiful on the outside but wicked in the inside.

Lack of family support

Most of the people who eventually develop eating disorders come from families that are either dysfunctional or lacking in emotional support. Young people are easily impressed with ideas and because they still do not know what is right from wrong, they need the support of their parents as they search for their identities. It is however sad that because of economic conditions, most parents are busy with their work and are not there often enough to watch over their kids and provide the emotional support that they need.

What Causes Anorexia?

2009-07-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

The term anorexia pertains to the overall manifestation of weight loss and weakness following a chronic state of disorder wherein the body does not sense hunger. This is also associated with the idea that there is no complete satiation of the perceived hunger, therefore the feedback mechanism of hunger and satiety does not result to a proper physiological output.

The Different Causes

However, there are several reasons why anorexia or even anorexia nervosa at that occurs. There is no single reason as to why this manifestation happens in selected individuals. Unlike certain diseases which have a single or a set of defined microorganisms causing it, anorexia have different factors which make it hard to properly and directly control especially those linked to psychological factors.

These are the different and most probable cause for people to develop or acquire anorexia in either physiological or psychological states.

Cultural Factors

Societies differ from place to place. The views of the society are actually a dictation of the common views of the people and the level of acceptance of such. There are societies which are more accepting and lenient with some norms, whereas the same norms would be a complete taboo and insult for their ways of living and existence.

In this context, the success of people especially in modernized cities may also differ than those with the surrounding states or provinces. The views are also altered from the once common values of those same provinces where the cities evolved from. Highly developed cities view success and popularity, as well as beauty as part of being thin. Media, which is highly structured and influential in modernized cities have created an image of ultra thin bodies and tight muscles as the social norm of acceptance in terms of beauty.

More often than not, the aesthetic values of such physiques lose their concept of well being as it reaches the minds of the people. Even if the reason for such well maintained bodies being advertised have health related reasons, the media have utilized the ends to justify everything. There are simply not much advertising and promotions to support proper ways of attaining that health state.

Family Environment

In a more microscopic view of cultures and norms, the family also plays a bog part in the development of the views and outlook of the individuals within the kin. The occurrence of anorexia nervosa is a self attained state of strong will power used in a destructive way. In relation to this, the development of such a disease may be a defiant stand of the individual to try to attain self independence and identity.

This is usually a manifestation among adolescents wherein the focus of their existence and developmental tasks are geared to attaining an identity in society. There is also an increased possibility with those being overly protected and those who may feel suffocated with the closeness and lack of privacy, especially with children.

Psychological Issues

Those who have a tendency to develop a depression fit or even those who have a naturally low self esteem in relation to emotional quotient may also develop anorexia nervosa as a reaction to the current psychological pressure.

People who have this usually look emotionally downtrodden, harassed, or problematic. Some view that the manifestation of this disease is either as a passive or proactive means of coping up with these psychological pressures being imposed on them. Nevertheless, both reactionary cases lead to disturbances and instability of mental framework.

The levels of people trying to make a defiant stand in life through this means of starvation differ for each individual, therefore the objectives and emotional drives also differ. In this manner, the cause and effect of the disorder and the factors may be well interchanged.

Normal Life Stages

All of us individuals go through different stages in our lives with different developmental tasks to adhere. For example, adolescents have their focus on developing with coping mechanisms to fully express themselves and establish identity. More so, those who are in their mid twenties focus on preparing a family and experiencing family life. This develops as each reaches a certain stage of development in relation to age.

Along with this, life transitions occur. These events are major and permanent changes in each person's life and are usually a new form of stressor. The means to cope up with these events are those which may determine the possible occurrence of having to resort to some of these disorders, among which is anorexia. Intense emotional sensations may not be handled properly. These high intensity stressors may be the cause of loss of appetite and eating, and later develops into a chronic state of anorexia.

Still A Long Way To Go

The study of anorexia may still be a long way from being characterized in a more definitive state. However, these are the common factors which may be looked into as a starting ground for further understanding of case to case bases.

Uncovering Eating Disorders: Knowing The Symptoms

2009-07-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Individuals who are suffering from eating disorders and other associated dietary conditions are increasing. There is an estimated 5 to 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men who are deeply affected by these anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other similar dietary conditions. Alarmingly, these numbers are only the reported ones. The number of unreported cases is estimated to take the statistics to a higher level.

Unfortunately, even if it is plaguing millions of people in the United States and worldwide, eating disorders are can be hard to identify and may take a long time to heal. Mainly, because individuals suffering from it believed that what their doing is actually normal.

A person with an eating disorder does not have to underweight. There are men and women who have these dietary conditions do not appear to be underweight. Sometimes, you can detect the disorder when it starts to manifest or show into their behaviour. Some would develop hostility or personality changes. This could be linked to how poorly they view themselves and pent-up frustrations with how they look.

There are different symptoms of the different eating disorders. Here are some of the eating disorders and their symptoms.

Anorexia nervosa comes from a Greek word that means “lack of appetite.” Usually, they would show fear of gaining weight and desiring to stay thin. It could be by lack of calorie intake or sometimes near starvation or excessive exercise. Aside from thin appearance, other symptoms would include:

• Fatigue and fainting spells
• Brittle nails and hair and dry skin
• Irregular menstruation for women
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Abnormal blood counts and cases of low blood pressure
• Bone degeneration
• Irregular bowel movements like constipation

Bulimia is in between binge eating and anorexia. They would indulge themselves with food but would later on force themselves to get rid of the food by vomiting or excessive exercise. Unlike anorexics, bulimics are not underweight or very thin. They can have normal weight or sometimes a little overweight. Bulimics are often seen to self-induced vomiting, laxative use and frequent bathroom visits after or during a meal. Bulimia symptoms would include:

• Damaged teeth and gums, mouth and throat sores and swollen salivary glands
• Fatigue
• Dehydration and bloating
• Irregular heartbeat
• Irregular menstruation

Binge eating is overeating. Binge eaters would constantly eat even if you are not hungry or long full. After bingeing, the individual could turn to diet or normal meals. Eventually, this would lead to binge eating again. Binge eaters can have normal weight, overweight or suffer from obesity.

Binge eaters would eat too much and eat fat. They would frequently eat alone. They would also have the tendency to hoard food and hide empty containers. Emotionally binge eaters would feel disgust and upset with the amount of food eaten. But would eat more again on the next binge episode.

