Eating Disorders
What Is an Eating Disorder
The Mayo Clinic has defined eating disorders as a group of serious medical conditions in which the individual is completely pre-occupied with eating and losing weight. Typically, they will focus on little else as this becomes the driving force in their lives. Serious physical health problems can result from eating disorders. However, there is usually a psychological issue going on at the same time as the disorder, including anxiety or depression. These need to be addressed in conjunction with the disorder.
Although most of the individuals who succumb to eating disorders are females, males can develop them as well and even though women are nine times more likely to develop them than what men are. Recommended treatment regimens for these different types of eating disorders include:
- Family counseling
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- Nutrition education and therapy
- Psychotherapy
Binge Eating Disorder is an exception to the rule regarding more females being affected in that it appears to affect nearly as many males as it does females.
Identifying the Different Types of Eating Disorders
Although the field of eating disorder treatment focuses on a number of different types such including Anorexia Athletica, Orthorexia, and Pica Eating disorder, the most commonly treated types of eating disorders today include the following:
- Anorexia Nervosa – the individual becomes extremely thin and unhealthy looking even though they refuse to eat sufficiently because they fear that they will gain too much weight or already see themselves as overweight even when this isn’t the case
- Bulimia Nervosa – involves periods of bingeing followed by periods of purging in a repetitive cycle. Purging involves the use of diuretics, enemas, and laxatives as well as self-induced vomiting
- Binge Eating Disorder – simply put, this is defined as eating that is out of control
Individuals that develop one of these different types of eating disorders are usually females in their pre-teen or teenage years. There have been cases reported involving females who were as young as 10 or 11 years old. As was mentioned above, when an individual develops an eating disorder, this oftentimes occurs in conjunction with a mental disorder such as anxiety and panic disorders, depression, or alcohol and drug abuse.
What you want to be aware of is the fact that any eating disorder that goes untreated can and will oftentimes turn life-threatening or be fatal. The fatality rate among individuals with any of these different types of eating disorders is about 10% meaning that 1 out of every 10 individuals may eventually die if they do not receive professional help. The following section will address the signs and symptoms of the three eating disorders mentioned above.
“Red Flags” To Be Aware Of
No medical or psychological condition is immune to exhibiting certain “red flags” (symptoms and warning signs). The following is a breakdown of what to look for if you are concerned about having one of the different types of eating disorders or if you are worried about a loved one developing an eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms and Warning Signs:
- A layer of soft body hair (Lanugo)
- Abdominal pain
- Appearing too thin
- Being cold frequently
- Being pre-occupied with dieting, exercise, and food
- Constipation
- Dehydration
- Denying hunger and refusing to eat
- Distorted, negative self esteem and self-image
- Dizziness and fainting
- Dry skin
- Exercising excessively
- Intense fear of getting fat or being overweight
- Irregular heartbeat
- Irregularities with menstrual cycles or complete loss of menstruation cycle (amenorrhea)
- Lack of emotions or moods
- Lower blood pressure
- Withdrawing from those around you
Bulimia Nervosa Symptoms and Warning Signs:
- A focus on body shape and weight that is totally unhealthy
- Abnormal bowel fuctions
- Abusing diuretics, enemas, and laxatives
- Calluses, scars, and sores on the hands or knuckles
- Continual dieting and/or fasting
- Damaged gums and teeth
- Dehydration
- Distorted, negative self esteem and self-image
- Eating high-fat content foods and sweets until you are in pain or extremely uncomfortable
- Exercising excessively
- Feeling that your eating behavior is out of control
- Immediately heading to the restroom when during meals or once you have finished eating
- Irregular heartbeat
- Irregularities with menstrual cycles or complete loss of menstruation cycle (amenorrhea)
- Self-induced vomiting
- Sores in the mouth and throat or on the tongue
- Substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)
- Swollen salivary glands
Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs:
- Consuming more food or snacks during a binge eating episode than what you normally would eat
- Eating alone frequently
- Eating faster during these binge eating episodes
- Eating until you are in pain or uncomfortable
- Feeling that you cannot control your eating behavior
- Feelings of depression, disgust, or upset over how much you have eaten
When it’s Time to get Professional Help
Due to the fact that the different types of eating disorders take control of the individual, it can be extremely difficult to manage them or overcome them on your own. It is always recommended that you get the professional help offered by an eating disorder treatment clinic anyway instead of trying to do it yourself. Remember that eating disorders eventually take over a person’s life.
This may cause you to think about nothing but food continually and exercising to the point of dropping from exhaustion. In addition to agonizing for hours on end about what you are going to eat, your emotions will typically go through the work. You will experience feelings of being anxious, ashamed, drained physically, guilt, hopelessness, irritability, and sadness. Physical problems that typically arise include bowel problems, dizziness, fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat.
If it has gotten to the point with you or a loved one where any of the above applies, it’s time to get professional help.
Harmony Grove High Quality Eating Disorder Treatment for Women
Harmony Grove is California’s premier eating disorder treatment center for women. At Harmony Grove you will receive a personalized program that will match your needs, which will be administered by a thoughtful caring staff, and they will be available 24 hours a day to help you recover. Women from around the world have come to Harmony Grove and found new life. Harmony Grove’s eating disorder treatment and recovery programs are affordable, and extremely effective! Please contact us today!
Harmony Grove Eating Disorder Recovery Program Information
For more information on a specific eating recovery program, please select the link below:
- Anorexia Treatment
- Bulimia Treatment
- Binge Eating Treatment
- Compulsive Eating Treatment
- Emotional Eating Treatment
