Easy Lose Weight

Eating Disorders and the Internet

Introduction

This article examines the rise of eating disorder websites. Eating disorders are most common in young women (both teenagers and young adults). As this demographic is a also known as a high-level user of the Internet, the proliferation of online eating disorder (ED) communities is of particular concern to ED support groups (ANAD 2006). Eating disorder communities are known a ‘Pro-Ana’, (pro-anorexic) and it is the term used both for their community and to describe an individual. While Pro-Ana is used to describe a person who is ‘pro-anorexic’, Bulimics use the term Pro-Mia (pro-bulimic). In this definition, people who identify as ‘Pro-Anorexic’ or ‘Pro-Bulimic’ embrace their eating disorder and generally consider it a lifestyle choice and not an illness or disorder. Pro-Ana communities are not generally limited to anorexics and generally include bulimics and other eating disorder sufferers within the community.

Pro-Ana websites represent themselves as online communities for those who are existing Anorexics and as such are not intended (as is frequently assumed), to lure non-sufferers into the illness. To the people who join them, they can be ‘a place’ that accepts their status without moral censure or social stigma as well as a site of advice, tips and support from fellow anorexics to help them become ‘better’ anorexics. While some of the Pro-Ana sites will also provide links to recovery and health sites, being ‘Pro-Ana’ symbolises a choice not to go into recovery. For pro-Anorexics, if you identify as ‘Pro-Ana’, then by definition you have chosen to live as an Anorexic or Bulimic at this point in time. The term ‘permarexic’ can also be used to describe those people who choose to live with their ED for the foreseeable future.

Eating Disorders Overview

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterised by a preoccupation with weight that results in severe disturbances in eating and subsequently other behaviours. Eating disorders embrace Anorexia, Bulimia and generic eating disorders such as purging, binging and night eating. The two most high profile eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Anorexia can be defined as essentially self-starvation, as this disorder involves a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, a distorted body image and a fear of obesity or weight-gain (CEED 2006). People who have Anorexia generally develop unusual eating habits such as avoiding food and meals, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing their food, and counting the calories of everything they eat. Its incidence is increasing in the Western world and it has been described as one of the most lethal psychiatric disorders (Lucas et al 1999 in Hsu 2001). Sufferers of Bulimia are involved in repeated episodes of binge eating, followed by ways of trying to purge the food from the body to prevent expected weight gain by utilising methods such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications fasting, and/or excessive exercise to control weight (CEED 2006).

Common Aspects of a Pro-Ana Website

In order to research this article, I had to spend some time following dead links and doing diligent searching until I came across some functioning sites that catered to existing eating disorder sufferers. The nature of the public’s attitude towards many of these sites is such that they must change addresses constantly to avoid censure, or close voluntarily as a result of harassment and flaming, or are being arbitrarily closed down by their ISPs. The Pro-Ana communities manage to stay alive by frequently changing site addresses and communicating new web addresses within their community group.

Diaries: Many author’ of these websites offer personal accounts of their battle with anorexia or bulimia and how they struggle with starvation, how they feel about their body image and how they wrestle with taking control of themselves and their self-image. While the intention of some may well be to inspire weight loss among the website readers, the constant struggle and self loathing and self-castigation of the writers does not make Anorexia or Bulimia appear at all attractive. The diaries are also places to keep logs of food intake as well as ‘vent’ about unwelcome attempts by family members or friends to make the blogger recover from the disease, or the struggles she has in hiding her lack of eating from the rest of the world.

Discussion Forums: So that members can discuss their eating, their weight and their feelings. The forums act as both a source of dietary information and dieting support as well as somewhere to share their feelings and disclose in a non-judgemental environment. I observed the members to be very supportive and protective of each other.

Weight Loss Tools: Such BMI (Body mass index) calculators, homeopathic remedies and pharmaceutical pills. However, a search of Google on any given day will reveal similar information on many sites unrelated to Pro-Ana.

Food and Beverage Hints: Glycemic counters, calorie counters, lists of foods that are of negative calorie value, recipes for drinks and foods. In fact, all the things you can buy in the average women’s or girls’ magazine at your local newsagent.

A Recovery Room: a discussion forum specifically for recovering eating disorder sufferers. I only found this on a handful of sites.

The more militant Pro-Ana websites would typically contain some of these additional attributes:

Tips and Tricks: Mostly a list of methods, tricks and hints on how to make the process of starvation easier. It may give hints on hiding weight loss from relatives and how to pass weekly weigh-ins if parents make a teenager go to a nutritionist or counsellor. These lists may also contain explicit details on how to vomit after meals with the least amount of discomfort or on what to take to make the vomiting occur more quickly, as well as listing which foods are easiest to purge. This section will also contain tips for ways of avoiding eating and not getting caught (e.g. get up early and rinse cereal and milk around in a bowl and leave in the sink so your parents think you ate before them).

Thinspiration does exactly what the name implies: inspire readers to be thin, achieving this through pictures of unhealthily skinny models and movie stars. Favourites are pictures of young celebrity role models, including teen stars Lindsay Lohan, Mischa Barton and Nicole Ritchie. Thinspiration may also include articles on being fat, famous people’s height and weight, and triggering quotations such as ‘Nothing tastes as good as thin feels’, or ‘Food hinders progress’. Some Pro-Ana websites also encourage the use of a personal ‘Thinspiration book’ to always carry around as a means of remembrance when the person cannot be near a computer or they suggest the wearing of bracelets to signify the particular eating disorder and remind the wearer of her status (red for example signifies Anorexia and purple Bulilmia). The less militant sites do not contain ‘Thinspiration’ and may also ban tips and caution users that they will be banned if they give tips on vomiting, hiding their food, etc. In addition, they may also provide more information available on related areas of danger such as dental problems, heart disease and diabetes as potentially dangerous to ED sufferers.

Ana is my ‘Friend’

The Pro-Anorexia websites are able to provide eating disorder experts unprecedented insights into the world of their patients, revealing an obsession with the disease that may surprise even the most veteran eating disorder observers. For example in some cases, the younger sufferers can be observed to personalise their illness and naming her “Ana” (or “Mia” for girls with symptoms of bulimia), and some girls even worship her as a type of ‘deity’:

I tried to recover once & I gained so much weight so my savior mia came back to rescue me just when i needed it most (Anon Bulimic)

Pro-Ana Websites and Support

I found there to be degrees of Pro-Ana websites. While some did not acknowledge the possibility of recovery, others recognised that some sufferers wish to recover from their illness and as such focussed on support and community rather than dieting tips. In this way they provide an important forum for what can be both a marginalised and misunderstood segment of society. For young girls that suffer social stigma and misunderstanding of their eating disorder illness, simply being able to communicate with others who share their problems can be a huge relief:

I am an active bulimic, and I know I would be in serious trouble right now if I wasn’t in contact with other mias/anas through the sites I’ve been on. It’s really necessary to get your thoughts and feelings out somehow, and the sites are a great way to do that… (Anon Bulimic) I think that to take these sites away would be removing a valuable support network that we need to carry on, not with our disease, but with our lives. Most of these people cannot get support from family or friends, and these sites are where they go to talk about what they are going through freely, without being judged (Anon EdNOS Sufferer).

However it is precisely this aspect of community and belonging and how it interfaces with an eating disorder that worries some experts. Pro-Ana communities may in this instance be unintentionally encouraging the eating disorder as they provide an environment and opportunity to belong to the “eating disorder club”. Other experts concur, arguing that these ‘pro’ eating disorder websites are potentially deadly, because they normalise and affirm the very behaviour that defines the disease (Hayashi 2006, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders website, ANAD).

Summary

In a democratic society people use the Internet to form both healthy and questionable alliances, that is the nature of the medium. While some argue that Pro-Ana sites should be closed down, others question the ethics of censorship and argue simply banning them does not address the problem. To the people who are pro Anorexia or Bulimia, eating disorders are a lifestyle choice and the Pro-Ana websites are a support group to the people who use them. However many others, including family and friends of ED sufferers as well as medical and mental health professionals view the concept of a pro-eating disorder community as disturbing and dangerous, arguing Pro-Ana websites serve the function of normalising what is an illness, and ‘making it ok’ to be Anorexic. I believe this conjunction of the Internet and eating disorders is not well understood and is an area that requires further and ongoing research.

