Thinking About Eating Disorders

Allow me to tell you the story of a friend of mine.

A young teenage girl we know recently suffered through the death of her mother and consequently had to be faced with being raised by her father in whom she was petrified of. Did I mention she was to be in charge of raising her 6 younger brothers and sisters.

She was always thin, but now weighs 90 pounds. She doesn’t think she has a problem and her father doesn’t think she has a problem. There are many questions in this situation, the major one being does she have an eating disorder. If she does have an eating disorder, what type is it….anorexia, bulimia?

It’s clear she needs help, others have tried, however her father prevents any intervention. The question becomes, what is causing the eating disorder? That’s why I assembled this collection of articles and ebooks on eating disorders. Hopefully, you…the reader, might see yourself or someone you care about in the articles to come. Perhaps you might see that you are experiencing the symptoms discussed for anorexia or bulimia. Maybe you binge eat.

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever when it comes to developing an eating disorder. The celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual’s self esteem. When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it’s important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted.

This truly is a life and death discussion. Admitting you might have an eating disorder of some type is the first step in finding a solution to your problem. I pray that you might listen to the voice inside your head as you read the following material.

 

Diagnosis Criteria for Anorexia and Bulimia

If you suspect someone you love may be suffering from an eating disorder, it will help you to become familiarized with the diagnosis criteria for anorexia nervosa and bulimia, the two most common forms of eating disorders. According to the American Psychiatric (APA) Association, in order to be diagnosed with one of these eating disorders, the individual must manifest a specific set of diagnosis criteria in order to be diagnosed. Here are the APA's guidelines to diagnosing anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

According to the APA, in order for a person to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, they must display the following symptoms. First, the individual seeks to maintain a weight that is not healthy. This is defined using the lowest weight that is considered normal for the individual's age and height. An individual suffering from anorexia nervosa will seek to maintain a weight that is below the lowest normal weight for their age and height. Anorexia nervosa patients may manifest pronounced anxiety and fear about gaining weight. They may fear becoming overweight, even if they happen to be at a healthy weight, or even very underweight. Individuals with anorexia nervosa suffer from severely distorted body images. They may refuse to eat, withdraw from friends and family, and engage in a strenuous exercise routine. Women who are diagnosed with anorexia nervosa have generally missed at least three consecutive menstrual periods.

For patients with bulimia, the diagnostic criteria are as follows. According to the APA, patients with bulimia suffer from repeated episodes of binge eating. A normal binge eating session can result in the consumption of over 3,000 calories in just a few hours. On average, the patient will engage in a binge eating session at least two times in one week, for a minimum of at least three months. These binge-eating sessions are followed by a period of purging. Purging may consist of the use of laxatives, diuretics, or self-induced vomiting. During the course of a binge and purge session, the patient feels incapable of exercising control over their binging and purging. Beside binge and purge sessions, bulimia patients may also engage in other compulsive behaviors, including vigorous exercise regimes, strict dieting, fasting, and alcohol and substance abuse. Furthermore, the bulimia patient will display excessive concern over their body weight and shape.

Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia are marked by secrecy and obsession. Patients suffering from either eating disorder tend to withdraw from family members and friends. They may exhibit signs of depression or anxiety. Although eating disorders affect people from all kinds of backgrounds, they tend to afflict more young women than any other part of the population. Some studies suggest that affluent white women are more susceptible to developing some kind of eating disorder. Treatment options include hospitalization until weight gain has been achieved (mostly for anorexia nervosa patients), psychotherapy, group and family counseling, nutritional therapy, and drug therapy. With support from friends and family and counseling, the patient can learn to develop a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and their own body image.

Written by: Scott Parat