Get Help for Eating Disorders Eating disorders cause life-threatening problems, and they are about more than appearance or weight. They can also be difficult to detect, although in their later stages, the resulting health problems they cause become obvious. Recovering from an eating disorder requires professional help and a multidisciplinary approach. That is because the roots of every eating disorder lay in mental health, and the physical consequences require medical as well as nutritional intervention. What to Know About Eating Disorders An eating disorder is an unhealthy relationship with food and weight that interferes with many area’s of a person’s life, according to Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. An individual with an eating disorder often regards herself extremely critically, and holds herself to unrealistic standards. She cannot control thoughts about food and weight, and intense and even unhealthy exercise sometimes accompanies eating disorders. Individuals who participate in judged sports such as gymnastics and figure skating are at higher risk, as are those who participate in ballet. As the problem grows, the disorder alters normal bodily functions and daily habits. Serious health problems develop, including life-threatening changes in heart rhythm. Most individuals with eating disorders are women, although the incidence of eating disorder diagnosis among men is rising. Young women are particularly at risk, but eating disorders occur among individuals of all ages and nationalities. Most people who suffer from an eating disorder do not get help for it, and those who do enter treatment usually do not do so at a facility with a specialized eating disorder program. Given that eating disorders cause more deaths than any other type of mental health illness, this is shocking. Death from eating disorder can result in a number of ways, but the most frequent causes are heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition and suicide, according to ANAD. Types of Eating Disorders There are several types of eating disorders. They include: •
Anorexia nervosa. An individual who suffers from anorexia nervosa believes she is fat even though low weight is obvious. She suffers from a distorted body image, and she is likely to starve herself by strictly limiting caloric intake, and “purge” (vomit) when she feels it is necessary. She may attempt to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time by any means necessary, including diet gimmicks and drug use. Anorectics may turn to illicit drugs such as stimulants to keep off or lose weight.
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Bulimia and binge eating. An individual with bulimia may eat large amounts in a single setting and then purge to avoid weight gain. It is important to note that individuals with bulimia may not always vomit after eating, but may instead use laxatives, water pills, excessive exercise or calorie restriction. If purging is the method of choice, the first sign of the disorder may arise after a dental checkup.
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Binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is uncontrolled eating that is not followed by purging. She may eat huge quantities of food, then hate herself afterward — but continue to binge eat anyway. Sometimes an individual with binge eating disorder will alternate periods of bingeing with periods of fasting or dieting.
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Compulsive overeating. An individual who compulsively overeats may eat “thousands of calories beyond normal food consumption,” according to Addiction.com. Compulsive overeating may result from an inability to cope with everyday stress or to fill a void.
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Night eating. This newly identified eating disorder affects millions of Americans. An individual with NES eats more than half the daily caloric intake after 8 p.m. One estimate suggests that a third of individuals with morbid obesity suffer from NES.
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Pica. When an individual eats nonfood items for a period lasting longer than 1 month, it may be Pica. Nonfood items may include soap, cloth, dirt or talcum powder, according to the Mayo Clinic. Eating nonfood items can lead to serious infections or poisoning. It commonly occurs alongside spectrum disorders or intellectual disability.
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Rumination disorder. An individual with rumination disorder regurgitates, rechews and reswallows or spits out food.
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Avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder. Individuals who fail to meet daily nutritional requirements because they are afraid of choking, gaining weight or who simply dislike certain textures, tastes or smells suffer from avoidant disorder.
Causes of Eating Disorders Eating disorders are complex mental health problems that medical researchers still struggle to understand. What is clear is that they are about far more than appearance, and that there is still healthy debate in the scientific community about the underlying causes of these damaging disorders. Overall, professionals believe “behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors” play a role in every individual’s diagnosis. Despite the differences of opinion, some common factors do exist among individuals with eating disorders. They include: •
Low self-esteem. Cultural and social factors that contribute to low self-esteem include unrealistic expectations and fantasies perpetuated by the fashion industry, in addition to “narrow definitions of beauty” that glorify men and women of “specific body weights and shapes.”
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Lack of control, and problems expressing feelings. An individual who feels overwhelmed by life’s pressures may respond by controlling food intake and/or purging. A reduced ability to share emotions compounds the problem.
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Depression and anxiety. About half of individuals with an eating disorder also “meet the criteria for depression,” according to ANAD. Stress, loneliness, discrimination, a history of bullying due to weight, and anger are just a few of the underlying factors causing these mental health disorders. Sexual, physical and emotional abuse are more all-too-common causes.
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Genetics. A family history may make future generations more likely to develop an eating disorder.
Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms
Identifying an eating disorder isn’t always easy because the signs and symptoms aren’t always clear until health problems grow serious. They include: •
Avoiding eating, while making excuses for skipping meals. “I already ate” is a common refrain.
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Adopting a rigid vegetarian or vegan diet.
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Focusing excessively on healthy eating.
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Preparing separate meals because what everyone else is eating isn’t healthy enough.
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Frequent complaints or comments about being fat, or being overly desirous of losing weight — especially if weight loss is not necessary. This may be accompanied by expressions of disgust or guilt about needing to eat.
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Obsessively looking in the mirror to identify perceived problems, or an unrealistic focus on perfection.
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An unhealthy obsession with exercise.
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Using drugs, supplements, laxatives or other products whose side effects include weight loss.
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Symptoms of purging, which include calloused knuckles and weakened tooth enamel and decay.
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Leaving in the middle of mealtime to go to the bathroom.
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Eating in secret.
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Withdrawal from normal activities.
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Sensitivity to cold.
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Changes in menstruation.
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Fine hair growth on body or face.
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Listless or dull behavior, and difficulty concentrating.
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Irregular moods.
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Dizziness, shortness of breath and chest pain.
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Swollen salivary glands, sore throat, tooth decay and gum disease.
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Low energy and body temperature.
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Swollen stomach or gastric rupture.
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Frequent constipation or irregular elimination.
Dehydration and kidney complications.
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Intervention and Prevention Eating disorders can cause long-lasting physical and psychological problems. There are no methods by which you can definitively stop an eating disorder from developing in someone you love, there are certain habits you can practice which reduces the risk one will develop. They include: •
Eating meals together. When you dine together, you can demonstrate your own healthy eating habits while encouraging others to consume a balanced diet featuring nutritious foods and reasonable portions.
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Limit diet talk. Avoid discussing fad diets and especially pills, especially around children and teenagers.
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Encourage self-esteem by praising healthy body images, and avoid criticizing your own physique. Build acceptance and reassurance by respecting your own appearance as well as those around you.
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Schedule a visit to the doctor. Your physician is an excellent resource and is well positioned to identify a burgeoning eating disorder.
If someone you care about has already developed an eating disorder, you can arrange an intervention. The earlier you intervene in an eating disorder, the easier it is to treat. Intervention is a powerful way to help an individual who is struggling with an eating disorder. For the most successful intervention possible, you should: •
Choose the right participants. Select up to 5 people who are close to your loved one. Choose a leader, or hire a professional interventionist. Plan ahead, and choose a meeting time that works for everyone.
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Identify problem behaviors and incidents. Each participant should prepare to share one behavior or incident that caused concern. Get together beforehand to practice what you’ll say.
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Use non-confrontational, threat-free language. “I worry about your eating habits because you don’t eat with us anymore, and you’ve lost a lot of weight.”
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Offer a solution. If the intervention is successful, your loved one will agree to get help right away. Have a counseling or inpatient treatment solution prepared. Avoid insensitive, too-simple solutions such as “just start eating!”
Facts and Statistics About Eating Disorders Up to 30 million people suffer from eating disorders, yet only 10 percent ever receive treatment. The consequences of eating disorders include death. Getting help is essential. According to ANAD: •
“Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder.”
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“Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents.”
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“25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight management technique.”
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Over 80% of 10-year-old children are afraid of being fat.
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Over 50% of teenage girls and almost 33% of teenage boys skip meals, fast, smoke, vomit or take laxatives to control weight.
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Over one-third of dieters progress to pathological dieting, and 25% of pathological dieters develop an eating disorder.
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Women are more likely to develop an eating disorder, but men are less likely to get help.
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The “ideal” body type as identified by modern advertising is possessed naturally by 5% of American women.
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20% of individuals with anorexia will die prematurely from eating disorder complications, including heart problems and suicide.
Exercise Addiction and Eating Disorders One of the most common coexisting problems of eating disorders is exercise addiction. If the person you care about shows signs of an eating disorder and seems to spend a lot of time working out, then exercise addiction may be a problem. Someone with an addiction to exercise: •
Organizes her life around her exercise habits, rather than her exercise habits around her life.
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Obsessively measures progress, and possibly caloric intake.
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Exercises regardless of current health problems, weather conditions or life events.
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Is overly preoccupied with appearance.
Treatment for Eating Disorders There are diverse options for eating disorder treatment. The first step is intervening with a loved one who demonstrates signs or symptoms, or asking someone else for help. It is scary to accept that an eating disorder is a problem, but the sooner you get help, the easier treatment can be. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common eating disorder treatments. CBT tackles the unhealthy habits and the negative thoughts that precede them. During CBT, your loved one will identify the emotional triggers that lead to destructive habits, such as caloric restriction, purging and excessive exercise. She will also learn how to deal with those triggers in healthier, life-affirming ways. Safe weight management and relaxation techniques, in addition to better coping skills, are also taught as part of CBT. There are many other treatments for eating disorders, including:
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Hospitalization or inpatient rehabilitation, if the physical symptoms threaten life. Malnutrition is considered life threatening. Alternate choices include full-day rehabilitation where the individual returns home at night.
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Psychotherapy and medication. This may include family-based therapy. Medication won’t cure an eating disorder, but it can reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety.
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Nutrition education. Understanding the effects of nutrition on the body and why the body needs certain nutrients to function is essential.
Get Help for an Eating Disorder Eating disorders are complex diseases that have psychological and physical elements. Successful treatment typically includes nutrition education as well as psychotherapies that identify and heal the root causes of the disorder. If there is an additional mental health disorder requiring treatment, such as depression or anxiety, the treatment will incorporate additional therapies. With the right treatment, and supportive loved ones, the prognosis for recovery can be excellent. Individuals with life threatening symptoms such as heart arrhythmia should enroll in a treatment program immediately. Inpatient treatment allows the suffering individual time and space to focus exclusively on healing without any of the distractions of everyday life. A hospital setting can provide lifesaving interventions, but may not offer the necessary follow-up care. Treatment programs that use a holistic approach, whether inpatient or outpatient, often do. Holistic treatment addresses a person’s physical, psychological and spiritual health and wellbeing. Urgent care, behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, pharmacological treatment, nutrition, family therapy, life skills training and safe exercise often comprise a comprehensive holistic care program. After care ends, your loved one can continue therapy on an outpatient basis, and join one or more communities where she can receive ongoing support. Call the Addiction Expert Helpline for More Information The helpline at Addiction Expert is available 24 hours a day and we are ready to answer your questions on a confidential basis. Don’t let an eating disorder get worse if you suspect there is a problem, because waiting can make things worse. We can help you identify a problem and suggest treatment, including intervention. Contact the Addiction Expert helpline now.