Glossary of Terms

Ana – Anorexia Nervosa Mia or Bella – Bulimia.

Pro-Anas and Pro-Mias – Bulimics and Anorexics who embrace their illness as a lifestyle, refusing to admit they are thin, and continuing to strive for weight-loss.

Permarexic – a person who has made the decision to live on only enough food as is necessary to maintain living and has adopted this as a life philosophy.

Rexie – a term used by Anorexics who believe they are living a controlled lifestyle choice as opposed to Anas, who Rexies believe are sick.

Thinspiration – quotes or pictures of very thin models or movie stars to act as inspiration to stay thin.

ED – eating disorder.

ED-NOS – Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (vomiting, purging, binge eating).

Selected Bibliography

American Psychiatric Association: In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (APA DSM-IV), (2000) Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Press.

Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders. Inc.Website

Hsu, L.K. (2001). ‘Pathogenesis of Anorexia Nervosa’, Hong Kong Journal of Psychiatry, Vol 11, No. 3, pp 7-12.

MEDLINEplus: Eating Disorders website of the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine Website.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) PO Box 7, Highland Park, IL 60035 USA, see their Website.

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Website.

National Institute of Health Website: ‘Eating Disorders’, Pew Internet and American Life Project (2001) ‘Teenage Life Online: the rise of the Instant Message Generation and Internet’s Impact on Friendships and Family Relationships’.

The Centre for Excellence in Eating Disorders, Royal Children’s Hospital Victoria Australia (CEED) Website.

© Angela Lewis 2006

Angela is a workplace IT Educator, counselor and social researcher. Her area of interest is in how technology intersects with human relations. She was recently awarded her PhD in Education and she can be found at http://www.angelalewis.com.au

Author: Dr. Angela Lewis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Eating Disorders 101: An Introduction

Research reports that two out of four young people have unhealthy ideas about eating, dieting and weight. With the alarming increase of eating disorders, dieting, and obesity among children as young as 5 and 6, it’s crucial these days for parents to proactively work to promote healthy eating and body image in their children.

It has been found that in households where mom talks about feeling fat, 81% of their teenage daughters said they felt fat too. Our girls, especially, are being easily confused and influenced when it comes to body image development. In a culture where young people are bombarded with skinny, glossy, and superficial images, parents can be a mirror reflecting understanding, reassurance, wisdom, and love that their children can look into with faith and not fear. Many factors influence whether an adolescent will develop a positive or negative body image. As a parent, you can learn to be supportive the next time your child says, “Mom, I feel fat or Mom, I hate my life,” and be ready with an answer by saying, “that sounds like an important feeling, tell me more.”

The Slenderizing Beauty Ideal

Everyday 56% of the women in the United States are on diets. We have a 30-billion-dollar-a-year diet industry. The historical view of the ideal female body has changed over the years and influenced this dieting America. Although many factors contribute to the changing body shape of girls, including better nutrition, earlier onset of puberty and other societal influences. The fact remains that regardless of the reason, the common trend over time points to a slenderizing standard of the female ideal.
With standards like this, it is no wonder that children are dissatisfied with their bodies.

When it came to looks – teens are most concerned about weight. A Teen People survey of 1000 teens, showed that 39% worried about weight. Between 2000 and 2001, cosmetic surgery on girls 18 and younger had increased by 22%.

Another study reported that after girls viewed pictures of models in fashion magazines:

69% reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of the perfect body shape and

47% reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures.

This study found that those who were frequent readers of fashion magazines were 2-3 times more likely than infrequent readers to start dieting to lose weight because of a magazine article.

What Are Eating Disorders?

Is it any wonder, then, that eating disorders affect 7 million women and 1 million men in the United States? Eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. People with anorexia starve themselves to dangerously thin levels, at least 15% below their appropriate weight. People with bulimia binge uncontrollably on large amounts of food–sometimes thousands of calories at a time–and then purge the calories out of their bodies through vomiting, starving, excessive exercise, laxatives, or other methods. People with binge-eating disorder eat uncontrollably, but they do not purge the calories.

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (or EDNOS) is a new classification of disordered eating that falls between anorexia, binge eating and bulimia. Unfortunately, since this type of ‘sub-clinical’ disorder is often not life-threatening, there appears to be little research available on the topic. One of the goals at FINDINGbalance.com, the first national organization dedicated to helping those who struggle with ENDOS, is to begin collecting new information through input from their website visitors and other existing sources. Visit the http://www.FINDINGbalance.com website to take the “Weird Eater” quiz and take a closer look at how dieting habits can lead to disordered eating.

Anorexia Warning Signs for Adolescents & Adults:

• Loss of menstrual period

• Dieting obsessively when not overweight

• Claiming to feel “fat” when overweight is not a reality

• Preoccupation with food, calories, nutrition, and/or cooking

• Denial of hunger

• Excessive exercising, being overly active

• Frequent weighing

• Strange food-related behaviors

• Episodes of binge-eating

• 15% or more below normal body weight/rapid weight loss

• Depression

• Slowness of thought/memory difficulties

• Hair loss

* In children any combination of these symptoms should be considered serious and an immediate evaluation by an eating disorder professional or physician is recommended.

Source: http://www.remudaranch.com

Bulimia Warning Signs:

• Excessive concern about weight

• Strict dieting followed by eating binges

• Frequent overeating, especially when distressed

• Bingeing on high calorie, sweet foods

• Use of laxatives, diuretics, strict dieting, vigorous exercise, and/or vomiting to control weight

• Leaving for the bathroom after meals

• Being secretive about binges or vomiting

• Planning binges or opportunities to binge

• Feeling out of control

• Depressive moods

Source: http://www.remudaranch.com

EDNOS Warning Signs:

• You’re always on a diet, always coming off a diet, or always getting ready to go on one again (chronic dieting).

• You categorize foods as ‘safe’ and ‘off limits’, but weigh within normal ranges and are not participating in bulimia.

• You eliminate entire food groups from your diet.

• You are obsessed with exercising but eat fairly regularly.

• You binge and/or purge occasionally, but not more than a few times a month.

• You skip social occasions because you feel fat, or because you are afraid of what’s being served, yet your weight is normal.

• You believe that everyone is as focused on your weight as you are.

• You refuse to eat regular meals, choosing instead to ‘nibble’ throughout the day on small portions of food (which usually leads to bingeing).

Source: http://www.findingbalance.com

How Common Are Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are serious illnesses. The malnourishment of both anorexia and bulimia affects the body rapidly and can lead to hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, enlargement of the heart, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, permanent brain shrinkage with loss of memory and IQ, infertility, and osteoporosis. It is not uncommon for a teenage girl with anorexia to have the bones of an 80 year old woman. The condition is not reversible. Ultimately, approximately, 6% of people with anorexia and 1% with bulimia will die from their eating disorder.

According to Remuda Ranch, an inpatient eating disorder treatment center in Arizona, estimates indicate that 1/3 of American women and 15% of men will have an eating disorder or related problem at some time in their lives. Fifty years ago, eating disorders were practically unheard of. Research suggest a strong genetic component to eating disorders. People who are prone to perfectionism and low self-esteem may be most at risk.

In today’s world, the cultural pressures for young people to obtain and maintain super-thin bodies are extreme. In this environment, thinness readily becomes a way of dealing with many emotional issues. However, outcome studies have shown there is much hope for people with eating disorders. The good news is that approximately 75% of patients with eating disorders do recover.

How Can Parents Prevent Disordered Eating?

Parents can do much to spare their children a life-long struggle with eating and weight. One of the most important ways is to examine their own beliefs and prejudices as a parent about weight and appearance. Parents should communicate acceptance and respect for themselves and other people regardless of weight. This will reduce some of the pressure children may feel to change their bodies. Especially, discourage the idea that a particular diet or body size can reliably lead to happiness. Do not model or encourage dieting. Accept and talk about the fact that diets don’t work and the dangers of altering one’s body through dieting.