These symptoms of eating disorders should never be ignored. These could actually be symptoms of a deeper psychological and emotional problem. If you know somebody showing signs of these symptoms, then the best help you can give them is seek professional help and stay with them through the treatment process.

What Is Anorexia?

2009-07-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

The term anorexia comes from a Greek word which means a loss of appetite. It may be characterized by a lessened sensation of appetite, or an active suppression brought about by a psychological disease developed by the individual.

The Difference Between The Two

There is a big difference in using the term anorexia and anorexia nervosa. People have commonly fallen to associate the two as being the same. Though both terms would denote the loss of appetite of a person, resulting to undernourishment and perhaps death from hunger if left untreated, the term anorexia mainly denotes the physical incapability to detect hunger, while the term anorexia nervosa pertains to a psychological state wherein the individual distorts the view on appetite and proper eating habits to extreme measures of food deprivation.

Physically Induced Anorexia

The loss of appetite in this manner may be caused by several factors such as pathogenic attacks, drug alterations in body system feedbacks, and other clinical manifestations. The person may feel the hunger signaled by the brain, but other physiological aspects such as weakness, stress, altered physical state and capabilities, or effects of drug interactions may prohibit the person from participating from practicing proper eating activities.

For instance, those who have a chronic disease such as diabetes and chronic renal failure may have anorexic effects due to the altered state of systemic and digestive processes brought about by the different drugs administered, which may increase nausea and pain. On a similar note, chemotherapy for patients with severe diseases such as AIDS or Cancer may feel the general weakness and discomfort that may hinder them from eating.

Usually, these individuals would rather rest and stay in bed sleeping rather than engage in activities such as eating. Strength would be tried to be preserved this way. For this reason, intravenous feeding and nutrition is needed to aid in the nutritional supplementation of the body's requirements to sustain considerable functions.

The Psychological Anorexia

There is also a type of anorexia brought about by the individual's psychological alteration of seeking self esteem. The term anorexia nervosa pertains to a person resorting to starving one's self just in order to remain thin and somewhat desirable to the eyes of society. There is this created excessive fear of eating as well as gaining some weight from eating.

In this regard, the whole concept of maintenance and proper nutrition is pushed to the limit of deprivation so as not to allow any chances of letting too much food be taken in. The cemented beliefs, practices, peer pressure, media, and the overall look of society frowning upon fat people cause these individuals to resort to an extreme form of self control.

Associated with this psychological disease is a direct link to having a strong willed personality, backed up with the preemptive depression upon failure.

Common Risks

Fixation with keeping a thin figure as the only acceptable course of action for peace of mind cause other physiological problems such as undernourishment, decreased blood flow throughout the body systems, extreme weight loss, dehydration, constipation, and a lot more abnormalities.

The risks are similar to that with anorexia itself, but those risks related from anorexia nervosa are harder to control and predict as the individual's mindset and fixation on things present an active participation of the mind and body. Excessive and those cases which are not addressed with proper intervention and maintenance often lead to death.

Rising Trend Due To Media

The occurrence of anorexia nervosa may be attributed to the social norms of society in which all of us individuals try to belong in. As a social creature, people are said to participate and try to fit in society to survive, following rules and views commonly practiced within the social construct. Those who have a different perspective may be regarded as unpleasant, unacceptable, or even as a taboo.

In this regard, the society, specifically the media has created a social view that being thin is what is beautiful and utterly acceptable. Popularity and acceptance is linked with having a thin body. From models to advertising, the models employed have one thing in common which is being thin.

Depictions of ridicule and disgust to those who do not have the "perfect" body have been shown on television, movies, or even other forms of media. This is one angle which psychologists view as the main culprit in causing a high rate of this disease.

Culture And Society

Another view by those who do not necessarily promote the idea of media to anorexia nervosa would rather claim that culture and the collective view of society are the main determinants of the occurrence of anorexia nervosa. There are certain societies and culture which do not promote thinness as what would define beautiful. The Victorian society, for example abhors women on being too thin as it would not accentuate the voluptuousness and wealth of a woman, especially when wearing gowns. Women in their culture have preference on a rather plump physique.

It is also asserted that there were no cases of anorexia nervosa diagnosed during that time, and that the disease became only evident and widespread during the modern age of society.

What Do the Experts Say About the Future

2009-07-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Eating disorder is a serious problem that must be addressed quickly to avoid mental, emotional, and physical risk. A person afflicted with this condition needs to have it treated immediately to put your life back on track and resume the stability of your future lifestyle.

The only problem with eating disorder is that not everyone can successfully get rid of it if they don’t have the determination and discipline to match it up with their mental and emotional prowess. To put it simply, eating disorder is all in the mind and it's up to you to mentally arm yourself if you want to be free from it.

Anorexia Nervosa - A Bleak Outcome

Anorexia nervosa is one of the eating disorders plaguing women today; men may acquire this condition but women are more susceptible to it. The need to achieve the perfect body to satisfy their self-esteem, as well as their confidence, may push an individual to undergo a crash diet -- simply not eating anything until they get the desired body of their dreams.

The only problem here is the lack of satisfaction with the result. It's true that not eating anything for an extended period of time can help you lose weight fast; but there is a possibility that an individual might not be satisfied with the result and proceed to continue with the habit that may put their health at risk.

Bulimia Nervosa - Till Death Do Us Part

Obesity and overweight are the common results of the bulimia nervosa eating disorder. Eating too much of your favorite meals, unhealthy foods, can easily bring your body down to its knees. People who left this condition untreated are left with an increased blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, weakness and fatigue, as well as the possibility of getting cancer due to their unhealthy lifestyle.

According to survey, death because of this eating disorder numbers around 13% of the total population. One problem is that these individuals practice their habits in secret considering they are mostly embarrassed with what they do -- not accepting their eating disorder that eventually leads to an ineffective treatment.

Acceptance Is The Key

Keep in mind that there are plenty of eating disorder treatment options available today. Medical experts offer rehabilitation treatment that includes mental and emotional exercise to help boost your self-esteem and produce the right determination to get rid of the problem. There are also herbal and medical products available in the market that can help suppress hunger, or produce hunger pangs to avoid problematic eating habits.

