Eating Problems
www.edauk.com|
Eating Dosorders Association -
tel: 0845 6347650
weekdays 4.00pm-6.30pm,
saturdays 1.00-4.30pm.
Eating disorder
What is anorexia nervosa?
You restrict the amount you eat and drink, sometimes to a dangerous level. You may exercise to burn off what you perceive to be excess calories. You focus on food in an attempt to cope with life, not to starve yourself to death. It is a way of demonstrating that you are in control of your body weight and shape.
Ultimately, however, the disorder itself takes control and the chemical changes in the body affect the brain and distort thinking, making it almost impossible for you to make rational decisions about food. As the illness progresses, you will suffer from the exhaustion of starvation. Occasionally people die from the effects of anorexia, especially if it is untreated.
What is bulimia nervosa?
Binge-eating a large quantity of food to fill the emotional or hunger gap followed by an urge to immediately get rid of the food by vomiting or taking laxatives (or both), by starving or reducing food intake, or by working off the calories with exercise in an attempt not to gain weight. The hunger, however, is really an emotional need that cannot be satisfied by food alone. Bulimia is also often associated with low self-esteem or a general lack of self-confidence.
Bulimia is more difficult for others to notice as you tend not to lose weight so dramatically, or your weight will fluctuate. Even people close to you at home or work may not recognise the illness, so it can persist for many years undetected. People with bulimia may have demanding jobs that require them to be out-going and self-assured even when they feel inadequate inside. As with anorexia, people who develop bulimia become reliant on the control of food and eating as a way of coping with emotional difficulties in their life. You may also find you become obsessed with maintaining your weight.
It's important to know that everyone will not have the same symptoms. Some people will have a mix of symptoms and you do not need to have all these symptoms to have an eating disorder.
The long-term effects of anorexia
The long-term effects of anorexia on the body and mind can be alarming and severe. Women with anorexia tend to find it more difficult to become pregnant and may develop infertility in the long term. Fortunately, many of these effects can be reduced - once the body receives proper and regular nourishment. For both men and women there is a high likelihood of developing osteoporosis.
Once you are on the path to recovery, it can take some weeks or months for the body and mind to re-adjust. Eating and drinking regularly can cause your body to become bloated temporarily. On one hand you may experience enormous hunger whilst on the other, weight gain can seem an alarming prospect. Dealing with the expectations of others around you can also be stressful. Personality and mood swings can also take a while to settle, depending on the emotional difficulties that you may be facing.
Physical effects of anorexia on your body
In adults, extreme weight loss; in children and teenagers, poor weight gain in relation to their growth or substantial weight loss.
Constipation and stomach pains
Dizzy spells and feeling faint
Bloated stomach, puffy face and ankles
Downy hair on the body; occasionally loss of hair on the head when recovering
Poor blood circulation and feeling cold
Dry, rough, or discoloured skin
Loss of 'periods', loss of interest in sex
Loss of bone mass and eventually osteoporosis (brittle bones)
Long-term effects of bulimia
In a similar way to anorexia, bulimia can take over the life of the person with the disorder, making them feel trapped and desperate. Bingeing, purging and dramatic loss of fluids can cause physical problems that can usually be corrected once the body is nourished in an even and moderate way.
Bulimia can, in extreme cases, be fatal due to heart failure. An imbalance or dangerously low levels of the essential minerals in the body can significantly, even fatally affect the working of vital internal organs. Other dangers of bulimia include rupture of the stomach, choking, and erosion of tooth enamel, painful swallowing and drying up of salivary glands. Laxative abuse can lead to serious bowel problem
Physical consequences of vomiting and using laxatives
Damage to tooth enamel
Loss of important chemicals from the body, particularly potassium
A resulting chemical imbalance
This chemical imbalance, as it continues, may lead to important organs, eg heart and kidneys, not working properly. Fluid retention is common. There is also a risk of death from heart failure.
Most of the physical consequences of restricting food and being underweight are reversible, PROVIDED THAT a person begins to eat adequately and regains a normal weight.
The exception is bone damage which may not be reversible if a person remains underweight for many years.
