1. National Eating Disorders Association
NationalEatingDisorders.org
Watch the trailer of "The ABC's of Eating Disorders" - Anorexia - Bulimia - Compulsive Overeating

2. STATISTICS
In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
Approximately 25 million more are struggling with binge eating disorder.

3. THE DRIVE FOR THINNESS
Eating disorders are now the 3rd most common chronic illness in adolescent girls
81% of 10-year-olds restrict eating (diet)
At least 46% of 9-year-olds restricted eating
Fear of being fat is so overwhelming that young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of cancer, nuclear war or losing their parents

4. Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating Disorder: What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating Disorders include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and males.

5. ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
Refusing to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”, extreme concern with body weight and shape
Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods

8. Possible Physical Effects of Anorexia
Lighted headed/dizzy
Irregular heart beat
Body systems slow down
Weak immune system
Brittle hair/nails
Always Cold –no fat
Eat away at muscle
Kidney failure
Heart failure
Permanent damage to organs
Death 20 % of the time

9. BULIMIA NERVOSA Symptoms include:
Characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food---in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising.
Symptoms include:
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Use of any of the following to “purge” body of excess food/calories…
Self-induced vomiting
Abuse of laxatives
Abuse of diet pills and/or diuretics

10. Possible Physical Effects of Bulimia
Laxative abuse…
Bloody diarrhea
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Kidney damage
Seizures
Dependence on laxatives
Self induced Vomiting
Chronic raw/sore throat
Damage to heart muscle
Physical pain/cramping
Damaged esophagus
Swollen glands/jaws
Eroded tooth enamel
Loss of teeth

11. Self induced vomiting laxatives periods of fasting diet pills
                                                                                                                                                                   
laxatives
diet pills
diuretics
periods of fasting

12. BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING)
Characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full.
While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge.
People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.

13. OTHER INFORMATION…
People can often suffer from a combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. They may not be JUST on or another – they may go back and forth.
Eating disorders require professional help.
Slave to My Eating Disorder - Taryn's Story - YouTube

14. CAUSES OF EATING DISORDERS
While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food.
People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate and control feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem over-whelming.
For some, dieting, bingeing, and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one’s life.

15. Other roots of eating disorders…
Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life – low self esteem
Depression, anxiety, anger, or loneliness
Troubled family and personal relationships
History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight
History of physical or sexual abuse
Cultural pressures that glorify “thinness” and place value on obtaining the “perfect body”
Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings

16. My Eating Disorder Story - YouTube