But these treatment methods would lead to nothing if the individual afflicted with this condition refuses to accept the fact that they are already in it. Most rehabilitation treatment methods today help their patients accept the fact that they are suffering from an eating disorder and gain the right resolve to get rid of it.

Be Open To The World

The future looks bleak for someone suffering from eating disorders when they keep it to themselves. They are mostly branded as anti-social considering that they are too ashamed with their physical outlook, as well as their habits of overeating or the lack of it, that they shun away from any outside contact and stick to themselves in private.

If you want to get rid of this condition then you need to accept the fact that you are already tired of it and want to change your life. You can share it with your close friends and families so that they can empathize with what you're feeling and help you get over the problem. It is also a good idea to join health groups with members who are also suffering from eating disorders to learn how they suffered and listen to their advice on how to get over it.

Accept the fact that you are suffering from eating disorder and seek the help of your health care provider to determine the exact cause of the problem and to properly diagnose you on what eating disorder is killing you. Once done, your expert can easily prescribe the most effective treatment method to get rid of it from your system without the hassle and bring back the life you have lost without looking back.

What Causes Bulimia?

2009-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

The occurrence of bulimia nervosa among individuals is considered to be a highly complicated combination of several disorders utilized by the person to cover up or escape from a recurring psychological burden. As the trigger is more often caused by a thought or emotion, it is hard to pinpoint the exact definitive cause on why bulimia nervosa happens. Another argument that supports the previous idea is that not all individuals having the same problems develop this form of disease, and may have other means of trying to compensate for it.

In General

It has been only safe to diagnose and define this disease in a relatively more general way such as being influenced by a common set of factors which increases its occurrence. Below are some of the most probable causes of bulimia nervosa in relation to today's social views and scientific capability.

Family Ties

Some researches may suggest that the risk of developing a recurrent case of bulimia nervosa may occur within family members. However, this has been argued as to just being part of the cause and influence brought about by the proximity of each family member. It may also be viewed as a genetic cause but not much evidence is laid out as basis for such a claim. Still, the whole idea of genetic predisposition among family lines are not necessarily ruled out as it is still highly considered until proven otherwise.

When Stress Overtakes

The most common cause of developing this disease is when the person is subjected to a significantly high form of stress. Such high intensity stress events like divorce, death of a loved one, moving house, marriage, and the like may inexplicably cause the person to resort to this form of activity. Others view it as a wrong manner of trying to compensate for the stress or emotional burden, while others view this as an escape, a defense mechanism to divert the uncomfortable association of the bad experience.

However, it is evident that the end result of a chronic form of bulimia nervosa causes serious physiological complications, among which is rapid weight loss. This may be attributed to the undernourishment due to purging after each binging. This may also cause ulcerations along the throat's inner wall, as well as the intestinal lining if used with vomiting or laxatives, respectively.

Social Dictation

There are also views that social acceptance may be the culprit why this disease occurs. Women, especially those in the adolescent stage may focus on developing a self identity and may resort to this method just to properly fit in a certain group. It may also be viewed as a means of trying to emulate the social norms of having a slender body as the most appropriate and appreciated form. Extreme measures such as this as well as self deprivation of food root from the frustration of such social pressures.

Peer Pressure

Similar to social pressure, the emotional burden is focused on a smaller scale wherein the immediate peers surrounding the individual may have a great deal of influence. This pressure is not limited with the individual's effort to try and fit in the group, but may also originate from the fact that those peers themselves cause active emotional distraught upon the person through jeers and heckles, probably in relation to physical features.

Media Power

Along the idea of social dictation, the media is one of the biggest contributing factors for people to feel the need to be accepted and resort to such extreme measures. The media, being one of the biggest medium of communication may have a greater influence among the people and dictate the actual social norm currently viewed as ideal. Advertising and show businesses have a great deal of influence on fans and aspiring individuals.

However, sociologists have theorized that the kind of image which the media portrays on icons and figures, especially popular actors causes an intensely high affinity for fans to emulate. However, as there are many factors contributing to the overall make up of each person in society, frustration may take place within each person in different levels as they realize that they are not able to be exactly the same as their idolized personalities.

Higher forms of frustration may lead to desperation as those who have high affinity and fixation of emulating what the public sees as popular, beautiful, and highly accepted resort to desperate measures as well. This is the usual cause of either the purging or non purging effects of bulimia, as well as other forms of eating disorders aimed in obtaining a slim physique for the most part.

What Is Bulimia?

2009-07-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Bulimia nervosa, better known by its shorter term bulimia to most people, is an eating disorder related to a psychological aspect of coping up with emotional stressors. The main characteristics of a person having bulimia nervosa would be described as initiating a binge eating pattern during meals, followed by a feeling of guilt and depression, and finally discarding the ingested food through vomiting it out.

Purging To Get The Guilt Out

The purpose of the sudden purging of the ingested food is to compensate and reduce the guilt feeling of taking in too much calories. Purging of bulimics may be done through ingestion of laxatives for faster expulsion of incompletely digested food, induced vomiting, or compulsive exercising.

When Binging Becomes The Escape

The act of binging uniquely identified with people diagnosed with bulimia nervosa defined as the sudden uncontrollable act of eating an abnormally large amount of food over a short period of time. This is usually amplified as the person eats at a buffet restaurant or at a party. Usually, the feeling of an upcoming binge, according to some cases have been premeditated and planned before the actual meal.

There are considerations wherein the binging becomes so uncontrollable and worsens when extreme actions are undertaken just to compensate the sensation. Some of these actions are secret stashing of food, bringing of food to hidden places to eat them voraciously, or even practicing improper table manners already just to be able to eat the food as fast as one could.

How To Know Bulimia Is Up And About

Occasional binge eating is not an immediate indication of bulimia as there are times when cravings are just too irresistible to let by. However, accompanying signs may suggest that there is a chance that the observed binging may be a preemptive signal.

One classic way of suspecting an upcoming bulimic episode would be an observed feeling of depression and resentment of taking in too much. This does not necessarily mean that anyone wishing not having to eat too much because of the discomfort would be a likely candidate. Suspicion may be heightened when the person resorts to extreme measures to allow purging.

