Eating Disorders… A Hard Habit to Break!

What is Anorexia Nervosa? Anorexia nervosa, in the most simple terms, is self-starvation. Anorexics feel there is a serious disturbance in the way they feel about food, weight, and body image. Anorexics are also often characterized as stubborn, vain, appearance-obsessed people who simply do not know when to stop dieting.

How do Anorexics see life? Food and eating dominate the life of a person with anorexia nervosa. Body weight and shape become the main or even sole measures of self-worth. Maintaining an extremely low weight becomes equated with beauty, success, self-esteem, and self-control and is not seen as a problem. People with an eating disorder think about food, weight, and body image constantly.

What causes Anorexia Nervosa? Cultural pressures Psychological issues Family environment Genetic factors Life transitions Perpetuating factors

Cultural Pressures In many societies, being extremely thin is the standard of beauty for women and represents success, happiness, and self-control. Women are bombarded with messages from the media that they must diet to meet this standard. However, this idealized ultra-thin body shape is almost impossible for most women to achieve since it does not fit with the biological and inherited factors that determine natural body weight.

Psychological Issues Psychological characteristics that can make a person more likely to develop anorexia nervosa include: Low self-esteem Feelings of ineffectiveness Poor body image Depression Difficulty expressing feelings Rigid thinking patterns Need for control Perfectionism Physical or sexual abuse

Family Environment Some family styles may contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa. Families of people with the disorder are more likely to be: Overprotective Rigid Suffocating in their closeness In these cases, anorexia nervosa develops as a struggle for independence and individuality. It is likely to surface in adolescence when new demands for independence occur. Overvaluing appearance and thinness Criticizing a child's weight or shape Being physically or sexually abusive

Genetic Factors Anorexia nervosa occurs eight times more often in people who have relatives with the disorder. However, experts do not know exactly what the inherited factor may be. In addition, anorexia nervosa occurs more often in families with a history of depression or alcohol abuse.

Life Transitions Life transitions can often trigger anorexia nervosa in someone who is already vulnerable because of the factors described above. Examples include: Beginning of adolescence Beginning or failing in school or at work Breakup of a relationship Death of a loved one Dieting and losing weight can also set off anorexia nervosa

Perpetuating Factors Once anorexia nervosa has developed, several factors can perpetuate the disorder. These factors include: Symptoms of starvation Other people's reactions to the weight loss Emotional needs filled by feelings of self-control, virtue, and power from controlling one's weight The resulting cycle makes it more difficult to stop the disorder and become healthy again.

The resulting cycle makes it more difficult to stop the disorder and become healthy again.

What Medical Problems Can Anorexia Nervosa Cause? Problems associated in weight loss include lowering of: Heart rate Blood pressure Breathing rate Body temperature (which may result in feeling cold) Other Physical problems include: Thinning or drying of the hair “Lanugo" hair (a fine hair that develops on the face, back, or arms and legs) Dry skin Restlessness and reduced sleep Yellowish color on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet Lack of or infrequent menstrual periods Death!

Facts about Anorexia Nervosa About 90% to 95% are females between ages 13 and 30. However, anorexia nervosa can also occur in males and people of all ages. Although anorexia nervosa is most common in the white upper and middle class, it occurs in people of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Anorexia Facts Cont… People in certain occupations that emphasize leanness to improve performance and appearance are at increased risk for developing anorexia nervosa. These include dancers, gymnasts, figure skaters, runners, wrestlers, cheerleaders, sorority girls, and models.

Celebrities battling the disease Anorexia Nervosa

Reflection Questions Do you compare yourself to magazines, celebrities, actors, or models? When you do, do you think about it all day? Do you think the media plays a huge part in the role of eating disorders today? Why? Do you think someone can cure themselves from Anorexia or Bulimia? What do you think can be done to help with the increase in eating disorders?

Bulimia Nervosa Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binge-eating followed by inappropriate methods of weight control (purging). Inappropriate methods of weight control include vomiting, fasting, enemas, excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, or compulsive exercising. A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation. Binge eating is not a response to intense hunger. It is usually a response to depression, stress, or self esteem issues. During the binge episode, the individual experiences a loss of control.

What Causes Bulimia? Biology Culture Personal feelings Stressful events or life changes Families

Biology There are studies being done to look at many genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain that may have an effect on the development of, and recovery from, bulimia.

Personal feelings Things like starting a new school or job, being teased, or traumatic events like rape can lead to the onset of bulimia.

Culture Some cultures in the U.S. have an ideal of extreme thinness. Women may define themselves on how beautiful they are.

Families The attitude of parents about appearance and diet affects their kids. Also, a person is more likely to develop bulimia if a mother or sister has it

What are signs of bulimia? People with bulimia may be underweight, overweight, or have a normal weight. This makes it harder to know if someone has this disorder. However, someone with bulimia may have these signs:

Uses extreme measures to lose weight uses diet pills, or takes pills to urinate or have a bowel movement (BM) goes to the bathroom all the time after she eats (to throw up) exercises a lot, even during bad weather, tiredness, sickness, or injury

Shows signs of throwing up swelling of the cheeks or jaw area cuts and calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles teeth that look clear

What are the symptoms of Bulimia? Eating uncontrollably, purging, strict dieting, fasting, vigorous exercise • Vomiting or abusing laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight • Vomiting blood • Using the bathroom frequently after meals • Preoccupation with body weight • Depression or mood swings • Feeling out of control • Swollen glands in neck and face • Heartburn, bloating, indigestion, constipation • Irregular periods • Dental problems • Sore throat • Weakness, exhaustion • Bloodshot eyes

What happens to someone who has bulimia?

Celebrities battling Bulimia

Reflection Questions What would you do if you knew someone with an eating disorder? Can one friend pass the disease to another friend? Do you think it is easy to cure an eating disorder?