Tips For Healthy Eating

In our diet crazed culture, what really is healthy eating? Here are a few tips that will go a long way in feeding your family a balanced mealtime experience. For starters, teach your children to listen to their body — eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full. Remember balance means that most of the time you eat because you are hungry and use food as fuel for your body. But, it also means that sometimes you eat simply when the food appeals to you or when it is appropriate in a social setting (e.g., popcorn at the movies), allowing yourself to eat for enjoyment.

Try to eat different foods everyday, in other words, create an adventure for your taste buds. Aim to inspire your family to eat 3 meals and 1 to 3 snacks a day. The idea that snacking between meals is bad is a thing of the past. By teaching your kids to eat every 2 to 4 hours, they will prevent their body from getting overly hungry which could set them up to overeat later. Plus, the body uses the fuel from food very efficiently when smaller amounts of food is eaten more frequently throughout the day.

The bottom line: eat normally, exercise moderately, and let your body weigh what it wants. Yes, it will take courage and perseverance, but the rewards of knowing you are teaching your family how to eat for pleasure is a true legacy to leave.

Resources

BOOKS

DeVillera, Julia. GirlWise. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing; 2002.

Gaesser, Glenn. Big Fat Lies: The Truth about Your Weight and Your Health. New York: Ballantine; 1996.

Hersh. Sharon A. “Mom, I feel fat!” Colorado Springs, Colorado: WaterBrook Press; 2001.

Hutchinson, Marcia. 200 Ways to Love the Body You Have. CA: Crossing Press; 1999.

Jacobs-Brumberg, Joan. The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls. NewYork: Random House; 1997.

Jantz, Gregory L. Hope, Help & Healing for Eating Disorders. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Waterbrook Press; 2002.

Omichinski, Linda. Staying off the Diet Roller Coaster: Advicezone.com; 2000.

Rhodes, Constance. Life Inside the Thin Cage. Colorado Springs. Colorado: Waterbrook Press; 2003.

Quart, Alissa. Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Perseus Books Group; 2003.

Tribole, Evelyn. Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book for the Chronic Dieter. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 1995.

WEBSITES AND PROGRAMS

HUGS

HUGS for Better Health website features resources on how to build a non-diet lifestyle. http://www.hugs.com

F.I.T Decisions

F.I.T (Future Identity of Teens) is a weekend conference for teenage girls to teach teens how to live healthful, balanced lives. Nationally-known speakers, drama skits, fashion shows, kick boxing, snacks, and give-aways are part of the all day workshop. [http://www.fitdecisions.org]

[http://www.girlpower.gov]

The US Department of Health and Human Services has sponsored, Girl Power!, a national public education campaign sponsored designed to provide positive messages, accurate health information, and support for 9- to 13-year-old girls. The website includes statistics, research, materials and information for both adolescents and adults. A free Girl Power! Kit can be ordered via the website.

[http://www.4woman.gov]

This site, the National Women’s Health Information Center, is a project of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. Navigate to “Body Image” section of the website and you will find the “Body Wise” handbook and additional information, educational material and additional resources for parents and a variety of professions.

http://www.bodypositive.com

by D. Burgard, PhD

Videos and workshops that teach young people how to develop a positive body image and have a healthy relationship with food. A new video (2002) Body Talk 2: It’s a New Language, is targeted at tweens (ages 8-11).

http://www.bulimia.com

Gurze Books which include tapes and resources on disordered eating and related topics on body image and obesity.

http://www.healthyweight.net

The Healthy Weight Network features a journal and Francis Berg’s books, Children and Teens Afraid to Eat and other practical resources for educators and health professionals.

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/ebhp/06bodyimage.htm

The Victorian Department of Human Services website has many resources including a summary of body image programs as well as a review of the research evaluating these programs. In addition, you will find a free Resource Planning Kit: “Shape: Body Image Program Planning Guide”.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorder.org

Provides many programs, books and materials and references (two items offered are listed below).

Remuda Ranch

http://www.remudaranch.com

Remuda Ranch is an eating disorder treatment center devoted to the unique needs of women and girls and integrate specialized therapies such as art, equine, body image, and movement program components as part of the recovery treatment.

Kindy Peaslee is a registered dietitian and wants to help your family learn how to identify food and beverage choices that contribute to healthy lifestyles. Look for her recipe Web site for parents, http://www.healthy-kid-recipes.com

Author: Kindy Peaslee
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Anti-angiogenic Food

Coping With A Loved Ones’ Eating Disorder During the Holidays

For most people, the holiday season is a wonderful time of year. It is often a time of family reunion, socializing, and celebration – a time when families, friends, and coworkers come together to share good will and good food. The season is meant to be bright, happy, and full of the best of relationships. Yet, for those who suffer with eating disorders, this is often the worst time of the year. For those who are trapped in the private hell of anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, the Holidays often magnify their personal struggles, causing them great internal pain and turmoil.

At Center for Change, we have asked many patients over the years to share from their private experiences what the Holidays have been like during the years they suffered with an eating disorder. The women quoted in this article are of different ages, but all suffered with the illness for many years. As you read the following passages you will feel something of the agony of suffering with an eating disorder at this festive time of year.

“Unlike any other normal teenager, I always hated it when the holiday season would roll around. It meant that I would have to face my two worst enemies – food and people, and a lot of them. I always felt completely out of place and such a wicked child in such a happy environment. I was the only person who didn’t love food, people, and celebrations. Rather, holidays for me were a celebration of fear and isolation. I would lock myself in my room. Maybe no one else gained weight over the holidays, but just the smell of food added weight to my body. My anorexia destroyed any happiness or relationships I could possibly have had.” -Nineteen-year-old woman

“The holiday season is always the most difficult time of year in dealing with my eating disorder. Holidays, in my family, tend to center around food. The combination of dealing with the anxiety of being around family and the focus on food tends to be a huge trigger for me to easily fall into my eating disorder behaviors. I need to rely on outside support to best cope with the stresses of the holidays.” -Twenty-one-year-old woman

“Over the past few years, during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season I have felt horrible. I felt trapped and like the food was out to get me. I lied on endless occasions to avoid all of the parties and big dinners that go along with the holidays. I felt horrible about my body and did not want anyone to see me eat for fear they would make judgments about me.” -Eighteen-year-old woman

These quotes from women suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating reveal the emotional intensity they feel during the holiday season. Their fear of gaining weight and becoming, in their minds, fat, gross, and disgusting, is the monster they must deal with every time they partake of any of the foods that are so wonderful and common to the holidays.

Starving for the Holidays – A Tale of Anorexia

Those struggling with anorexia are terrified of the holidays because they have no idea what a normal amount of food is for themselves. Most of them feel that anything they eat will mean instantaneous weight gain. In fact, some of them have said that just the sight or smell of food is terrifying to them because their fear of being fat or becoming fat is so ever-present in their minds. For some, just thinking about food is enough to create intense turmoil, pain, and guilt. Anorexia creates tremendous guilt about any kind of indulgence involving food. The eating of food becomes evidence, in their mind, that they are weak, out of control, and undisciplined. Anorexic men and women are often terrified of being seen eating food or of having people look at them while they eat. One client felt that every eye was on her at holiday gatherings. Many suffering with anorexia have shared their feelings of being immobilized by their fears about food.

“My life with an eating disorder during the holidays is a living hell – constant hiding and fear, confused about life and hating every moment being surrounded by food. There was so much pressure, so many stares and glances, and days with endless comments. My whole life was a mess. There was so much pain and guilt inside of me and I didn’t know where to turn, except to my eating disorder. I hated the pressure of eating the food, the constant worrying of offending others.” -Twenty-two-year-old woman

“It’s hard to be around all the food and festivities. When I’m hurting inside and struggling with what “normal” food portions even are, I need the help, emotional understanding, and support of family and other people. “Handle with care, but please handle.” Accept me the way I am. Let me back in the family” -Twenty-three-year-old woman

The importance of these quotes from clients in treatment for anorexia is found in their honest expression of the tremendous pressure and conflict they feel inside in response to the normal food and social activities of the season. Their internal suffering and pain are often hidden from those around them by their continual remarks about “being fat,” or may also be hidden in their patterns of avoidance and withdrawal from social involvements.