There are times when purging may not be necessarily seen because it may be done in secret. However, the signs that result from it such as dental and gum problems, sore throat, and corroded buccal lining suggest that the person may have induced vomiting frequently

It May Happen To Anyone

Bulimia is a condition that does not specifically target an individual based on physical capability, as well as immunity to pathogens. It is more of a self occurring phenomenon that has preponderance on manifesting on people subjected to significantly stressful conditions. These conditions may have happened for a very long duration that it has established some level of insecurity within the person's thinking.

People who develop pain, bitterness, and chronic low self esteem due to the different stressors resort to binge eating to satisfy the satiety and comfort given by the sensation of feeling full. They try to focus on this compensatory act as a means to secure themselves that everything is still alright. However, even that act rebounds to a feeling of depression and guilt and thus purging occurs.

Anyone may develop bulimia nervosa, especially those who are emotionally vulnerable and those with chronic low self esteem.

The Vicious Living Cycle

The specific start of a bulimic cycle may be hard to determine, but it is easy to diagnose its presence once the cycle of manifestations have begun. This starts with a bad emotional experience which becomes the stress, after which it continues to roll into a vicious cycle of never ending causalities. The binge causes depression and forces purging. The purging causes an insecurity to linger in the self. This insecurity is only satiated and addressed with a binge.

This never ending cycle will perpetually continue unless the individual becomes very sick so as to render the self incapable to perform daily tasks or perhaps encounter a systemic failure which may lead to sickness and eventually death.

How To Most Likely Address The Disease

A positive alternative would be to positively help the person realize what is happening and develop a sense of realization to face the factors involved in the lowering of self esteem. This may be harder than it sounds as the human brain is capable of storing so much data and reactions unique to that specific person only.

Medication being administered to these types of patients is just utilized to suppress the depression that triggers the disease process and should not be viewed as a direct treatment to address the psychological issues involved.

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

2009-07-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

Carolyn Costin says that "the term binge eating disorder (BED) was officially introduced in 1992 at an International Eating Disorders Conference. The term is used to describe people who binge eat but do not fast or purge to lose weight. A person who binges is one who is referred as compulsive eater, emotional overeater or food addict. Binge eaters suffer from debilitating patterns of eating to self-sooth. This, when done on a regular basis produces weight gain and obesity. Binge eating was first studied by Dr. Albert Stunkard of the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1950's. Additional studies were made in the 1980's. Then in 1992, the term was adopted at the International Eating Disorders Conference.

Some professionals subcategorizes binge eating into two: one is deprivation-sensitive binge eating which appears to be result of weight loss or periods of restrictive eating and the other is addictive or dissociative binge eating which is the practice of self-meditating or self-soothing with food unrelated to prior restricting. Binge eaters feel numbness, dissociation, calmness, and regaining of inner equilibrium.

The Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV listed the following criteria for binge eating disorder:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating like eating in a discrete period of time - amount of food is larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time in similar situation.
Lack of control over eating. A person feels he or she cannot stop eating or control what or how much he or she is eating.
Manifests three or more of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food though not feeling physically hungry, eating alone to avoid embarrassment/deny how much he or she is eating, feeling disgusted with oneself, and depressed or very guilty after overeating.
The binge eating happens at least two days a week for six months.

There is a common misconception that all people with binge eating disorder are also overweight. Being overweight or obese is not enough to qualify a person to have binge eating disorder. There are various causes for obesity. The Oxford English Dictionary helps explain the difference between simple overeating from binge eating: the term binge refers to "a heavy drinking bout, hence a spree." The Webster's Collegiate Dictionary also says that the word binge applies to anything where there is "an unrestrained or excessive indulgence." Thus, binge eating disorder is when a person binged food in a discrete period of time with the person having the trouble to stop or control the behavior.

What Is Binge Eating?

2009-07-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Binge eating is now being defined as an eating disorder of its own category due to unique signs and symptoms that an individual shows when under this condition. People who are suffering from eating disorders may be categorized to be under anorexia or bulimia nervosa; it is possible that their actions may indeed be from a binge eating disorder.

Facts On Binge Eating

Binge eating is classified as an eating disorder where an individual eats large amounts of food in a single sitting, unlike overeating. An average person who suffers this disorder may be observed to "binge" at least twice every week within the first three months; though may continue on if left unchecked.

People who are suffering from this eating disorder may eat alone to avoid being discovered of their abnormal habits. There were also testimonies from people who were under this condition that they have uncontrolled urges to eat even when they are not hungry.

Difference With Other Eating Disorders

There is a slight difference between binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa. People who are suffering from the latter are seen to be prone to compulsive physical exercise, while people who are under the former may not do anything strenuous at all. Also, overeating is not a characteristic of binge eating disorder in contrast to people who suffer from bulimia nervosa. It was said that people with BED may even have bouts of aversion towards food.

Causes

There is no known cause of why some people suffering from binge eating disorder. Though many classify this problem to be part of the signs commonly seen in bulimia nervosa; medical experts agree that this is separate condition from the type main types of eating disorders.

Common triggers may be sudden and extreme bouts of emotional surge -- such as sadness, depression, anger, anxiety, irritation, or even boredom. Ego might also become a trigger for binge eating disorder and is commonly observed to people who pay too much attention on their physical outlook -- usually thinking that the other have a better looking body may trigger the condition.

Health Risks

People who suffer from binge eating disorder may result to weakness and fatigue since the body lacks the proper nutrients to get it going in top form. Diabetes and cardiovascular problems were also reported considering that binge eaters usually take in large amounts of sugar or fat -- such as sweets, meats, fast food, junk food, and the likes.

High blood pressure and stroke is also a direct result of binge eating disorder, while more severe cases are prone to cancer cells forming in their system.

Avoid Immediate Diet

It is advisable for a person who is suffering from BED to stop thinking of going into a strict diet program to counteract their rapid weight gain. Medical experts who made a study of this condition reported that there are individuals who proceed immediately with a diet program after bouts of BED may only make matter even worst. It is advisable to undergo treatment to get rid of this condition before taking the next step to remove the physical and emotional effects on their bodies.

Treatment Methods

It is best if an individual who suffer from BED to seek the help of their health care provider. Taking a personal hand in treating the condition, such as dieting, may only make it worst.

The first step to a successful treatment is to first determine the cause of the condition. The trigger needs to be found in order to take the necessary steps to counter it -- though many are unsuccessful in mental treatment since they are quite ashamed of the condition and may even make up lies to cover the truth.

