Download Eating Disorders

Eating
Disorders
A brief, but enlightening, overview.
What are Eating
Disorders?
 Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia,
and binge eating disorder 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.
Anorexia Nervosa
 Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self-starvation
and excessive weight loss.
 Symptoms include:
 Refusal 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”.
 Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss.
 Loss of menstrual periods.
 Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
 In addition to restricting calories, people with
anorexia may also control their weight with exercise,
diet pills, or purging.
Bulimia Nervosa
 Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by a secretive
cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
 Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more
than most people would eat in one meal--in short
periods of time, then getting rid of the food and
calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or overexercising.
 Symptoms include:
 Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging.
 Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the
point of comfortable fullness .
 Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting,
abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive
exercise, or fasting).
 Frequent dieting.
 Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Binge Eating Disorder
 Also referred to as Compulsive Overeating.
 Binge Eating Disorder is characterized primarily by
periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous
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.
 Body weight may vary from normal to mild,
moderate, or severe obesity.
 Despite feelings of guilt and shame over these secret
binges, they feel unable to control their behavior or
stop eating even when uncomfortably full.
Common Warning Signs
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Preoccupation with body or weight
Obsession with calories, food, or nutrition
Constant dieting, even when thin
Rapid, unexplained weight loss or weight gain
Taking laxatives or diet pills
Compulsive exercising
Making excuses to get out of eating
Avoiding social situations that involve food
Going to the bathroom right after meals
Eating alone, at night, or in secret
Hoarding high-calorie food
Myth # 1
You have to be
underweight to have
an eating disorder.
False
People with eating disorders
come in all shapes and sizes.
Many
individuals with eating disorders
are of average weight or are
overweight.
Myth # 2
Only teenage girls
and young women
are affected by
eating disorders.
False
While eating disorders are most
common in young women in
their teens and early twenties,
they are found in men and
women of all ages.
Myth # 3
People with eating
disorders are vain.
False
It’s not vanity that drives people
with eating disorders to follow
extreme diets and obsess over
their bodies, but rather an
attempt to deal with feelings of
shame, anxiety, and
powerlessness.
Myth # 4
Eating disorders
aren’t really that
dangerous.
False
All eating disorders can lead to
irreversible and even lifethreatening health problems,
such as heart disease, bone
loss, stunted growth, infertility,
and kidney damage.
Tips for Talking about an Eating Disorder
 Communicate your concerns. Share your memories of specific
times when you felt concerned about the person’s eating or
exercise behaviors. Explain that you think these things may
indicate that there could be a problem that needs professional
attention.
 Avoid conflicts or a battle of the wills. If the person refuses to
acknowledge that there is a problem, or any reason for you to
be concerned, restate your feelings and the reasons for them
and leave yourself open and available as a supportive listener.
 Avoid placing shame, blame, or guilt on the person regarding
their actions or attitudes. Do not use accusatory “you”
statements like, “You just need to eat.” Or, “You are acting
irresponsibly.” Instead, use “I” statements. For example: “I’m
concerned about you because you refuse to eat breakfast or
lunch.” Or, “It makes me afraid to hear you vomiting.”
 Avoid giving simple solutions. For example, "If you'd just stop,
then everything would be fine!"
Don’t give up if the person shuts you out
at first or reacts in anger or denial. The
eating disorder is your loved one’s way of
dealing with emotions that are too painful
to face directly. It may take some time
before your friend or family member is
even willing to admit to having a problem.
Lecturing, getting upset, or issuing
ultimatums won’t help the situation.
Instead, make it clear that you care about
the person’s health and happiness and
you’ll continue to be there for him or her.
Treatments for eating disorders
 There are many treatment options for eating
disorders. The right approach for each individual
depends on his or her specific symptoms, issues,
and strengths, as well as the severity of the disorder.
To be most effective, treatment for an eating disorder
must address both the physical and psychological
aspects of the problem. The goal is to treat any
medical or nutritional needs, promote a healthy
relationship with food, and teach constructive ways
to cope with life and its challenges.
 Often, a combination of therapy, nutritional
counseling, and group support works best. In some
cases, residential treatment or hospitalization may
be necessary.
Specific Treatments
 Psychotherapy – Individual and group therapy can help your loved
one explore the issues underlying the eating disorder, improve selfesteem, and learn healthy ways of responding to stress and
emotional pain. Family therapy is also effective for dealing with the
impact the eating disorder has on the entire family unit.
 Nutritional counseling – Dieticians or nutritionists are often involved
in the treatment of eating disorders. They can help your loved one
design meal plans, set dietary goals, and achieve a healthy weight.
Nutritional counseling may also involve education about basic
nutrition and the health consequences of eating disorders.
 Support groups – Attending an eating disorder support group can
help your loved one feel less alone and ashamed. Run by peers
rather than professionals, support groups provide a safe
environment to share experiences, advice, encouragement, and
coping strategies.
 Residential treatment –- Residential or hospital-based care may be
required when there are severe physical or behavioral problems,
such as a resistance to treatment, medical issues that require a
doctor’s supervision, or continuing weight loss.
Need Help?
 Don’t be afraid to mention anything you notice to your
Resident Assistant or Resident Director. They are the best
people to help you find the resources you need.
 Visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for more information.
 Call or email the Counseling Center on campus. They are
more than able to help and all their services are FREE.
 For more information, please contact:
List your university contact
information here…
 This bulletin board was created collaboratively by Kate
Bobbie, Mallory Burns, Ashley Frye and Ashley McCrea,
four female Resident Assistants at Lock Haven University
of Pennsylvania, with information provided by a resident.
 Feel free to use this as you see fit. Awareness Week is
Feb. 24- March 1st.
 Just a note, the Myth slides were put up as an interactive
element. The myth slide was placed over the answer so
the residents could flip it over and see if their answers
were correct.