The Hidden Beast of Holiday Feasts – Tales of Bulimia and Binge Eating

On the other end of the eating disorder spectrum, a woman with severe bulimia or binge eating disorder finds the holidays are a genuine nightmare because there is so much emphasis on food that they become preoccupied with it. Binge eating and subsequent purges become even more prevalent because many of the foods and sweets that are associated with holiday celebrations are very enticing to them. The holidays can be a time of convenient indulgence, but also a time of great shame and self-reproach because of their secret life. Some even use the binge eating and/or purging as a form of self-punishment throughout the holidays.

Women who suffer with binge eating or bulimia often live out this painful eating disorder hell in private and in secret, and often feel great self contempt. To many of their family and friends things may look positive and normal even while the sufferer feels significant despair and negativity about their loss of self-control. Those whose family members know about their eating disorder carry this awful feeling that they are the main attraction at the holiday dinner, where every trip to the food or to the bathroom is seen as a major defeat and disappointment to their family.

“Christmas is the hardest time with my bulimia. So much food, so much love, and so much joy, but I could not feel the love or joy, so I indulged in the food as a replacement. It was hard to see everyone so happy before I made the trek to the bathroom. I felt unworthy to be happy. I didn’t deserve the love and joy. I’ve discovered that if I can focus on the love and joy, everything else falls into place” -Eighteen-year-old-woman

“The secrecy and lying make it very difficult for me during the holiday season. I have to decide whether to restrict my food or to binge and then sneak away to purge.” -Twenty-two-year-old-woman

Some of the painful consequences of binge eating and bulimia are found in the time, planning, and dishonesty that is required to protect and cover up their eating disorder during the holidays. They often feel hatred for themselves for the ongoing deception to family and friends to excuse or explain their behaviors. In addition, they live in constant fear of being “found out” by their significant others, or in fear of continually letting others down because of their inability to stop their compulsive behaviors.

Family and Friends – Turning Potential Triggers into Gifts of Support

Holiday ideals epitomize what is good about family and other personal relationships. Activities during this time of year can involve family members and friends in intense and often emotional ways. Unfortunately, those with eating disorders can find it terrifying to be emotionally close with other people. In such situations they may feel vulnerable and unsafe, and then revert to their eating disorder to restore a sense of control and self-protection.

Some family dynamics, such as conflict, can be triggering to those with eating disorder difficulties. Struggles with perfectionism, feelings of rejection, disapproval, and fear of being controlled, are all cited frequently by women who suffer with the illness. Harboring strong feelings and beliefs that parents, family members, or friends find them unacceptable, inadequate, or disappointing is challenging for anyone, but is particularly devastating to someone with a painful eating disorder. Being immersed in a family setting during the holidays has the potential to dredge up old issues, fears, conflicts, and worries about family relationships. The resulting emotional disruption can feed the eating disorder and exacerbate the problem.

“Having an eating disorder during the holidays presents quite a contradiction in my mind. I anticipate all the food and get excited, while at the same time I dread the many family members around. I feel that the family is over to “watch”. I know that they simply want to reach out and help, but I feel that a big help would be to make a concerted effort to shift the holiday focus from the food to the underlying purpose. I wish the food could be a minor deal, just an accessory to the holiday, rather than the focus.” -Twenty-year-old woman

“Holidays, with all the food and family commotion, are pure hell when you have an eating disorder. For me, when the focus isn’t on food and is on the real reason for the holiday, it’s a big help. My family helped me out with this one, but I had to do most of it internally. Remember, it’s just food, and we have more power than food.” -Thirty-nine-year-old woman

The following suggestions resulted from a survey question we asked patients in treatment: “What three suggestions do you have for family and friends who want to help the holiday season go a little better for a loved one suffering with an eating disorder?” The women offering these suggestions range in age from fourteen to forty-four, and their suggestions offer some valuable insight and understanding that could be helpful to you as a friend or a family member. Being compassionate about the struggles of the eating disorder illness can help make the Holidays less of a battle for those you love. The suggestions are:

- Do not make a big issue about what your loved one is eating. A little bit of encouragement is okay.
- Do not focus too much on food, it may only fuel the eating disorder.
- Ask her how she is doing and see if she needs any help.
- Do not become angry about how the she feels, just do your best to support her.
- Offer a lot of support and be aware of what may be creating anxiety and try and understand what she feels. Be understanding, kind, and supportive.
- Spend quality time with your loved one.
- Make sure that the primary focus of the holiday is not on the food but rather on the family and the valued time you will share together.
- Allow for other activities that do not involve food, such as games, singing carols together, opening gifts, decorating, and spending time just talking together.
- Allow her to make a dish that she would feel comfortable eating.
- Before the Holiday itself, and before family gatherings, make agreements about how you can best help your loved one with food. Honor the agreements you make.
- Do not give her loud and attention drawing praise when she does eat.
- Do not talk about diets, weight loss, or weight gain. It causes great anxiety and may increase a felt need to engage in eating disorder behavior.
- Do not stare.
- Learn enough about the illness and the triggers to help your loved one develop skills as well as strategies to defy eating disorder thoughts and urges.
- Know something about her struggles, triggers, and behaviors. Then, if you see those, you can approach her after a meal in private and suggest ways she might be helped in some of those behaviors and learn ways you can be helpful and supportive.
- If you see her struggling, ask if she wants to talk, but ask this in private.
- Focus on how she is feeling inside, what issues she is worrying about, what her fears are, what she needs, rather than just how much she is eating or not eating.
- Try not to focus too much attention on the eating disordered behaviors.
- Be patient and nurturing.
- Treat her with love and respect no matter what is going on.
- Let her know that she is loved.
- Help her take her mind off of food by generating a conversation with her about general or important topics.
- Don’t allow her to excessively isolate.
- Be there for her emotionally and physically with hugs and messages of love.

There are several themes that are evident in these suggestions for loved ones and friends by those suffering with eating disorders. One of the most important is to keep the primary focus and interest on the family member or friend – the individual beyond her eating behaviors or eating disorder. Consider well these suggestions, they are actually heartfelt requests.

How Family and Friends Can Help During the Holidays

Family members and friends need to know ways to help a loved one suffering from an eating disorder during the holidays. In addition to those suggestions offered above, the following suggestions from clinical professionals may also be helpful:

- If your loved one is a child or adolescent in treatment, and/or if you are involved in Maudsley/Family Based Treatment, then continue with your regular outlined treatment plan through the Holidays.
- If your loved ones is a child or adolescent with anorexia, then learn about the Maudsley/ Family Based Treatment approach. It is important to give this approach consideration.
- If your loved one is an acute medical or self harm risk then arrange for intensive medical/psychiatric care immediately.
- Get professional help for your loved one with those who have experience and expertise with eating disorder treatment.
- It is important for everyone to be honest and up front with each other.

When going into a family or social event, especially if people are aware of the eating disorder problem, it is helpful that everyone talks honestly about what will help and what will not help during the event. Armed with this knowledge, family and friends can set up some structure around holiday activities that is agreeable to all parties involved. Give reassurance about your desire to “be supportive” of them without trying to control every problem. You can respond to their feedback about what may be helpful to them by making positive adjustments. It helps to express love, gratitude, respect, and acceptance for your loved one.

- It is important to emphasize the purpose for the celebration of the holiday and focus less on food or meals.

If the focus is on the holiday itself and its true meaning and purpose rather than on the food or eating disorder, it will be easier for your loved one to focus less on it herself. Emphasize time together, activities, and traditions that transcend meals and eating. Let food become a support to the holiday rather than its central focus.

- It is important for family and friends not to feel responsible and guilty for the eating disorder.