A treatment method called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is advised to people suffering from BED. This allows an individual to keep track of their daily eating habits and slowly change their abnormal eating habits starting from their mind -- cultivating the necessary determination and discipline to counteract any urges when the condition kicks in.

There are also specialized weight loss programs that targets people who are suffering from BED. This includes mental, emotional, and behavioral exercise coupled by slow and systematic physical exercise regime to help an individual lose weight while keeping tabs on their condition.

What is Binge Eating?

2009-07-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

Binge eating is a disorder in the pattern or amount of food ingested by a person, which may result to other complications such as a disease process or other eating disorders. It is often viewed by researchers as a psychologically rooted manifestation of having a consciously, yet uncontrolled rapid consumption of food.

Main Characteristics

It is quite easy to detect if the person has developed binge eating. Besides the usual fast and exaggerated increase in the amount of food eaten, it is an episodic event wherein underlying personal stressors trigger it. This may cause a random number of episodes per day, from a single and defined occurrence, to a multiple succession.

Another manifestation of binge eating is that the consumption usually only gets disrupted when the person becomes quite uneasy and uncomfortable due to stomach ache or nausea. This continuous eating of a excessively large amount of food may not be outright observed due to a preoccupation with a sad or depressing thought. The person may be said to be fixated on the recurring thought, which hinders proper and rational thinking.

Worsening State

The manifestation of this eating disorder develops into a worse state when the person becomes fully aware of the current situation during the latent phase in between episodes. In this manner, the individual tries to cover up for what is happening as it is considered a taboo and as a shameful experience in contrast to social norms.

When this happens, the individual creates an active stand to cover up such habit by binging in secret, as well as any other reactions coming from it. Of course, the main issue has not been properly addressed and resolved, but more often than not, case studies have indicated that the individual develops self rationalization to convince the self that it is quite acceptable as a means of a personal and private activity to address their own issues and concerns.

Relationships And Connections

Commonly associated with bulimia nervosa, wherein the patient is described as having binging episodes, followed by induced vomiting, laxative intake, or over exercising, binge eating is only described until the moment when the person stops to eat due to reaching a limit. Binge eating in itself does not include the procedure of purging and therefore produces overweight individuals as opposed to the thin and undernourished people suffering from bulimia nervosa.

Compulsive Versus Binge Eating Disorder

Many may confuse compulsive eating with binge eating disorder. Even with the similar evidence of excessive intake of food, the former is more directed with the active participation of affinity with food, while the latter is descriptive of a person having to resort to eating too much to steer away from having to experience a bad though or emotion.

In this regard, it may be safe to indicate that compulsive eating is the positive outlook for wanting food, while binge eating disorder may be the negative outcome of a psychological problem over an significant underlying stressor.

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for people undergoing binge eating disorder is being overweight and obese. Nevertheless, it does not exclude those who have normal weight and physique. Complications arising from this disorder are the risks of increased heart diseases, as well as other systemic and organic diseases related to an altered physiological state.

It is highly possible that bulimia nervosa is developed in this manner, especially if the individual is able to construct a strong relationship with purging as a means of further trying to correct the current overweight state, or perhaps when guilt is established upon overly consuming food.

Treatment

Depending on which specific though or emotional stressors are causing binge eating disorder, the usual intervention given to these individuals are counseling and therapies to promote self awareness, and bring out proactive attitudes from the individual's self. Therapy in the psychological aspect does not have a stable prognosis as there are still many areas regarding psychology which are still in gray. Nevertheless, consistent therapy has been considered to be better than just waiting for the individual to arrive at an unguided self realization.

Medications are more often used to limit the physiological manifestations resulting to depressive episodes which often trigger the disorder. Other medications are given to address the issue of being overweight and are aimed at lowering the overall weight.

Young Eating Disorder

2009-07-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

Growth and development is usually associated with the amount and quality of food intake. Nutritionists and dieticians always emphasize the need to build a daily regimen of food consumption revolving around the basic food groups and food pyramids. This means that in order to ensure that you are eating healthy your platter should consist of a dose of each body boosting essentials such as carbs, protein, a little bit of fat and dairy, and of course the ever reliable line-up of vitamins and minerals.

This is not a problem when you reach age of maturity wherein you recognize the fact that to live longer and happier you must follow what your very own health guru advice you to do. But what about the young ones who tend to make a fuss every time they are called to the table for a nice warm meal or tasty treat? Eating disorders affect people from all age groups. Selective eating disorder can even start as young as early childhood and can extend up to the time when the person reaches adulthood. Come and let’s turn the pages en route to information about this eating disorder.

If you’re a parent isn’t it tiring that when you call for the kids because dinner is about to take place begging and pleading is needed in order for the young ones to realize that they must eat the healthy foods you prepared in order to grow strong and well-developed? The fact is selective eating disorder can invade the lives of your children and this will make it hard for you to help them get the prescribed dietary consumption. Basically, SED prevents the intake of foods that are not appealing to the individual especially for growing children.

In fact studies state that the occurrence of selective eating disorder is commonly pictured in the younger generation undergoing autism and similar disorders. For the one afflicted with such disorder there is only a limited list of foods that he can accept and readily take in. The best form of food for the individual experiencing SED is based on the aroma and texture presented. At this predicament, foods are not labelled as healthy instead they art tagged as the ones that are safe to consume. Brand names are given emphasis when someone is under SED. This brings about separation from foods that offer highly effective doses of nutrients needed by the body.

Although it can be associated with other eating disorders the problem brought about by the disorder can also be considered rooted upon personal memories or traumatic instances. One good example is a choking incident with a steak that you used to enjoy and after which all foods that demand chewing is off your list. Paranoia can also play culprit as you may think of how well and clean the preparation of the food you’re about to consume was done. More so, it’s about the perception you develop regarding the food you feast upon. The senses play an important role in combating such disfunctional eating. Food appeal solely relies on the smell, color, blending, texture, and form. People with SED often look for that extra kick of taste in their food.

Given that selective eating disorder normally occurs during the younger years it is easier to resolve. If you are a parent struggling with your child having such disfunctional eating habit all you really need to do is step up and be a role model. Eat your veggies and crank up on the fruits.

Who Is At Risk for an Eating Disorder?

