The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) online reports that “in the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life.” 

Here are two common eating disorders and how to recognize them.

 

Anorexia nervosa

In this disorder, the cycle of self-starvation denies the body essential nutrients, forcing the body to slow down all of its processes. With this, health consequences of anorexia nervosa are as follows:

–       slow heart rate.

–       low blood pressure.

–       reduced bone density — osteoporosis.

–       muscle loss and/or weakness.

–       severe dehydration — can result in kidney failure.

–       overall weakness, including fatigue and fainting.

–       dry hair and skin — hair loss is common.

–       growth of a downy layer of hair — “lanugo” — all over the body in an effort to keep the body warm

 

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

–       inadequate food intake leading to a suspiciously low weight.

–       intense fear of weight gain/obsession with weight.

–       self-esteem overly related to weight.

–       possible binge-eating/purging behaviors.

 

Some warning signs of anorexia nervosa include:

–       dramatic weight loss.

–       preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, dieting.

–       refusal to eat certain foods — and/or avoid whole categories of food.

–       frequent comments concerning weight, despite weight loss.

–       denial of hunger.

–       development of food rituals — for example, eating food in a certain order, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate, etc.

–       consistent excuses to avoid meals and/or situations involving food.

–       excessive, rigid exercise regimen despite weather, fatigue, illness, injury.

–       social withdrawal.

 

Facts about anorexia nervosa:

–       about 90 to 95 percent of those who suffer from it are girls and women.

–       between 0.5 and 1 percent of American women suffer from it.

–       it’s one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women.

–       between 5 and 20 percent of individuals struggling with it will die.

–       it has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.

 

Bulimia nervosa

In the binge-and-purge cycles of this disorder, the digest system is affected, which can lead to bodily imbalances that affect the heart and other major organs. Health consequences include:

–       electrolyte imbalances — can lead to irregular heartbeats and/or heart failure as result of the dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium and chloride from the body because of purging.

–       potential for gastric rupture during binge times.

–       inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.

–       tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released from vomiting.

–       chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation — from laxative abuse.

–       peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.

–       high cholesterol and blood pressure.

 

Symptoms are similar to those of clinical obesity, which include:

–       frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food followed by a compensatory behavior, such as self-induced vomiting, to “undo” or compensate for the effects of the eating.

–       a feeling of being out of control during bing-eating.

–       self-esteem overly related to body image.

 

Warning signs of bulimia nervosa are as follows:

–       disappearances of large amounts of food in small amounts of time.

–       evidence of purging — for example, frequent bathroom trips, signs/smells of vomiting, presence of wrapper, packages, containers of laxatives.

–       excessive, rigid exercise regimen despite weather, fatigue, illness, injury.

–       swelling of cheeks or jaw.

–       calluses on the back of hands/on knuckles — from self-inflicted vomiting.

–       discoloration/staining or loss of teeth.

–       creation of daily time slots to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.

–       social withdrawal.

–       preoccupation with weight loss, dieting, controlling food.

 

Facts about bulimia nervosa:

–       it affects 1 to 2 percent of adolescent and young adult women.

–       about 80 percent of patients are female.

–       people struggling with it usually look to weigh an average weight.

–       it’s common for a person struggling with it to notice their strange behaviors and recognize the health dangers.

 

 

source: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/