Eating DisordersEating DisordersEating disorders are characterized Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating by severe disturbances in eating behavior. The practice of an eating behavior. The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. to deal with their problems.

Some of the underlying issues that Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating are associated with an eating

disorder include:disorder include:

low self-esteem low self-esteem depressiondepression feelings of loss of controlfeelings of loss of control feelings of worthlessnessfeelings of worthlessness identity concernsidentity concerns family communication problemsfamily communication problems an inability to cope with emotions an inability to cope with emotions

Anorexia NervosaAnorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is a disorder where the Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction main characteristic is the restriction of food and the refusal to maintain a of food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. minimal normal body weight.

Any actual gain or even perceived Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense gain of weight is met with intense fear by the Anorexic. fear by the Anorexic.

Anorexics experience body image Anorexics experience body image distortions. Those areas of the body distortions. Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or usually representing maturity or sexuality including the buttocks, sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the Anorexic as being fat. by the Anorexic as being fat.

For some Anorexics, weight loss is so For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss of menses. severe there is a loss of menses.

In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate in restrictive Anorexics participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. laxative and diuretic abuse.

If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be it can be fatalfatal. .

Bulimia NervosaBulimia Nervosa Bulimics are caught in the Bulimics are caught in the

devastating and addictive binge-devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle. purge cycle.

The Bulimic eats compulsively and The Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or chew-spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviors to other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. prevent weight gain.

Binges usually consist of the Binges usually consist of the consumption of large amounts of consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time. food in a short period of time.

Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also

obsessively involved with their body obsessively involved with their body shape and weight. shape and weight.

The medical complications of the The medical complications of the binge-purge cycle can be severe and binge-purge cycle can be severe and like Anorexia can be like Anorexia can be fatalfatal. .

Compulsive OvereatingCompulsive Overeating

Compulsive Overeaters are often Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. eating and depression.

They often use food as a coping They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings. mechanism to deal with their feelings.

Binge eating temporarily relieves the Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately followed by feelings of unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. guilt, shame, disgust, and depression.

Binge eating, like Bulimia, often occurs in Binge eating, like Bulimia, often occurs in secret. secret.

It is not uncommon for Compulsive It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively Overeaters to eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for in front of others and then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. eating less by bingeing in secret.

For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges consist of “grazing” on foods all day long. consist of “grazing” on foods all day long. Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Compulsive Overeaters are constantly Compulsive Overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. struggling and unhappy with their weight.

The number on the scale often determines The number on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves. how they feel about themselves.

Medical complications can also be severe Medical complications can also be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters. Overeaters.

Course and Outcome for Eating Course and Outcome for Eating DisordersDisorders

The onset for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia The onset for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa is usually during late adolescence Nervosa is usually during late adolescence or early adulthood. or early adulthood.

The illnesses usually begin following a The illnesses usually begin following a stressful life event. stressful life event.

Many eating disordered individuals feel out Many eating disordered individuals feel out of control with their life and through the of control with their life and through the practice of the eating disorder get a false practice of the eating disorder get a false sense of control. sense of control.

They often went through a period of being They often went through a period of being overweight and being teased or felt left out overweight and being teased or felt left out because of their weight. because of their weight.

Their first attempts at weight loss were Their first attempts at weight loss were often met with success and positive often met with success and positive comments from their family and peers. comments from their family and peers.

Of individuals with eating disorders, 77% usually Of individuals with eating disorders, 77% usually practice their eating disorders between 1 and 15 practice their eating disorders between 1 and 15 years. years.

Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental disorders with up to 10% succumbing to death as disorders with up to 10% succumbing to death as a result of starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide. a result of starvation, cardiac arrest, or suicide.

The mortality rate for females between the ages The mortality rate for females between the ages of 15 and 24 suffering from Anorexia Nervosa is of 15 and 24 suffering from Anorexia Nervosa is 12 times higher that the mortality rate for all 12 times higher that the mortality rate for all other causes of death in this age group. other causes of death in this age group.

Eating disorders are most successfully treated Eating disorders are most successfully treated with early diagnosis. with early diagnosis.

For anorexics that receive treatment, 40% For anorexics that receive treatment, 40% recover completely, 40% make only partial recover completely, 40% make only partial recovery, and 20% have chronic problems. recovery, and 20% have chronic problems.

For bulimics, 50% recover completely, 35% have For bulimics, 50% recover completely, 35% have some bulimic episodes, and 15% still have some bulimic episodes, and 15% still have chronic problems with their bulimia. chronic problems with their bulimia.

The following are statistics and facts that document how The following are statistics and facts that document how obsessed weobsessed we are as a society with the pursuit of thinness.are as a society with the pursuit of thinness.

Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005). (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005).

Girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge as girls who Girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge as girls who don’t diet (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005). don’t diet (Neumark-Sztainer, 2005).

42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991). 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).

81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991). 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).

The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American woman is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds. The average American model is 5’11” tall and weighs 117 pounds.

Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women (Smolak, 1996). (Smolak, 1996).

46% of 9-11 year-olds are “sometimes” or “very often” 46% of 9-11 year-olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets, and 82% of their families are “sometimes” or on diets, and 82% of their families are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets (Gustafson-Larson & Terry, 1992). “very often” on diets (Gustafson-Larson & Terry, 1992).

91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus 91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted “often” or “always” (Kurth et al., 1995). 22% dieted “often” or “always” (Kurth et al., 1995).

95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years (Grodstein, et al., 1996). years (Grodstein, et al., 1996).

35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. 35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders (Shisslak & Crago, 1995). eating disorders (Shisslak & Crago, 1995).

25% of American men and 45% of American women are 25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day (Smolak, 1996). on a diet on any given day (Smolak, 1996).

Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year (Smolak, 1996). related products each year (Smolak, 1996).

Maintaining a Healthy Maintaining a Healthy LifestyleLifestyle

Your body needs food for energy!Your body needs food for energy! Listen to your body, eat when you are Listen to your body, eat when you are

hungry.hungry. Know when you have had enough. The Know when you have had enough. The

goal is to feel content--not goal is to feel content--not uncomfortably stuffed but not starving uncomfortably stuffed but not starving either. either.

Eat exactly what appeals to you. Eat exactly what appeals to you. Everything is acceptable in Everything is acceptable in moderationmoderation. .

And people And people wonder why our wonder why our image of beauty image of beauty

is distorted?is distorted?