There is no need and there is no good time to feel guilty or at fault for your loved one’s eating disorder. The Holidays are especially not the time. Eating disorders are complex illnesses that are not caused by one person or one relationship. It is also important for the eating disordered person not to feel responsible for their family and friend’s emotional response to the eating disorder. One helpful agreement around the holiday season is, “We will spend time focusing on the need for nourishment as previously agreed upon, and primarily, we will spend time focusing on each other and the things that are available and that are meaningful in our family or social setting.” Let them know that you can look beyond the outward manifestations of the eating disorder because you are also concerned about the hurt, pain, fear, and guilt they are feeling inside. In acknowledging the pain inside, no one has to be at fault or to blame for the eating disorder, allowing positive family associations and caring to become the emphasis. There is no need to “walk on egg shells”, especially when everyone understands and acknowledges the underlying needs associated with the eating disorder. Compassion is a wonderful holiday gift for someone with an eating disorder.

- It can be helpful during the holiday season to break activities into smaller numbers of people, when possible.

It is easier and less overwhelming to deal with five people than fifty people. Invite your friends or family members to participate in smaller, quieter, and less chaotic social activities and events. Simple talking and sharing as a small circle of family members or friends can do much to increase the sense of belonging and safety for someone with an eating disorder.

- Encourage your family member or friend to gather extra support around themselves during the holidays.

Additional support can come from extended family, other friends, community, and even treatment team members. If you recognize the benefit of these additional support people during the holidays, you can encourage this extra involvement rather than be hurt and offended by it. Sometimes, a person with an eating disorder might not be ready yet to receive the full love and support family and friends offer, but support and love them anyway! You can send the message, “We’re here to support you and it’s okay if others support you as well. We want you to have all the help you need during this time.”

- It is important for family and friends to remove any unreasonable behavior expectations or pressures of performance.

Sometimes you want so much for things to be better that you do not realize how your disappointed hopes and expectations actually play out as triggers for the eating disorder. Letting go of these specific expectations in your own mind frees you up to respond to and enjoy whatever your loved one is capable of during the holidays. It would be more helpful to express a lot of warmth, love, kindness, and acceptance toward the person – “There is no pressure to prove anything to us during the holidays. We just want to focus on being together the best we can.” Eliminating specific, overt, or implicit expectations will be more beneficial than almost anything else you can do.

- It is important to offer care “giving” and not care “taking.” Being a self declared nurse, dietitian, therapist, or detective takes you out of your most important role – “loved one”

It is not your job to fix or solve the eating disorder. It is your job to encourage nourishment of the body and provide nourishment to the soul. Working too hard to stop the eating disorder behaviors during the holidays can fuel dishonesty and defensiveness which actually feeds the problem. You are not responsible to say or do everything right. Nothing you do or not do will take away your friend or family member’s own responsibility to overcome and recover from their eating disorder. She/he is the only one who can do that job, but you can care, empathize, encourage, and share the process with them. The good intent you express is often more helpful than what is actually said or done. If your friend or family member knows that your heart is on their side, then you become a source of comfort, support, and safety to them.

Conclusion

These general holiday suggestions by patients and professionals are not a complete list, but they do emphasize some positive approaches to help and support someone suffering with an eating disorder. The specific ideas, strategies, and agreements that can come out of your interactions with your loved one before and during the holidays will allow these ideas to be personalized and unique for each situation. Remember also, that the person struggling with the eating disorder has her own list of positive things that she can do to help her through the holiday season as well. We hope this article is helpful in better understanding the significant and difficult ordeal those who suffer from eating disorders will face at this season of the year. We hope this awareness and understanding will help us identify the best gifts of the holidays for those we love and care so much about at this time of year.

By: Randy K. Hardman, PhD and Michael E. Berrett, PhD

Author: Randy K. Hardman, Ph.D.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Eating Disorder

Eating is essential to live but life is not for eating. Eating has much influence on personality and health. But, eating disorder unbalance patient’s diet some time it is over and sometime patient avoids to eat. Altogether, eating disorder is a mental illness in which the patient suffers from disturbed diet the interventions have also been addressed by the psychological theories and practices. The theory explicates, that the patients have traumatized from anguished behavior to life-threatening position which ultimately affect patient’s routine whether it is eating or other daily routine. The authors have said about the topic “feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one’s experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale.” Most common disorders are Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa which have been recognized by the psychology medical sciences. There are several other types of disorders which are identified as Rumination syndrome, compulsive overeating, and Selective eating disorder.

Eating disorder refers to the overlapping condition in eating which can be treated as patient’s abnormal behavior towards daily eating schedule with numerous forms of conventional psychopathology. By and large medication is helpful to intervene the psychopathology which is linked with anorexia nervosa. Consciousness management and the behavioral therapy measures are helpful in encourage the weight gain in anorexia nervosa. The interventions effectiveness is limited for anorexia nervosa which could be due to the bad body image together with low body weight. The medication of antidepressants can decrease binging, purging in bulimia nervosa and the binge eating disorder; however, this is a self medication to use any antidepressant medicine to release the consciousness about bad body image. The interventions through cognitive or behavioral therapy can also reduce binging and purging, nevertheless, the behavioral therapy is more effectual as compare to medication. This notion indicates that psychotherapy is more effective to intervene the eating disorder than medication. In addition, the changes with the cognitive/behavioral psychotherapy interventions last more than medication and the deterioration rates are very higher and common. Even in the medicated era, most studies conclude that no advantage of medication over cognitive/behavioral therapy alone in the lessening the bulimic symptoms.

Major Disorders:

Eating disorder has been considered as a disease by psychology studies and its sub fields. Major eating disorder diseases are as under:-

Anorexia nervosa:

Anorexia nervosa can be determined as some one’s consciousness about the wait loss for bad body image; this consciousness is as serious as to death. There are two types of anorexia nervosa Restricting type and Binge/Purge type. This type of eating disorder is observed very commonly in the society. The modern and stylish word has made it necessary to have a stable body image. This necessity made people conscious about their stylish looks and to have a good body image. Which create seriously bad impact on the heath of people, it is as serious as to death.

Bulimia nervosa:

Bulimia nervosa refers to the over eating, or to eating under the lead of guilt, shame, embarrassment, and complete failure feeling. The bulimics wants to get control over them. This neurotic behavior is to eat as it can be and to regain the energy to overcome the failure feelings. This situation is also harmful for the well being of a person, the over eating can be resultantly make the people fatty. Fat create numerous heath problems, which will ultimately failure the body system of a person.

Rumination syndrome:

Rumination Syndrome is not very common and very rarely diagnosed chronic eating disorder. Patients normally feel vomiting after eating the food. Rumination syndrome verily misdiagnosed as bulimia nervosa by the doctors, it is because of lack of awareness about the disorders, the resemblance in symptoms, and the common age group of the patients.

Orthorexia nervosa:

Orthorexia nervosa was treated as Anorexia and now it is recognized as a new discovered eating disorder disease. This is an obsession of a specific type of healthy food. The patients of orthorexia nervosa do the things like planning the next meals. This determines that the patients have strict schedule of breakfast, lunch and dinner. The patients with orthorexia nervosa are very conscious to know about what other eat.

Selective eating disorder:

Selective Eating Disorder (SED) refers to the selected food eating disorder. It can be observed in the society that most children has this disease they does not eat the meals that they do not like, selective foods would be preferred by the children which some time can be overcome by the patients. On the other hand some patients will continue with the selective eating disorder. These people preferred a specific food variety and do not like to eat other then selective food. This kind of eating disorder will affect in the middle childhood and adolescence, the result of this kind of disorder will be conflict, anxiety, and social avoidance.

Compulsive overeating:

Obsessive Compulsive Overeating also known as binge eating, it is one of the very common mental disorders with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The patient in this disease eat very large amount of food in a short time. A very large amount of binge patient is struggling in the United States. The disorder can be developed in any age, but very common in young children. The patient with this disease feels disgust and guilt which lead to depression.

