Eating Disorders Blog

Individuals suffering from eating disorders tend to experience heightened distress during the holidays. The increased frequency of family and group meals and other social eating presents a challenge to individuals who have developed extreme behaviors in relation to food.

However, the holidays also present an opportunity for friends and loved ones to observe each other and detect the signs of an eating disorder. Often, individuals with eating disorders will not seek help until confronted and supported by someone who cares about them.

Tamara Pryor, Ph.D., clinical director of an eating disorders treatment center in Denver, Colo., comments: "It is important for friends and family to recognize eating disorder clues and speak up when they suspect their loved one has a problem. Eating disorders can be life threatening, and holding back on addressing the issue only enables the destructive behavior.

"The best approach is to be gentle but persistent with your loved one. Do not expect them to admit they have a problem right away. Allow them some time and space to reflect on your concerns and consider seeking treatment for their disorder."

There are a number of symptoms of an eating disorder. Certain aspects of a person's appearance may provide clues. For example, hair loss, pale skin, dramatic weight loss or gain within a short period of time, and dressing in baggy clothing or multiple layers.

Certain behaviors may also indicate a problem, such as obsessively monitoring the caloric, fat or carbohydrate content of foods; dramatic emotional shifts such as mood swings, depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive behaviors; exercising excessively or at unusual times; and obsessively talking about being fat or losing weight.

Also be on the lookout for diet pills, laxatives, ipecac syrup or enemas in the individual's bedroom or bathroom; books about weight loss or eating disorders; and food hidden in strange places. Strange table manners that may point to an eating disorder include cutting food into very small pieces, shifting food around on the plate to make it look eaten, eating a large amount of food and then immediately going to the bathroom, and frequent trips to the bathroom during meals.

(Source: www.pr.com)

Labels: eating disorder, symptoms, holidays

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Treating an eating disorder in the early stages can help prevent sufferers from developing more serious behaviors. It is important to acquaint yourself with eating disorders and certain indications that a family member, friend, or coworker may be suffering from an eating disorder.

People suffering from anorexia feel "fat" all the time, and try to address the problem by actually starving themselves. When an individual's refusal to consume adequate nourishment gets out of hand, he or she may even starve themselves to death. Specific symptoms of anorexia include odd eating habits, including avoiding food and meals, refusing to eat with others, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing food, and baking or cooking large amounts of food for others which they do not consume at all themselves. In addition, they may exercise compulsively.

People with bulimia will consume extremely large amounts of food in one sitting - as much as 10,000 calories. After the binge-eating episode, the person will then almost immediately make him or herself vomit or use laxatives or diuretics to help decrease absorption of the excess calories. Bulimics will often excuse themselves to the bathroom right after a meal; frequently use laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after eating; smell of vomit; and engage in strenuous workouts, especially after eating.

A binge-eating disorder involves a person eating an excessive amount of food in one sitting and not purging the calories. Binge eaters tend to eat alone and very quickly, whether or not they are hungry. Binge eaters generally eat to cope with stress, and afterwards will feel ashamed. One of the obvious symptoms of binge-eating disorder is obesity and unusual fixation on food and eating. Unlike other forms of disordered eating, men have this disorder as frequently as women.
(Source: www.guanpdn.com)

Labels: treatment, awareness, symptoms

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Approximately 65 percent of American women have disordered eating behaviors. This data comes from a 2008 study conducted by Self Magazine, in collaboration with the University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill. An additional 10 percent of women reported some symptoms related to eating disorders. In total, 75 percent of women surveyed showed some relationship to disordered eating.

Cynthia R. Bulik, Ph.D., William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders in the UNC School of Medicine's department of psychiatry and director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program, commented on the study's findings:

"Our survey found that these behaviors cut across racial and ethnic lines and are not limited to any one group. ... Women who identified their ethnic backgrounds as Hispanic or Latina, white, black or African American and Asian were all represented among the women who reported unhealthy eating behaviors." (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: treatment, symptoms, diagnosis

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Some adults are such picky eaters that they develop some symptoms of eating disorders, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Duke University and University of Pittsburgh are setting up a website to both study and help picky eaters.

Picky eaters often limit themselves to a few foods, which in turn can affect their social and professional lives. Having such limitations is one of the criteria for diagnosing eating disorders. Picky eaters often do not get proper nutrition because they do not eat a variety of foods.

Picky eaters are not necessarily overly thin or obsessed with counting calories, fat grams or carbohydrates, which is often a symptom of anorexia. However, some limit themselves to a certain texture of food; for example, they consume only creamy or crunchy foods. Some limit themselves to just one taste, such as salty or sweet. Many picky eaters claim that they get nauseous when they try a new food.

Some therapists believe that picky eaters may be suffering from a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
 

Labels: nutrition, symptoms, diet

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

When most people hear the phrase “silent killer,” they think of hypertension or heart disease. But eating disorders can be silent killers, too, especially in teens who are determined to hide it.

“A recent study published by the University of Illinois suggests that normal and underweight teenage girls who believe that they are overweight are at a significantly higher risk of developing unhealthy weight loss behaviors.” [Source: Insiders Health]

This misperception is called “body distortion” and it’s more prevalent than many adults realize. A girl who’s convinced that she’s “fat” even though she’s not will continue trying to lose weight, even when she’s too thin. And, to the best of her ability, she’s going to hide her weight loss from her parents and other loved ones, so she can keep losing.
 

Labels: body image, teen, girls, symptoms

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment