Urban Sunrise

We see the problem every day but we don’t let it phase us. Maybe we’re just too busy, or maybe we’re uncaring. Whatever the reason, the fact is that we encounter eating disorders every day.

Eating disorders come in a variety of shapes and forms, and are caused by a variety of things. For the most part, they come from a unique combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, and social factors. There are also interpersonal factors.

They often begin with preoccupations with food and weight, but they are about more than that. Some are about control and competence, and the lack of control they have over their lives. For some, it is just a way to deal with emotions.

Eating disorders include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. The three eating disorders prevalent among teens and young adults are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, which is also called compulsive overeating.

Anorexia is characterized by starvation and excessive weight loss. Symptoms include refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level; intense fear of gaining weight or being fat; feeling fat or overweight despite dramatic weight loss; loss of menstrual periods; and extreme concerns with body weight and shape. Bulimia is characterized by secretive cycles of binge eating followed by purging. Purging can come in the form of vomiting; abuse of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics; excessive exercising, or fasting. Some symptoms include repeated episodes of binging and purging, feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness, purging after a binge, frequent dieting, and extreme concern with body and shape. Binge eating disorder is the third most common eating disorder amongst teens and young adults. It is characterized by periods of uncontrolled or continuous eating. Sometimes the person does fast or goes on repetitive diets and feels shame or self-hatred following a binge. Problems with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which contributes to unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight can vary from normal weight to severe obesity.

Other than the above listed symptoms, how can you tell if you have distorted eating patterns? Well, how do you answer the following:

• Do you spend time wishing parts of your body were different?
• Do you skip meals?
• Do you count calories or fat grams?
• Do you exercise so much that you are fatigued or have frequent injuries?

If your answer is yes to any of those questions, then you may have an eating disorder.

Being constantly concerned about your weight and shape along with fat grams and calories can start a vicious cycle of body dissatisfaction and obsession. Things can quickly spin out of control.

So how does one get treated for an eating disorder? The most effective and long lasting treatment for an eating disorder is therapy with careful attention paid to medical and nutritional needs. Some medications have been shown to be helpful. Treatment must be tailored to the individual.

Treatment is usually provided by a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nutritionist, and/or primary care physician. Treatment must address the symptoms and forces that contribute or maintain the eating disorder. Many people do fine in outpatient care, but others requires more intensive, inpatient care. Inpatient care is usually followed by outpatient follow-up and aftercare.

Media influences are not helping with eating disorders. Media messages about body shape and size pressure us if we let them. So what can we do to promote healthier body image?

• Talk back to the TV about things that bring you down.
• Write compliments to advertisers who are sending positive messages.
• Make a list of companies that send negative body image messages, and avoid using/buying their products.
• Talk to your friends about media messages.

Want to find out more? Check out National Eating Disorders Association, which is where the majority of this information came from. You can also call their information and referral helpline at 1-800-931-2237.