Causes of Disorder:

Environmental:

The environmental causes are very obvious which include family and friends influence. Media is the second largest influential element on the eating disorder because of its advertisement of different food items and to encourage the people to modernize the life styles. In this regard the media advertise the thin products or the products which are not healthy. But the projection has much fascination and affection in it, so, people would go with the fascination and modernization.

Biological:

The biblical factors are also influential on the eating disorder. Patients with severe obsessive compulsive disorder, depression or bulimia were all found to have abnormally low serotonin levels. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are secreted by the intestines and central nervous system during digestion.

Developmental etiology:

In the family system during the development of children parents does not care of the eating activities of their children. They develop the self care system and prepare a diet plan for them. This creates massive destruction and made them patient of eating disorder.

Trauma:

Eating disorder also is treated under experienced trauma, many of the eating problems begins as continued existence approach other than narcissism or passion with appearance. According to sociologist Becky Thompson, “eating disorders stemming from women of varying socio-economic status, sexual orientation and race, and finds that eating disorders and a disconnected relationship with one’s body is commonly a response to environmental stresses, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, racism, and poverty.”

Psychology has explored countless secrets of human brain, and personality and psychology considered as a study of human body, personality, relation between mind and body, behavior, emotional and mental disorders. It is obvious that eating is must to live, but it is also a fact that life is not for eating. For instance, when someone eats healthy food but it is eaten large in amount, it will not give you health and well being. The over eating is circled in eating disorder, and when it is less eating it will affect your health not to keep you healthy, so, less and excessive eating both are disordered eating and only the temperance in eating will be healthy. With all other disorders, the eating disorders should be intervene through medication and through behavioral therapy. The effectiveness of interventions used to treat eating disorder can be determined by the patient’s condition of consciousness about the health and diet. Health is only the guarantee of prosperous and peaceful life, without good health a happy life cannot be lived.

Dedicated to: Trouble Tuning

Author: Shahaab Arif Lodhi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Characteristics of Major and Minor Eating Disorders

There are many types of eating disorders. We are most familiar with the three major disorders Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. However, there are many minor disorders effecting millions of people like Prader-Willi Syndrome and Night Eating Syndrome. This is a short list of both major and minor eating disorders describing symptoms and treatment.

Anorexia Nervosa

A potentially dangerous and life threatening disease characterized by a person’s fear of gaining weight therefore resorting to self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Anorexia typical appears in girls during adolescence and may be carried into adulthood. Some boys and men suffer from anorexia; however, it is more common in women.

There are four primary symptoms according to the National Eating Disorder Association.

* An intense fear of being “fat” even if they are underweight.

* Resistance to maintain a healthy or average body weight.

* Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women.

* Poor or distorted body image resulting in denial of serious loss of weight, or low body weight.

When people starve themselves, they are not only affecting their body weight, but also their overall nutritional well being. A few potential health risks for people with anorexia nervosa are:

* Dry hair and skin

* Severe dehydration, resulting in kidney failure

* Slow heart rate and low blood pressure

* Fainting, fatigue and weakness

* Osteoporosis

Treatment requires counseling addressing the underlying psychological factors contributing to the disease. Often a person will be treated psychologically, medically and nutritionally. Family and a strong support group is encouraged. Each person is different and treatment varies depending on the severity of the illness.

Bigorexia (Muscle Dysmorphia)

Typically seen in men, especially bodybuilders or weight lifters, bigorexia is a body image disorder where the person feels their body is too small. Therefore, they spend excessive hours at the gym working out. Sometimes seen as the “reverse anorexia” However, no matter how big or muscular a person becomes they still feel their bodies are too small.

There are no true symptoms of bigorexia other than a person’s excessive attention to body image. Bigorexia is rarely diagnosed because, it is socially acceptable for men to be muscular. Bigorexia may not be as life threatening as anorexia, but it does have dangers. Many people with the disease are prone to steroid abuse and in extreme cases; the disorder may affect the person’s work and personal life.

Binge Eating Disorder (Compulsive Overeating)

A person with binge eating disorder will compulsively overeat without throwing-up, abusing laxatives or excessively exercising to compensate for the large amounts of food they’ve just consumed.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association some signs or symptoms of binge eating disorder may be:

* Eating large quantities of food in short periods of time

* Feeling out of control over eating behavior

* Feeling ashamed by their behavior

* Sometimes eating in secret

Health problems associated with binge eating disorder are similar to those associated with obesity like, high blood pressure, heart disease, gallbladder disease and type 2 diabetes. Mental health problems like depression and anxiety usually accompany health issues.

Treatment usually involves psychological counseling to help determine the underlying causes for the disorder. A strong support system by family and friends is encouraged. It is suggested that overweight people with binge eating disorder try to conquer their demons with psychological, medical and group help prior to trying to lose weight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is one of the three major eating disorders. Approximately 80 percent of bulimia patients are women. It is characterized by a person’s compulsion to “purge’ the food they’ve just eaten by throwing-up, abusing laxatives or exercising excessively.

There are two types of bulimia nervosa, purging and nonpurging. Nonpurgers will usually compensate for their overeating with excessive exercise or fasting.

The National Eating Disorder Association lists the three primary symptoms of bulimia nervosa as:

* Regular intake of large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control of eating behavior.

* Regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as, vomiting, laxative abuse or compulsive exercise.

* Extreme concern with body weight and shape.

There are many health problems associated with bulimia. These are usually associated with the method the person chooses to “purge” their food. These may include:

* Inflammation or rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting

* Tooth decay and damage from stomach acids.

* Electrolyte imbalances

* Chronic bowel problems, because of laxative abuse.

Depending on its severity, bulimia nervosa can only be treated with extensive psychological and medical counseling. Often bulimia is connected to deeper emotional and mental dilemmas.

Night Eating Syndrome (NES)

Night Eating Syndrome is a relatively new disorder. A person with night eating syndrome will often eat large quantities of food after their last meal of the day. Usually just before bed and during the middle of the night. They in turn will skip breakfast and not start eating until the middle of the day. Those with night eating syndrome will not just indulge in the occasional midnight snack, they will typically consume high calorie, low nutritious foods often through the night.

As a result, night eating syndrome effects a person’s overall emotional well-being triggering depression, insomnia and anxiety. Approx. 10 percent of all clinically obese people are believed to have NES.

Since NES is a new disorder it is still being studied there are no concrete treatment options available. Some early reports show the drug Zoloft may be effective in treating the disorder.

Treatment begins with clinical interviews and a few night in sleep study clinics. Some medications are available, but sleeping pills are discouraged.

Nocturnal Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (NS-RED)

Sleep eating disorder is both an eating and sleeping disorder. Those with sleep eating disorder will eat while sleep waking. These people will be completely unaware of their behavior, and have no memories. They typically consume high fat and high sugar foods.

NS-RED often occurs in people who typically diet during the day. About 10 to 15 percent of people with common eating disorders are affecting. Their bodies will over compensate at night, when the person’s will is weaker, for the individual’s lack of eating or starvation during the day. Sometimes stress and anxiety can trigger NS-RED. A person will often wake up in front of the refrigerator or with food on their hands and faces.

Orthorexia Nervosa

Orthorexia Nervosa is not yet a nationally recognized eating disorder. However, it is becoming more recognized. Orthorexia focuses on finding the perfect or pure diet. The person becomes so obsessed with eating nutritiously and healthy they refuse and feel guilty about eating unhealthy foods. They often eliminate all sugars and fats from their diets and no longer enjoy food.

Often people with orthorexia nervosa isolate themselves because they are so concerned about their next healthy meal they refuse to go out to eat with friends and family and insist on preparing their own meals. They sometimes refuse pharmaceutical treatments and insist on “all natural” remedies to individual illnesses.

Although orthorexia is becoming more popular is it not considered a clinical disorder and is not diagnosed or treated. Often it can be connected to other medical disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder and treated that way.

Pica

Pica is usually characterized as the persistent eating of nonnutritive substances like dirt, hair, plastic, paint and more.

This eating disorder is most commonly seen in children. It is considered inappropriate in children older than two with average developmental intelligence. It is also the most common eating disorder in people with developmental disabilities. It is sometimes seen in pregnant women craving dirt or soap to compensate for vitamin deficiencies.

