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Dieting Out of Control
You never see your friend eat anymore -- she always says she isn't hungry, or she just ate.
Your brother is constantly working out and taking fat burning pills.
Eating disorders affect millions of teens in the United States. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders, 86 percent of people with eating disorders developed the disorder before they turned 20.
The two main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
People with anorexia want to loose weight so badly that they can starve themselves and exercise beyond normal levels. They fear gaining weight or being perceived as fat. They also have distorted self-images. For example, even when they are bone thin, they might think they look huge.
People with bulimia go through cycles of binges and purges. Binges are periods where they eat more than they usually would. For some it could be a whole box of cookies -- for others, just one cookie is a binge. The purges are attempts to get rid of the calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or over-exercising.
So what if I skip a few meals, does that mean I'm sick?
Well, what do you mean by a few meals? One a day? Two a day? Do you skip eating every other day? Every Thursday? There's no quick answer to this question. If you are skipping a meal you need to ask yourself why. Are you trying to loose weight? If so, there are healthier ways to shed a few pounds. Remember, cutting out food because of fat or calories also means cutting out good nutrients, vitamins, minerals and water -- all of which your body needs to function.
 How will I know if this is affecting someone I know...or me?
Here are some of the warning signs for eating disorders. If you're concerned about yourself or a friend, the best thing you can do is talk to a doctor or someone you trust.
Anorexia: drastic weight drop, denies feeling hungry, rarely eats in public, exercises excessively, feels fat, intense fear of weight gain, growth of soft hair all over skin, withdraws from social activities, hair begins to thin or fall out
Bulimia: has excuses to go to the bathroom after meals, eats large amounts of food without gaining weight, uses laxatives or diuretics, teeth decay, withdraws from social activities, weight fluctuates constantly, overeats because of stress, experiences periods of depression
What are some of the things than can happen to someone with an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are serious problems that can be life threatening. Dizziness, heart attacks, kidney failure, low blood pressure, anemia, low temperature, fainting, seizures, dehydration, constipation, osteoporosis, irregular menstrual periods, infertility and heartburn are just a few of the health problems resulting from eating disorders.
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According to the Renfrew Center Foundation, eating disorders are stereotypically seen as a "white woman's problem." In reality, men and people of other races also account for the large numbers of eating disorder victims and often go undiagnosed because of this stigma.
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What causes eating disorders?
Eating disorders can occur for a variety of reasons. They are part psychological and part physical. According to the Renfrew Center, the factors that may help develop an eating disorder include low self-esteem; depression; family dysfunction; genetics; membership in groups where weight is an issue such as wrestling, body-building, swimming, gymnastics or modeling; a lack of control in his or her life; and socio-cultural ideals that praise thin bodies.
How are eating disorders treated?
Since eating disorders have both psychological and physical aspects, treatment often includes medical doctors, mental health professions and dietitians who all can provide helpful information.
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 Talk Back: Comment on this Articlei've been diagnosed with anorexia this past fall, and i thought i was doing well at hiding it. everytime i read the 'symptons', it was like a checklist, i qualified for them all. even thought i got many compliments, my friends were worried and told the guidance counselor, and i was put through sessions with her, lectures from my mom, counseling with a therapist&nutritionist. i've come a long way in the passed few months, but it feels great. i remember i'd count calories all day, and probably eat one slim fast bar a day. i'd wake up at 3pm and go to bed at 7. that was my summer, and it was awful. people kept telling me 'just stop counting' its not that simple, you can't and most people just don't understand. anorexia may help you shed pounds, but it while losing pounds you're losing your friends, your concentration, and importantly you're lifeline. Reply to this comment | Reply to article
I used to be bulimic, and I do admit, it tore me apart, and it took me a long time to finally understand it was bad for me. Not only did it harm my body, but it hurt my friends and family when they found out about it. Bulimia may help you lose weight, but it also causes you to lose trust with others too...
~Cassi jo marie Reply to this comment | Reply to article
I am naturally skinny. The only way I can gain weight is by gaining muscle. I was never anorexic or bulemic but I considered it. Not because I thought I was fat. I know I am not and even then I knew I wasn't. I was under so much stress that the only way I could think of controlling my life was controlling how I ate. I never followed through, because anorexia was a choice for me. But I still get called anorexic and bulemic, and that hurts. And, yes, I might have some of the symptoms, such as never gaining weight and always being dizzy, but I haven't lost weight. Most people don't know the difference between a healthy skinny person and an unhealthy one, not to mention the ones who can't keep bulemia and anorexia straight. And although I never had an eating disorder, I've come close to it so many times that I can see why someone would do it. And I can understand why it would be hard for them to stop. Reply to this comment | Reply to article
Take a look at my Blog www.filmkidzz.blogspot.com I am part of a film project that is talking to this issue in a cool way Reply to this comment | Reply to article
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