2009-07-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

While there is only an answer on who are more likely to develop an eating disorder, it would be safe to assume and tackle the different factors which may contribute to its existence. Preponderance is based on the assumption that the possible factors involved have a significant effect, with several supporting case studies as evidence within a general population.

Scientists and researchers have dealt with understanding eating disorders in a multidimensional risk perspective, wherein there is a direct relevance with the increased occurrence of eating disorders as an individual has more of the probable factors presently happening. As there are more factors involved, it pushes the risk a notch higher, as well as giving a relative description on how intense the disorder would probably be.

Activity

Those who are found to have a career may find themselves faced with the obligation to maintain competence in their field by resorting to any of the current forms of eating disorder. For instance, those who are in the show business industry are pressured to look their best, and follow the normal dictated fashion regarding body physique. Though not necessarily compulsory, those who are regarded as pop stars and icons have a generally increased value if they retain their physiques to a considerable image.

Women are more prone to developing a form of eating disorder as their value increases as they appear more attractive and appealing to the masses. This is highly dictated with body form, as well as face value coupled with acting talent.

This does not only limit people in the show business industry as those who are quite busy in their own jobs may develop a habit of skipping meals or altered meal times. Proper eating habits are compromised just to be able to cope up with the work schedule and deadlines to produce the expected output.

People who are also active in sports may ironically develop some form of improper diet regimen and subsequent eating disorder to achieve the weight class which their sport requires them. Though this is against their principles of being an athlete, this is more of a lack of guidance or sense of responsibility.

Past Trauma

People who had a previous state of abuse in any form have been found out to develop a defense mechanism to cover up their past traumas. The feeling of being able to inflict discomfort to the self to replace the past burden is highly evident as one form of trying to compensate for it. Another suggestion indicates that the idea of feeling unwanted may trigger a counter action of trying to feel accepted by obtaining a attractive physique through drastic means.

Emotionally Burdened

Those who are currently pressured with life's problems such as undergoing a wedding, death of a loved one, divorce, natural calamities, and the like may trigger a paradigm shift in personal self preservation. Though not necessarily developing outright, the added emotional pressures may contribute to letting the person view eating disorders as a means to address some issues concerning the totality of events.

The temporary escape from current emotional dilemmas may manifest into any of the eating disorder as this activity shadows any thought about it. From the classic binge eating to satisfy a sense of comfort for a short period, to being anorexic to produce a sense of reward to cover for ill emotions, eating disorders serve a variety of personal satisfaction to each individual.

Socially Pressured

Peer pressure and current social views regarding ideal body physiques tend to convince people to jump into the bandwagon and emulate what they see as appealing. However, the lack of supporting information on proper means to achieve such healthy and wonderful bodies misleads many into thinking that any means may be employed. Others who are left unguided on the proper method may get impatient, frustrated, or depressed, and may try to resort to severe forms of dieting and eating disorder to produce the desired result.

Adolescence

The developmental stage of people may dictate the preponderance of contracting the disease process. Adolescents are found to be at the highest risk of developing such problems with eating disorders as they are the most susceptible to being swayed from their rational thoughts with radical ones. This is also increased with the characteristic of people in this stage to actively try to express them selves and create their own identity acceptance in society.

Other Views

There are some other claims that being overly health conscious may be an intrinsic pressure upon the self to develop an eating disorder, based on the fact that an advocating health measures too much may trigger an extreme form of staying fit that it already becomes an unbalanced eating regimen. There is still much to be explored with this area, especially with religious vegetarians as well as other diet programs being followed by zealous patrons.

What To Do When Eating Disorder Is Causing You Fight With Your Child

2009-07-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

When your child has an eating disorder, food and weight issues are likely to cause fights. If your child refuses to eat, what you should do? Are you going make him or her eat? Are you going to say anything if you think she's gaining too much weight?

Michele Siegel, author of the book "Surviving an Eating Disorder, says "interventions to change someone eating are appropriate only as part of a well thought out treatment plan under the guidance of a therapist. Except in closely monitored circumstances, attempts at changing someone's eating almost never work." So what could be the best approach to help your child cope up with the disorder?

Your goal is to use the eating disorder as opportunity for the family to grow and change in whatever ways needed in the situation. Which means, you are not only required to allow your child to regain a healthy relationship with food but reassure your relationship with your child and the rest of the family.

Be a good example. Many parents doubt that their attitudes might have caused their child to have an eating disorder. Parents who eat healthfully and exercise regularly are good role models. Children have to have choices but choices must be limited in a way that they will eventually make healthy choices.

Eating disorder in the family is an eye-opener. Every family has its own difficulties. And every difficulty is an opportunity for you to broaden your perspectives. Most of the time, it takes something to go wrong to evaluate what might need to change and get better in the family. Almost everyone are susceptible to the kind of unhealthy thinking about dieting and loosing weight. Let your child realize that being healthy is not necessarily being so thin. Open your ears to their woes. Your child might be having a hard time in school because of weight concerns and this could have drive him or her on loosing excessive amount of weight. Let him or her tell her story.

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating doesn't happen overnight. Thus, treating this kind of disorder will really take time. You need patience and discipline to allow the recovery of your child. Eating disorders are destructive but when you are working patiently for your childs treatment it can be much more easier to achieve the solution.

What Should A Parent Watch Out For?

2009-07-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

We can never deny the possibility that one or two of your children may suffer from eating disorders. Seeing our son or daughter not eating anything and shedding out pounds in a short period of time, or seeing them eat everything is a very worrisome sight to see.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of eating disorders makes it easy for you to spot the problem on your kids and implement the right treatment method to get it out of their system fast; rather than slowly noticing the disease when it is already too late.

Change In Their Eating Habits

One sign of eating disorder is the sudden or gradual change in their eating habits. Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa might stop eating that comes with their drive to lose weight and get back their lost self-esteem, even when they are already in their normal weight level.

Bulimia nervosa is the opposite -- individuals under this condition indulge in overeating, mostly in secret, to avoid embarrassment. Overweight and obesity coupled with cardiovascular problems are common signs of this eating disorder.

Observing Your Daughter

Females are more prone to eating disorders than males. Medical survey shows that 7 out of 10 eating disorder problems are attributed to women than men. One reason for this is that females are more susceptible to emotional and behavioral changes, as well as being overly conscious with their physical outlook.