Causes for the disease may include:

* Nutritional deficiencies

* Cultural and family factors

* Stress

* Socioeconomic Status

* Brain damage

* Pregnancy

Health problems occur when the person ingests infectious or hazardous material. Rocks may become stuck in the digestive track backing up bowels and creating constipation. Sharp objects may scratch or cut the esophagus, stomach or intestinal tract, creating internal infections. There is also a high risk of lead poisoning resulting from eating paint.

Pica in children often goes away on its own. Depending on the age and severity of the person, diagnosed psychological counseling is usually suggested. There is very little medical treatment available; however, some hypothesize those with the disease suffer from diminished dopamine levels and may be treated with dopamine medication.

Prader-Willi Syndrome

This is genetic disorder where the person affected never feels full. The disease is also accompanied by low muscle tone, short stature, behavior problems, cognitive disabilities and incomplete sexual development.

Prader-Willi Syndrome is triggered by a defect in the hypothalamus, which normally registers feeling of hunger. The defect makes the person never feel full, no matter how much they eat. Ironically, people with Prader-Willi syndrome need to eat less than those of equal age and height because their bodies have less muscle and tend to burn less calories.

Consequently, those with Prader-Willi syndrome are often overweight and obtain many health risks affiliated with obese people like heart disease, breathing problems and diabetes. There is no cure for Prader-Willi syndrome. Treatment typically requires extremely low-calorie diets and very little access to food. Families will usually have to put locks on refrigerators and cabinet doors. Often those diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome will also have obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Rumination Disorder

People with rumination disorder will voluntary or involuntary regurgitate and re-chew partially digested food. It may be re-swallowed or expelled.

According to emedicine.com, rumination is a rare disease, information and many theories are derived through small and single case studies. Theories include psychosocial factors cultural, socioeconomic, organic, and psychodynamic. It is more predominate in infants and children, and usually remits spontaneously.

Symptoms may include:

* Weight loss

* Halitosis

* Indigestion

* Raw and chapped lips

Health problems and concerns related to rumination disorder are:

* Tooth decay and erosion

* Esophagus damage

* Gastric disorders

* Aspiration

* Choking

* Pneumonia

* Halitosis

Treatments typically include psychological and medical counseling. In some extreme cases surgery, gastroesophageal fundoplication, a procedure usually reserved for people with acid reflux disease, may be used.

Many of these eating disorders are uncommon and may vary in many degrees. Always seek medical attention prior to treatment or self-diagnosis.

References

Ellis, M. C. (2006, March 28). eMedicine – Eating Disorder: Rumination . WebMD. Retrieved August 15, 2006, from http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2652.htm

HealthyPlace.com, Inc. (2006). Eating Disorders Community – HealthyPlace.com. Retrieved August 15, 2006, from http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Eating_Disorders/index.asp

National Eating Disorders Association. (2002). ED Info Index. Retrieved August 15, 2006, from [http://www.edap.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=294]

The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders. (2006). Retrieved August 15, 2006, from http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/other.php

WebMD, Inc. (2003, October 16). Body’s Food Cycle Amiss in Night Eaters . Retrieved August 15, 2006, from http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/75/89780.htm

Erin Monaghan is a reviewer/writer for TopTenREVIEWS.com. TopTenREVIEWS features expert reviews for technology and entertainment products and services. The company has served over 60 million Internet visitors, has over 400,000 pages of original content and provides users with free access to in-depth product and services reviews, side-by-side feature comparisons, and industry-related news and articles.

Author: Erin Monaghan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How to choose a blood pressure monitor

The Effects of Media on the Skinny Side of Eating Disorders

What is the most deadly psychological disorder today? If you guessed an eating disorder, then you are right. According to WebMD, eating disorders are illnesses that cause a person to adopt harmful eating habits. So, does this make WebMD just a great resource, or is this really true, and is an eating disorder really a dangerous illness? Most sufferers of an eating disorder are often mocked about their problem, and they are not taken seriously. People should not misinterpret or disbelieve sufferers of an eating disorder because it is, in fact, a very serious illness. There are, however, minor cases of eating disorders but there are far too many deaths related to them, thus we must take this issue very seriously and approach it with care.

Why are eating disorders the greatest killers among the many different psychological disorders? This is because of the media, as well as the disorder’s dramatic and deadly affects on the body. Today, media is in our lives no matter where we go. From television, radio, and the news, to magazines, newspapers, and the internet, media plays a big role in the spreading ideas, norms, and styles to people. Media spreads information really quickly to millions of people. Media is around people no matter where they turn, and they face it on a daily basis in some form. So, how is media related to eating disorders? This question, and many other questions, will be answered after we get a better understanding of what an eating disorder is, its characteristics, statistics, and ways to prevent and treat it. I will, however, focus only on anorexia and bulimia because they are more affected by the media than overeating disorders are.

People with eating disorders obsess about their intake of food, and they spend a lot of time thinking about their weight and body image. Their body is badly affected both emotionally and physically. People with an eating disorder may suffer from a number of different symptoms, and not everyone gets the same symptoms as they vary from individual to individual. According to the Help Guide-Mental Health Issues, even though anorexia is the most revealed eating disorder in the media, bulimia is the most prevalent eating disorder.

A person suffering from anorexia sees themselves as fat when they are, in fact, skinny and underweight. Their weight does not match their height, activity level or age. They get bad memory, feel depressed, have a fear of gaining weight, feel light headed, and often faint. Women with anorexia may have problems with their menstrual cycle such as missed or late periods, as well as trouble getting pregnant. Woman who are pregnant have a higher risk of a miscarriage and a higher risk to need to deliver their baby through C-section. People suffering from anorexia can also have muscle and joint problems, kidney stones, kidney failure, anemia, bloating, constipation, low levels of potassium, magnesium, and sodium in their bodies, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, and heart failure. Some physical signs that can be seen on a person suffering from anorexia are dry or yellow skin, brittle nails, more hair growth on their body, and thin and brittle hair. A person with anorexia may also get cold easily, bruise easily, and feel down a lot.

A person suffering from bulimia can get the same effects as a person suffering from anorexia since both disorders involve the loss of major and rapid weight, which leads to very unhealthy changes in the body. Symptoms between anorexia and bulimia sufferers differ in the way that sufferers of bulimia would eat a lot of food in a short amount of time and then force themselves to throw up, when people with anorexia just don’t want to eat altogether. People with bulimia also misuse laxatives and go on strict diets of fasting and rigorous exercising. Sufferers from eating disorders in general are affected emotionally, psychologically, behaviorally, and socially. Emotional and psychological changes include increased anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, guilt, and low self esteem. Some changes in behavior of a person suffering from an eating disorder include dieting, frequent visits to the bathroom after eating, a change in fashion, and constantly checking their weight. Some social changes of a person suffering from an eating disorder may include isolation, being anti-social, avoiding social gatherings where food is involved, and a loss of interest for hobbies. Other physical signs of eating disorders in general include edema, a reduction in metabolism, sore throats, stomach problems, heartburn, and hypoglycemia; which leads to irrational thinking, shaking, confusion, irritability, and comas.

Eating disorders have a big impact on society on a small and on a large scale; meaning both individuals and society as a whole dedicate significant parts of their lives to the struggles of dealing with eating disorders. A lot of money and time go into the troubles of dealing with an eating disorder, as well as into the measures taken in order to treat and prevent them. Eating disorders are very common amongst celebrities, mainly because their profession puts pressure on them to be skinny. The majority of celebrities that we see in the media are all skinny, and most of them are anorexic or bulimic. The fans of these celebrities look at the bodies of their idols and they want to be like them. The problem with this is that anorexic and skinny celebrities do not make good role models for their fans because their skinny figures are not a healthy look to follow. Famous people believe that in order to be successful they must be skinny. This is not true. Celebrities expose their looks and body image to the media where fans can see them and get the wrong idea that their idol’s looks are acceptable when their idols are only trying to lose weight for their own “success”. In a weight article, Monica Seles stated that “Women in society have much tougher pressure to be thin.” It is like a cycle; celebrities are skinny in order to impress their fans and companies. They send their fans the wrong idea, thus making their fans lose weight. In the end, everyone has the idea that they must be thin and they must lose weight, thus, being skinny becomes the norm.

