Download Disordered Eating

Disordered Eating
Disordered eating includes a wide range of abnormal eating. This includes the behaviors seen in eating
disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, chronic restrained eating, compulsive eating, and habitual
dieting. It includes irregular, chaotic eating patterns. Often physical hunger and satiety (fullness) are
ignored.
Disordered eating has negative effects on overall health - emotional, social and physical. It may cause
the individual to feel tired and depressed, decrease mental functioning and concentration, and can lead
to malnutrition with risk to bone health, physical growth and brain development.
Anorexia Nervosa
People who have anorexia nervosa are obsessed with controlling their eating. It sometimes thought that
the obsession is fueled by the belief that by controlling their bodies, they can control their lives.
Anorexia Nervosa most commonly begins during puberty and can be recognized by the following
symptoms:
Significant weight loss in the absence of a health-related reason, like illness.
Significant reduction in eating accompanied by repeated denials of hunger.
Dieting despite being their healthy weight range.
Physical signs of starvation. This can include the thinning or actual loss of hair, the appearance of a fine,
white hair on the body, frequent bloated feelings, yellowing palms or soles of feet and/or a dry, pasty
skin.
Abnormal menstrual periods in women.
An inability to maintain a weight that is normal for their age and height.
An obsessive desire to be thinner.
Being very afraid of gaining weight or becoming "fat".
A distorted perception of body shape or size.
Allowing their weight and shape to overly influence how they feel about themselves.
A powerful feeling that their lives are out of control.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of bingeing and purging. As with anorexia, this behavior is
driven by a desire to regulate feelings, and accompanied by worries about body weight and shape.
The cycle begins with the person rapidly eating large amounts of food in a single sitting. The eating feels
automatic and beyond control. This may, initially, numb uncomfortable feelings, like anger or sadness.
But it often creates physical discomfort and anxiety about weight gain. As a consequence, the person
tries to rid the body of the food that was consumed. This is attempted by vomiting, using laxatives,
enemas or diuretics, exercising excessively, skipping meals or dieting.
Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging.
Feeling out of control while eating.
Vomiting, using laxatives, diet pills or diuretics, exercising excessively, and skipping meals to rid the body
of food.
Frequent dieting.
Using body weight and shape as the main measure of one's self-worth.
People with bulimia may well have a weight that is regarded as "normal".
Anorexia Athletica (Compulsive Exercising)
Anorexia athletica is a condition where people over-exercise because they believe this will control their
bodies and give them a sense of power, control and self-respect. It isn't a clinically recognized diagnosis
in the same way that anorexia nervosa or bulimia are, but compulsive exercising can have serious health
consequences.
Symptoms of anorexia athletica include:
Exercising more than is good for their health.
Being fanatical about their weight and diet.
Taking time off work, school and relationships to exercise.
Focusing on the challenge exercise poses and forgetting that it can be fun.
Believing that their self-worth depends on their physical performance.
Rarely being satisfied by what they achieve physically.
Saying that this exercise is okay because they are athletes, or insisting that the behavior is healthy.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Individuals with binge eating disorders eat excessive amounts of food at one time. They do this for two
reasons:
They are very hungry because they have been dieting or restricting their eating in some way. The binge
is a response to that hunger.
They may over-eat to comfort themselves, to avoid uncomfortable situations, or to numb their feelings.
The binge can be seen as an attempt to soothe themselves emotionally.
People who binge-eat are often ashamed and embarrassed. They also tend to be genetically heavier and
larger than the "average" person. They do not, however, generally try to compensate for their overeating by vomiting, fasting, over-exercising or abusing laxatives as people with anorexia or bulimia may
do.
Symptoms of binge eating disorder include:
Eating large amounts of food frequently and in one sitting.
Feeling out of control and unable to stop eating.
Eating quickly and in secret.
Feeling uncomfortably full after eating.
Feeling guilty and ashamed of their binges.
In addition, people who binge eat may have a history of diet failures, and may also be obese. About one
in five obese people engage in binge eating.
How to help if you suspect someone close to you has an eating disorder
Collect information about anorexia and bulimia and research the support services that are available.
Prepare an outline of what you want to say and practice communicating your thoughts
Calmly approach at a time when you know you won’t be interrupted. In a caring way tell her/him what
specific behavior(s) you’ve observed. Be frank, i.e. “I hear you vomiting” as opposed to “you spend a lot
of time in the bathroom”. Use these types of comments as a basis for your concern not an interrogation.
“I know this is embarrassing…but I want to be of help.” “I’ve been worried about what I’m seeing. I
haven’t known whether to approach you or not, but I feel too upset to not say anything.”
Express your concern, but do not accuse, condemn, or tell him/her to start eating. Let the person know
that you are there and will be supportive. Stick to the issue; don’t be diverted from the topic.
If she/he denies the problem:
Do not argue or try to convince otherwise (you can leave some information behind)
Do not try to prevent the person from binging, vomiting, or other related behaviors
Do not try to get the person to eat
Above all else, be supportive. Your goal is to connect the person with appropriate help, not to provide
treatment yourself.
Anticipating Reactions
Relief they are no longer alone
Finally able to admit something is wrong
“How dare you” Be prepared to hear that there is no problem and that you don’t know what you’re
talking about. No one likes being confronted with a secret that they’re ashamed of, but don’t be
intimidated by their response, they may need you very much at this time. Hold your position and repeat
why you’re concerned.
“Mind your own business, it’s my life and I’ll do what I want” In this case, tell the person how the
problem is affecting you, your friends, or if you’re in residence-your floor, etc. State that she/he cannot
expect people who care about her/him to ignore these behaviors.
“You’re not so great yourself” You may diet, you may count calories, you may worry about your weight.
Don’t get pulled into this type of discussion. This is not the issue right now.
Bringing a problem out in the open is not always going to go smoothly, you may need to try more than
once before you are able to express yourself in a way that can be heard and accepted. If so, let some
time pass after your first encounter, then broach the subject again. In some cases no matter what you
do or say there may be a steadfast refusal to talk or acknowledge your concerns. This is a problem you
cannot control.
If you are someone you care about may be struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. For
example, the Eating Disorders Clinic operated by Capital Health (http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/mentalhealth-program/programs-services/eating-disorders-clinic) is dedicated to helping people overcome
anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, while the Eating Disorder Treatment Network
(http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/eating-disorder-treatment-network-nova-scotia) has been offers a
variety of treatment options through a series of outpatient groups.
For more information on Eating Disorders, call The Counselling Centre at 420-5615 or drop by our office
on the 4th floor of the Student Centre.
Additional Resources
Eating Disorders at the Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eating-disorders/DS00294)
National Eating Disorders Association (http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/)