If your daughter has stopped eating as their weight loss solution, and scantly eating for months, then you can be sure that they are already suffering from eating disorder. But this doesn’t stop there; females might still think that they are huge even if they are below the average weight, so they would most likely continue to stop eating until they get over their low self-esteem problems.

Overeating And Excessive Exercise

If your son or daughter is suffering from the bulimia nervosa eating disorder, then overeating is a simple sign you can watch out for. But another manifestation attributed to excessive eating is the compulsion to lose weight through excessive physical exercise.

Most feel ashamed of this condition and will try their best to get rid of the evidence by indulging in strenuous physical exercise to lose weight fast. The only problem with this is that they will still continue with their eating habits and find that their solution to weight loss is rendered ineffective. They will just keep on doing it just to get rid of the depression and anxiety that comes with being heavy with no visible results.

Eating Even When Not Hungry

People suffering from binge eating or bulimia nervosa are prone to eat even when they are not hungry. It's normal to overeat when you're hungry but eating still when you're stomach is still full is purely another matter entirely.

Try to observe your son or daughter's eating habits, especially after regular meal time. If they tend to eat more in between meals then they are surely suffering from this condition, especially if this is a daily habit.

Desperate In Purging

People with eating disorders are prone to bouts of desperate purging -- especially those who are suffering from binge eating or bulimia nervosa. They usually take laxatives or herbal supplement to help them get rid of the waste and food inside their bodies. This is mostly done in secret and tries to repeat the process in random intervals until they feel satisfied -- which usually end up in more eating sessions afterwards when they start to feel empty or visited by the urge to binge.

Quick Treatment

Parents should be very observant with the above signs and symptoms of eating disorders if they don’t want to put their children's health in danger. It is possible for anorexia nervosa patients to suffering from weakness and fatigue that comes with the lack of nutrients in their body -- as well as being prone to diseases that can easily attack them in their weakened state. Obese and overweight individual are prone to high-blood pressure, body pains, muscle spasm, cardiovascular problems, or cancer if left unchecked.

It is essential that you are quick to react to these signs and confront your son and daughter regarding their eating disorder. After all, acceptance is one way to get rid of the problem and can pave a way for effective treatment to get rid of it before it has a permanent hold on you.

Your Teen And Eating Disorders

2009-07-02T08:13:00.001-07:00

Eating disorders are not just the problems of the adults, unfortunately, the number of youth affected with different types of eating disorders are already increasing. About 15 percent of young women population is suffering with different kinds of dietary conditions like anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

There are survey conducted showing that 40 percent of 1st, 2nd and ord grade girls are already wishing that they are thinner. While 80 percent of 10 year old girls are already worried of becoming fat in the future. Most of 6th grade girls are already concerned with their weight. Most of eating disorders affect women than men.

Adolescence is a very difficult stage. Teens would be in a period where they would constantly discover their identities. It would be stressful, confusing and frightening time. Some teens would find the transition easy while some teens would find handling pressures very difficult.

When teens get complimented on how they look, they would feel extremely satisfied and some could go to extreme measures just to retain those look. Mass media is another major influence on how teens view themselves. Media has major influences on how women is perceived to be beautiful when they are thin. Actresses that are very pretty and thin, as they see in television shows, are the role models.

Aside from mass media, family could also have a significant effect on how teens view themselves. Individuals, teens and adults, are likely to suffer from eating disorders if they dealt with a traumatic experience in their past life. Traumatic experience could be divorce, death, abuse over appearance or diet. Parents commenting too much on their looks, suppression of problems and feelings, and a restricting their child’s diet could also lead to eating disorders.

Pop culture and the environment has huge effects on how teens view themselves and their body. Therefore, the school should play a major role in helping children and teens deal with such a difficult age. There could be information dissemination, there is a need to educate students about eating disorders and its consequences.

Schools should also have counsellors that could identify the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. Help should be readily available if there are students that showed signs of eating disorders and similar dietary conditions. It is important to deal with the condition early on, before it could progress into something that can be dangerous.

What you should fear about eating disorders are the long term effects that it could bring to the individual. Long term health effects could be kidney failure and heart problems. It could also lead to deeper psychological issues. Teenagers are in a very confusing situation, they would need to feel good about themselves and at the same time accept the real truth about their body and their life. They would need all the support that they could get. Friends, relatives and family are the one that could primarily provide the support needed.

Causes of Eating Disorders

2009-07-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Fashion and culture perpetuate the concept of thinness as beauty but causes of "eating disorders are much more than the fallout of fashion opportunism," says Trisha Gura, Ph.D., author of the book Lying in Weight. Experts say that one of the factors that lead to eating disorders is the intention to assert power in time of helplessness or powerlessness. Eating disorder can be a voice against insufferable struggle like oppressive authority or a "lifeboat in a storm of transition."

There are also cases when having eating disorder is biological - a matter of genes craving for thinness. Recent research in the field of genetics reveals that genetic tendencies contribute to eating disorders. However, this does not mean that environmental factors (fashion and culture) cannot anymore be blamed as reason for a person to develop eating disorder. Genetic predisposition is the unloaded gun and environmental and cultural are the factors that load the gun and pull the trigger. Genetic trait may have always been around but it takes environmental encouragement to activate the disorder.

Researchers are also looking on certain brain chemistry that affects the urge the person to binge, purge, starve and do compulsive exercises. Carolyn Costin, in her book The Eating Disorder Sourcebook mentions that "the neurotransmitter serotonin (a mood-and-appetite-regulating chemical in the brain) is reduced in anorexia nervosa [while] reduced serotonin activity persists even after recovery. Symptoms improve in approximately 50 percent of bulimia nervosa cases through the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft.

Eating disorder usually happens in adolescent years. Teens are the most susceptible to having weight problems as they undergo rapid physical and emotional changes in their lives. Trisha Gura cited a typical pattern for development of eating disorders:

"Stress mounts as new issues come up. The old ways, the ways of a child, cannot solve the new problem. A girl takes the problems out on her body. She reduces the problem to something she can manage - dieting. And for most girls this is where the cycle stops."