According to the article “Eating Disorders and Body Image in the Media” by Heather Mudgett, media can be very hypocritical because while the media shares news about celebrities dying from eating disorders, it also contains images of underweight celebrities modeled as if everyone should look like them. We might also see an article about a person dying from an eating disorder in a magazine, and on the next page we might see an underweight model, modeling a popular product. The underweight images of people in the media give consumers the wrong idea that being skinny is ok and that there is nothing wrong with it, when, in fact, being that skinny can lead to a person’s own death. Consumers spend so much money on products and services that will help them lose weight, such as weight loss drinks, nutrition bars, pills, laxatives, weight loss videos, and they even take weight loss classes. People also misuse drugs and liquids in order to force themselves to lose weight, and this can be very stressing to the body. Any time that we do something against our body’s natural functions, we hurt our body and put ourselves at great risk to further health problems in the future.

So many celebrities suffer and have died from eating disorders. Singer Karen Carpenter was struggling with anorexia and bulimia and after she went to treatment for years, everyone thought that she had recovered and was doing better. After that, she was found dead on the bathroom floor in her parent’s house. She had a heart attack and it was said that the result of it was because she had abused the drug Ipecac for years. Ipecac is a liquid that is used to induce vomiting, and it is often abused by anorexics and bulimics.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health, about seven million American women and one million American men have an eating disorder. About one in every two hundred women in America has anorexia, and about two or three out of one hundred women have bulimia. About half of Americans know at least one person who has an eating disorder. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, about 5% to 10% of people diagnosed with anorexia will die within 10 years of having the disease, about 18% to 20% of people will be dead after having the disease for 20 years and only 30% to 40% of people will recover from it. It is very scary fact that the rate of mortality for people with anorexia is twelve times higher than the rate of death of all of the causes of death for females from 15 to 24 years old. (South Carolina Department of Health). Nearly 20% of the people who have anorexia will die prematurely from health problems and heart problems due to their eating disorder. About 95% of people with an eating disorder are between the ages of 12 and 25, about 50% of females between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight, and around 80% of 13 year old’s have, at some point, tried to lose weight. It is a very sad fact that over 80% of females who have made an effort to go get treatment for their eating disorder, have not received the full treatment that they need in order to fully recover. This often leads to the disorder reoccurring and to the patients hurting their health even more. Obviously, eating disorders are really serious and they should be treated as soon as possible.

Since eating disorders are such important problems facing society today, researchers have used psychological theories to try to solve these problems including group therapy, medical treatment, and nutritional counseling. Eating disorders are treatable, and a person who has an eating disorder does have a chance of getting better, however, if the media continues to idolize skinny celebrities and condone their extremely thin size, it will continue to aid people in trying to lose weight. Having an eating disorder is like a really bad habit that needs to be stopped. A lot of people do not have the ability to stop this bad habit on their own, thus they need help from professional doctors and even family. There are several different methods used to treat an eating disorder. Since an eating disorder affects individuals both physically and psychologically, the treatment for an eating disorder has to satisfy both the physical and psychological aspect of the disorder. Medicine alone wont help a patient get better. In order to get positive long term effects from the treatment, a patient has to receive a mix of medical and psychological help for their disorder. Some therapies that psychologists use to determine the problem and treatment of an eating disorder are cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, rational emotive therapy, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy allows psychologists to see the patient’s thought process, interpersonal therapy involves dealing with difficult relationships with others, rational emotive therapy involves studying a patient’s unhelpful beliefs, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy involves looking at a person’s past experiences. All of this information can help a psychologist find the problem, and come up with the solution to the problem. Group therapy is a helpful part of treatment that allows sufferers of the similar eating disorders get together to discuss their problem. Groups are able to discuss coping strategies, ask and answer questions, and talk about ways to change their behavior. Medical treatment is necessary in order to make sure that the patient receives full treatment. Drugs such as anti-depressants can be prescribed by an experienced doctor who knows your condition in order to help treat your illness. Nutritional counseling is another effective and good way to help treat eating disorders. Dieticians and nutritionists can help patients understand what a well-balanced diet is and what foods they should eat on a daily basis. Nutritional counseling can also help patients face their fears about food and get over their fears of being afraid to eat.

A lot of people are confused about what “normal eating” is so they need nutritional counseling to help them get back on track. Not that many people who suffer from an eating disorder go to get treated for it. According to the South Carolina Department of Health , only 1 out of 10 people who suffer from an eating disorder go to get treatment. The cost of treatment for an outpatient is very expensive. Costs for outpatient treatment can be over $100,000. In the US, the cost of treatment for an eating disorder per day is anywhere from $500 to $2,000. On average, a person in inpatient treatment has to pay $30,000 a month. People with eating disorders need approximately 3-6 months of inpatient care in order to recover. The cost of treatment for an eating disorder is ridiculously high, and the high costs might be a reason that people do not go to get treated. It is very hard for most families to pay for the treatment of their illness, especially when insurance companies don’t usually cover eating disorder costs. Another way to help reduce the number of people with eating disorders is to educate people about the dangers of eating disorders through media. The media is a good tool to help educate people on the dangers of eating disorders, but it is also a tool that hurts people by condoning the appearances of skinny people who suffer from such disorders. Another way that eating disorders can be treated and minimizes is through the “Doll Experiment”. People were shown that if a human being had the same attributes as a Barbie doll, the body would not be able to hold itself because of its awkward shape and structure. This is a good way to show people that a Barbie doll isn’t necessarily what women today should aim towards looking like. In the same way, the celebrities we see on TV are not people who we should try to look like either.

I believe that as long as the media continues to idolize thin celebrities, the effects of education about the dangers of eating disorders through the media will not be effective. For each step that they take forward to solve the problem, they take two steps back by continuing to idolize thin celebrities. It is not a question of what effects have a greater likelihood of causing an eating disorder, but it is a fact that media does contribute to people developing and maintaining eating disorders. There are other causes of eating disorders, such as interpersonal or biological factors, but if the problem of media influencing eating disorders can be changed, there will be fewer cases of eating disorders. We have to take one step at a time in order to solve this very serious problem of eating disorders, and a great place to start is to change the fact that media influences eating disorders. There is not one cause of eating disorders, but media is a big influence to them since media reaches so many people. Personally, I think that group therapy very helpful in the treatment process of an eating disorder. Victims of an eating disorder are able to ask questions and receive answers in order to better understand their situation.

This is very helpful and it might make the victims of eating disorders feel more comfortable knowing that there are other people out there who are going through the same thing. Unfortunately, people are put under so much pressure to be thin by watching skinny celebrities all over the media be idolized. If they are being idolized does that means that they are good role models and their behaviors should be followed? No, most of the time, celebrities are not good role models. I believe that early childhood education is very important because I think that eating disorders start at an early age when children are naive and susceptible to being changed by others. Educating young kids about the media and how to criticize media is a very important step to reducing the number of people with eating disorders. Since media has such a big influence on eating disorders, children should be able to effectively criticize it and not fall victim to its schemes.

Personally, I don’t think that the media will ever be an effective resource for people to learn the truth and to learn about eating disorders. The media spreads a lot of false information and people tend to misinterpret the messages they hear on TV. Companies try to sell us products that will reduce our weight and make ourselves look “beautiful” by spending millions of dollars on advertisements. Consumers spend a lot of money and time trying to lose weight and buying these products that are not what the body needs. I believe that our bodies know what they need and ever one’s body is different. Everyone has a different metabolism and shape, and we have to learn how to love ourselves for who we are. We need to teach children at a young age that what they say on TV is not what it is cracked up to be and that they need to have self confidence, because if they don’t create an image for themselves, the media will do it for them.

Author: Melina Cemanovic
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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