Public Health and Environment

Eating Disorders & Body Image

What is an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are extreme expressions of a range of weight and food issues experienced by men and women. They include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive overeating. All are serious emotional problems that can have life-threatening consequences.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is an emotional disorder characterized by severe weight loss. Individuals with anorexia have an unyielding determination to become thin at all costs and an intense, irrational fear of becoming fat. Weight is lost through a variety of methods including severe calorie restrictions, fasting, relentless exercising, use of diet aids, diuretic and laxative use and self-induced vomiting.

Approximately 1 in 10 women, and 1 in 100 men suffer from anorexia. They may be young or old, though most often it begins in adolescents.

Symptoms include:

• Abnormal weight loss of ten percent or more of body weight.
• Very restrictive food intake.
• Denial of hunger.
• Intense fear of weight gain.
• Abnormal reproductive function; amenorrhea in women and low testosterone in men.
• Prolonged exercising despite fatigue and weakness.
• Peculiar patterns of handling food.
• Distorted perception of weight and body size or shape.
• Social withdrawal.
• Perfectionism.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is an emotional disorder which consists of episode of binge eating followed by some form of purging and or severe dietary restriction A "binge" is a secretive consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time. Most bulimics follow the binge by self-induced vomiting. But purging may also take the form of laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting, diet pills or strenuous exercise. This binge-purge cycle is normally accompanied by depressed mood and an awareness that the eating behavior is abnormal and out of control. It is often an outlet for feelings of frustration, disappointment, anger, loneliness and boredom. A person can also have bulimia and anorexia at the same time. Most individuals with this disorder are women but it also occurs in men. Bulimia is more common than anorexia and at any time, 5-10 percent of females between 12 and 24 year of age display these behaviors.

Symptoms include:

• Fear of weight gain
• Secretive binging followed by attempts to purge the food through vomiting, laxatives or other unhealthy behavior
• Depression and recurrent mood swings
• Inability to discontinue binge-purge cycle
• Problems with the throat, esophagus, stomach and colon
• Dental problems
• Dissatisfaction with body shape and preoccupation with becoming thin
• Frequent weight fluctuations
• Edema and swelling of parotid glands
• Prolonged exercise for the purpose of weight loss

How can I help someone I care about who may have with an eating disorder?

• Understand that this a very difficult and scary time for them.
• Learn as much as you can about these disorders.
• Be honest and talk openly about your concerns with the person who is struggling.
• Be caring and express your concerns in a loving, supportive way.
• Use "I" statements such as "I'm concerned about you because you refuse to eat breakfast or lunch and it makes me afraid to hear you vomiting".
• Tell someone else about your concerns, such a parent, a teacher, a doctor or any trusted adult.

Resources for people with eating disorders.

• Fairview-Riverside Medical Center:  612-672-6600.
• Family Means:  651-439-4840.
• Methodist Hospital - The Institute for Eating Disorders:  612-993-6200
• Ramsey Clinic:  651-430-1868.
• Hamm Clinic:  651-224-0614.
• Eating Disorder Referral Website: http://www.edreferral.com/.  Provides information and treatment resources for all forms of eating disorders.

How can I improve my own body image?

None of us are immune to the messages we receive from the media and sometimes even our parents and friends about our body. We never seem to be as perfect as we're "supposed" to be. This is wrong. Who ever said we should all have the same type of body? How realistic is this anyway? Declare yourself free and independent from the pressures and constraints of a weight-obsessed world.

Take the "Declaration of Independence"

• I will accept my body in its natural shape and size.
• I will celebrate all that my body can do for me each day.
• I will treat my body with respect, giving it enough rest, fueling it with a variety of food and listening to what it needs.
• I will choose to resist our society's pressures to judge myself and other people on physical characteristics like body weight, shape or size.
• I will refuse to deny my body of valuable nutrients by dieting or using weight loss products.
• I will avoid categorizing foods as either "good" or " bad"
• I will not use food to mask my emotional needs.
• I will not avoid participating in activities that I enjoy simply because I am self-conscience about the way my body looks. I will recognize that I have the right to enjoy any activities regardless of my body shape or size.
• I will believe that my self-esteem and identity come from within!