Professor Christopher G. Fairburn, explains the same pattern in his book Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Eating Disorders:

"A woman hates herself; her low self-esteem causes extreme concern about her shape and weight; this in turn, prompts strict dieting. With anorexia it stops here. With binge eating disorder, the strict dieting leads to binge eating; with bulimia, the binge eating leads to such guilt that it triggers the urge to vomit or purge in some other way."

Are You Suffering From An Eating disorder?

2009-07-02T08:09:00.000-07:00

The term eating disorder used to be closely associated with the fashion industry. In the early nineties, pencil-thin models began appearing in the major fashion shows around the world and on billboards and magazine covers. What seems to be just a harmless trend soon became a public concern. It wasn’t only the appearance of the models per se but the effect of these glamorous advertisements featuring emaciated cover girls that got the public going.

The increasing number of people with eating disorder has been largely blamed on the media. Whatever the case maybe, eating disorder is not as simple as young girls and women aiming to have an impossibly perfectly thin body. Each sufferer, of course, is a different case.

One of the most popular eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. A person suffering from anorexia deliberately skip meals to lose weight or to avoid adding on weight. In some serious cases, the person might even desist from taking in solid foods and subsist only on fluids in order to feel full. Anorexia sufferers have often told that they feel a certain amount of pride in being able to reject what is naturally needed by the body. It is as if by shunning food they are able to control a part of their lives, which, for them is an achievement in itself.

Another form of eating disorder is bulimia nervosa. The difference with this eating disorder is that the person may take in food or even indulge in binging but purges them eventually by induced vomiting. These two eating disorders are closely related to body dimorphic disorder, a disease wherein the person is perpetually dissatisfied with his body image, resulting in most cases, extreme dieting or excessive exercising.

But eating disorders are not just about resisting food. Those who are emotional eaters are also most likely to have an eating disorder as well. In this case, the person uses food to give himself or herself comfort from whatever that’s bothering him or her emotionally or psychologically. This usually triggers food binging, which is the large in take of food for short amount of time. Those who suffer from this have described the feeling as stuffing a seemingly bottomless well. But food binging comes not without guilt, which is usually felt right after doing the deed.

There are also those who are simply addicted to food. They get an immense rush every time they eat and so they constantly crave for food. This particular eating disorder usually results to being overweight and other complications pertaining to obesity.

Key Features of Eating Disorders

2009-07-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating had been studied comprehensively in the past 30 years. The following are key features of eating disorders according to DSM and ICD-10. (Source: Eating Disorders by Mario Maj, Katherine Halmi,Juan Jose Lopez-Ibor and Norman Sartorius).

Key features of DSM-IV anorexia nervosa:

1. Refuses to maintain weight in a normal range

2. Morbid fear of becoming fat

3. Denies the situation of low weight

4. Experiences amenorrhoea or absence of menstruation

Subtypes

1. Restricts dieting and exercising

2. Binge eating or purging

Key features of ICD-10 anorexia nervosa

1. Weight loss

2. Induced weight loss, a person avoids fattening foods

3. Fear of fatness and perception of becoming too fat

4. Endocrine disorder which involves hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis or amenorrhea.

5. No overeating episodes and no sense of of compulsion to eat

Key features of DSM-IV bulimia nervosa

1. Experiences recurrent episodes of binge eating

2. Repeatedly uses self-induced vomiting or laxatives, diuretics, enemas, fasting and excessive exercise to prevent weight gain. (Occurs an average of twice a week for 3 months)

3. Body shape and weight unduly self-evaluation

4. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa is not present

Subtypes

1. Purging or self-induced vomiting

2. Non-purging or fasting only or exercising to avoid calorie intake

Key features of ICD-10 bulimia nervosa

1. Recurrent episodes of overeating (an average of 2 times a week for 3 months)

2. Persistent preoccupation with eating and sense of compulsion or craving to eat

3. Counteraction of calorie intake by binge eating, starvation or use of drugs

4. Feeling too fat, with fear of fatness that usually lead to becoming underweight

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating are all clinically defined by the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV. The DSM-IV classifies binge eating disorder as somewhat similar to bulimia nervosa but without the compensatory purging or other behaviors. A person with BED tends to be obese and has low self esteem. Binge eating may begin after few years of unsuccessful dieting.

Classifying patients into groups and subgroups are helpful for doctors to determine which treatment is best. Diagnoses help but have their limitations. Trisha Gura, Ph. D. says that "strict criteria can convey a false sense of who is well and who is not. There may be patients who are still in therapy but no longer fits in the disorder category. She may be better but inside still feels something wrong.

The start of an eating disorder

2009-07-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

What are Eating Disorders?

2009-07-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are illnesses commonly manifested with disturbances in food intake habits with excessive concerns on body weight and shape. These illnesses are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and cultural factors. Eating disorders can lead to physical and psychological complications. Psychiatric conditions such as obsessions, depression and anxiety is more prevalent to someone with eating disorder. A person who has an eating disorder feels accomplished when he looses weight. He might have a serious emotional problem and using weight loss to divert his attention in it.

Not everyone who diets or wishes to be thinner has an eating disorder. The most common type of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. U.S. statistics show that about 8 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, it shows that 0.5 percent to 3.7 percent of women in the U.S. suffer from anorexia nervosa while 1.1 percent to 4.2 percent suffers from bulimia.

People with an anorexia nervosa starve themselves to become thinner thus restrict intake of calories. They are obsessed to becoming the thinnest person they can be. They have an intense fear of gaining weight and view themselves as fat in spite of being so thin or emaciated. Because of this, they may start isolating from friends and family. Anorexic people feel that dieting give them a sense of control over the world. The disorder may be their way of coping with negative emotions. People with anorexia deny their needs and suppress their feelings - even their need for eating and their feelings for hunger. What is surprising is that a person at the start of dieting do not plan to become anorexic. The process takes slowly. As he looses weight, he may set lower weight goals until weight loss have taken his way of life.

Bulimia nervosa, another serious eating disorder causes a person caught up in a dangerous cycle of binge eating and purging. People with bulimia often eat an enormous amount of food in a short period of time, automatically and out-of-control. In order to get rid of the excess calories they purge themselves like self-induces vomiting and use of laxative, excessive exercise or fasting. People suffering from bulimia had encountered unsuccessful dieting in the past and some have a history of anorexia nervosa. Eating disorders bulimia and nervosa are both associated with low self-esteem which worsens as the illnesses continue.