How would you know if someone is an anorexia nervosa/bulimia sufferer?
Not that easily. Vomiters and laxative abusers are usually nearer normal weight, and these controlling activities are usually done in secret. So their illness is hidden, even from doctors. A dentist however may detect a problem with damaged tooth enamel.
Dieting and sport and fitness routines disguise the illness. Sufferers can pass off their food controlling and their exercising as normal or good or healthy. Thinness is often hidden by layers of clothing being worn. Behaviour may give more of a clue as sufferers avoid food or meal sharing and become rigid about exercising. If any of their plans are disturbed they will tend to get very irritable and panicky. It becomes difficult to be friends with someone who is a sufferer. Their anorexic or bulimic activities become more important to them than anyone else.
Do You Overeat? Ask yourself these questions:
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Are you eating a healthy diet at meal times?
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Are the snacks that you have healthy?
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Are you hungry every time you eat?
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When you turn to food for comfort what do you eat and where do you eat it?
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Are there particular times during the day when you comfort eat?
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Is there something else you could do for comfort instead of turning to food?
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If you sometimes eat when you are bored is there some way you could distract yourself?
I worry about my appearance my body not my face. When I go shopping with my friends they all fit into tiny clothes and I look huge but I know I'm not. I've tried dieting but it hasn't worked. I've tried everything to get rid of the fat. What can I do?
You know you're not 'huge' and you like your face. Are you being a bit over critical? If we compare ourselves negatively to others we will always be frustrated and disappointed. Really look at your body, think about what you like about your whole body, its shape, its proportions, skin texture and colour. Gorgeous comes in all sizes, trendy clothes are available for everyone so think about what suits you, what feels comfortable and what makes you feel good.
Dieting doesn't work especially if your weight is within a healthy range for you. Eat regular meals, be careful about choosing healthy snacks and include regular enjoyable exercise.
I'm really overweight and people pick on me because of it so I eat for comfort. It's really getting me down. Please help me.
Being picked on is not OK. It is a form of bullying and can make you feel very frightened and lonely. If this is happening in school, talk to a teacher or the school nurse and do tell your parents. Lots of us turn to food for comfort, the trouble is that sometimes if it becomes a habit or we feel we need a lot of comfort then it can get out of hand.
Try keeping a food diary, make a note of what you eat, when and where you eat and how you are feeling before and after you eat. Include a number that describes how hungry you are before and after you eat (0 = not hungry up to 10 = very hungry). Do this for a week then have a look at your diary preferably with someone you like and trust.
Remind yourself of all your strengths and comfort yourself by doing something you really enjoy and don't often get the chance to do. If you want some professional help with healthy eating and exercise, the School Nurse or your GP should be able to point you in the right direction.
I have two friends who are really skinny I think they have an eating problem. What can I do to help?
It's really great that you want to help your friends. What makes you think they have an eating problem? We are all different shapes and sizes and some people are naturally thin and eat a normal healthy diet. Have you spoken to your friends about your worries? It might be good idea to ask them if they feel OK, if they are having any worries about shape, weight and eating.
If they are struggling, encourage them to talk to their parents, a teacher or the school health nurse before it goes too far. People who are experiencing an eating disorder often don't realise it themselves. They can even think that being good at dieting is a way to solve all their problems and might not be happy about anyone who interferes. If your worries about your friends continue it would probably be a good idea for you to talk to an adult about it, perhaps a teacher or the school health nurse or your own mum.
I think my friend is suffering from an eating disorder. Where can she go for help?
If your friend has got an eating disorder then getting help as soon as possible is the best thing to do. It is important to find out what sort of eating disorder your friend is experiencing and how it might be affecting her.
The longer an eating disorder continues the more difficult they are to stop and the more dangerous they can get. General information about eating disorders is available from your GP, school health nurse or local library.
I would also encourage your friend to talk to a trusted adult such as her parent, teacher, school health nurse or GP. There is an excellent national organisation called The Eating Disorders Association which has telephone helplines for young people as well as lots of good information and a young person's magazine see back page for contact details.