Overview

An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person's life. According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, "feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one's experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale." Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders generally recognized by medical classification schemes, with a significant diagnostic overlap between the two. Together, they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. There is a third type of eating disorder currently being investigated and defined - Binge Eating Disorder. This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food during a brief period of time and feels totally out of control and unable to stop their eating. It can lead to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Identifying the Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia is not only a person completely from the appearance, but also affects the behavior and personality. A simple explanation of the difference between the two diseases is that bulimics eat large quantities of food and then throw (binge-eating and rinsing), while anorexics simply starve. The first step to prevention is to recognize the symptoms. Here is an overview of anorexia and bulimia, and the most common symptoms of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia occurs when a person refuses to eat, to a certain body weight. Anorexics experience extreme weight loss, as much as 15% below normal body weight. Even if they are very thin, they still believe that they are overweight. Weight loss is ebermaige movement, laxatives and fasting. Their diet habits are acquired because of their intense fear of too thick. Anorexia is considered to be most common among adolescent girls and people involved in activities in thinness is preferred, such as dancing, modeling and distance running. It is helpful to know the symptoms of anorexia.

signs of anorexia

- Feeling overweight, even if thin

-loss

experiencing dramatic weight-based self-worth on body weight and /or body image

-Skipping Meals frequently

- insistence on eating only certain foods (usually low in fat and calories)

- preparing meals for others, but not eating

-weighing frequently

you look in the mirror to frequently

error in women missing three consecutive menstrual cycles periods

-for men, a decline in sexual desire

physical effects of anorexia

The serious health risk for someone with anorexia is death caused either by the effects of the severe weight loss or by suicide. Estimates say that not less than 1 in 10 people with anorexia will die of complications disorder.

bulimia

Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by irrigation. A binge is an episode that one eats a much graere amount of food than most people would in a similar situation. Binge-eating is usually a reaction to depression, stress, or self-esteem. During a binge episode, an individual experiences a loss of control. Some methods of weight control bulimics include vomiting, fasting, enemas, ebermaiger use of laxatives and diuretics, and a compelling need to exercise. People with bulimia may appear completely normal, many of them are of normal weight and some are even obesity. Moreover, binge eating and sinks is often in secret, making it difficult to determine whether a person suffers from bulimia. Although there are currently no known specific cause for bulimia, there are warning signs to considered.

signs of bulimia

- not controllable eating

undue weight-control methods - strict diet, fasting, vomiting, energetic movement, or abuse of laxatives or diuretics

-frequent trips to the bathroom after meals

employment with body weight and /or body image

-Consummation of foods high in most calories

depression or mood swings, feelings of control

-heartburn, flatulence, indigestion, constipation, weakness, exhaustion

-Women , Blutungsunregelmaigkeiten periods

If you have a friend or family member who suffers from an eating disorder, your emotional support is important. Recommend you see that they have a doctor and /or a counselor can help them in their fight against the disease. As with many other diseases, be prepared to denial, resistance and anger from the sufferer. Learn to recognize the symptoms of eating disorders to prevent their escalation. It may save someone's life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Holly_Cates

Friday, April 25, 2008

Women Suffering From Anorexia Nervosa, I Know Your Pain

Nowadays, a lot of pressure on young girls and women to look unrealistically perfect, like a Barbie doll or a super model.

Everywhere you're looking for, especially in magazines for young people to find grotesque images of thin women with pale skin and no emotion. For many of these people, for whatever reason, is what it means to himself beautiful.

When compared to these pictures, young girls are found inadequate. You can not see the outline of their rib cages in a bikini, they have a flat stomach instead of the subtle rolling toned abs, she weighs 120 instead of 115 or 115 instead of 110, and so is on.

This anorexia nervosa, a complex mix from psychological, biological and social factors that lead to unrealistic goals and a deadly perfectionism.

The only way to really combat anorexia nervosa is characterized by a change in the perception of beauty. Most of the girls who fall into the eating disorders are not obese or even overweight.

They do not need to lose weight and should not try it. Instead, these girls must change their attitudes by actively switching role until models.

The women, women of substance that caused many great intellectual achievements, and not those who all their lives striving for the perfect impossible body.

Girls suffering from anorexia nervosa, once come to the realization that they have the disease, say friends and family and seek the professional care of a doctor, they can ensure a healthy regime of nutritious food and cardio exercises remain fit.

They should also recognize that Beauty is not solely on the basis of outward appearance, but also actions and attitudes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Wright

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Health Dangers Of Eating Disorders

Eating diseases can before serious health hazards. An eating disorder is a serious problem, not only to your entire self-image, but also lasting damage to your body. In the most severe cases, eating disorders can lead to complications affecting the lives threatening.

You should ask your doctor immediately if you suspect that you are suffering from an eating disorder. Do not wait too long for a hearing as early treatment crucial.

Here are some of the most common health consequences, and with the development of an eating disorder are:

1. Anorexia. In your quest to be thin, you deny your body vital food and nutrients. If you stop eating, your body grows weak and its natural processes slow down, as they tried to conserve energy. It will grow weak and lose muscle and bone density. If you allow this to continue over a longer period, you may end with several serious health complications.

Your heart rate also starts to slow down and you suffer from low blood pressure. You can also renal failure, when your body is dehydrated long enough.

Physically, then you will see dry hair, dull skin and hair loss. They can also begin to grow fine hair on your whole body, because the body tries to steady temperature. They are also easily fatigued, fainting and feeling a general sense of weakness.

2. Bulimia. If you have bulimia, then you are in a cycle of binging and purging. This cycle is unhealthy. My binging and purging sessions will lead to chemical and electrolyte imbalances. This can be a major impact on the health of the heart and other vital organs.

You can unregelmaige heart beats and heart failure because of this. Because you are suffering from dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium you at the end with rupture of the stomach and other serious digestive system problems.

You can break your gullet because of your repeated vomiting. They also have problems with the teeth, including severe tooth decay because of gastric acid, which you often vomiting.

Of course, you can also suffer from irregular bowel movements and constipation. Because these things are so dangerous, you should really some eating disorders prevention tips here.

3. Binge Eating. If you are a binge eater, then it would be difficult to control how much and what type of food you eat. Eating large quantities of unhealthy foods put you at risk for high cholesterol. They are also a higher risk of high blood pressure, clinical obesity, diabetes, heart disease and gall bladder disease.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Kim_Leong