Helping a Loved One With Eating Disorders

It is very easy to recognize the signs of an eating disorder in someone that you love, if you are paying close enough attention, and if you know what to look for. It is important to know these signs, and it is equally important to know how to help a loved one with an eating disorder.

First, the person will have an unusual or even bizarre preoccupation with their weight or their body. They will also become unusually worried or concerned about calories or food, and they will constantly be on a diet, even if a diet isn't needed. They may even have rapid weight loss that cannot be explained. They may be taking laxatives or diet pills on the sly, and they will of course be exercising a great deal. They may hoard food and they may eat in secret or go on eating binges. They may visit the bathroom for long periods of time immediately after eating, or even before the meal is finished. They will often make excuses to skip meals as well.

When you see those things occurring with someone that you love, you must assume that there could be an eating disorder. Approaching this person may seem like a very difficult thing. You don't want to be accusatory. You don't want to upset or insult them - but something must be done, as your loved ones life is literally at stake.

You must talk to them, but you must do so in a way that doesn't anger them, or put them on the defensive. Do not accuse them of anything. Let them know that you love them, and that you are concerned, and that you just want to make sure that everything is alright, and if it isn't, you want to help. Make sure that this conversation occurs in private, and point out the things that you have noticed that are worrying you. Make sure that you listen as much as you talk, if not more.

Realize that there is no simple solution for an eating disorder, and you do not need to make light of it. If they give a reason for the eating disorder, don't make light of that either - although most people who have eating disorders don't realize why they have it without proper therapy.

Remember that in most cases, you cannot force this person to get treatment. However, you can seek out professionals yourself to find out what you can do to convince them to seek treatment. Information gained from professionals who help those who have eating disorders is invaluable when it comes to helping you to help someone that you love.

Autor: Angela McNutt

Angela likes talking about cheap Urbane Scrubs and writing health articles about various health related topics.

Added: February 4, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Overview of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an intense fear of gaining weight. Someone with anorexia thinks about food a lot and limits the food she or he eats, even though she or he is too thin. Anorexia is more than just a problem with food. It is a way of using food or starving oneself to feel more in control of life and to ease tension, anger, and anxiety. Most people with anorexia are female.

Characteristics are:

A low body weight for her or his height
Resists keeping a normal body weight
Has an intense fear of gaining weight
Thinks she or he is fat even when very thin
Misses 3 menstrual periods in a row (for girls/women who have started having their periods)

Anorexia mostly affects girls and women (85-95 percent of anorexics are female), however, it can also affect boys and men. It was once thought the women of color were shielded from eating disorders by their cultures, which tend to be more accepting of different body sizes. It is not known for sure whether African American, Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native people develop eating disorders because American culture values thin people. People with different cultural backgrounds may develop eating disorders because it is hard to adapt to a new culture (a theory called "culture clash"). The stress of trying to live in two different cultures may cause some minorities to develop their eating disorders.

There is no single known cause of anorexia. Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses with causes in both the body and the mind.

Things that may play a part are:

Culture: Women in the U.S. are under constant pressure to fit a certain ideal of beauty
Families: If you have a mother or sister with anorexia you are more likely to develop the disorder
Life change or stressful events
Biology

Autor: Connie Limon

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about this eating disorder and others visit my website at: http://smalldogs2.com/EatingDisorders

Added: February 2, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Eating Disorders - Is it Anorexia Or Bulimia Or is it Just a Phase?

It is a challenge for parents to know when your daughter's eating behaviors warrant intervention and when it may just be a phase and simple discussion and education with her is enough. I'm going to give you a couple of general categories in which to evaluate your daughter's status.

Does My Daughter Need Intervention and Treatment or Is This Just a Phase?

There are a couple of ways I encourage parents to evaluate whether or not their daughter may need intervention.

If she has lost an acceptable amount of weight and seems to want to lose more; you can say to her, "Okay, you have lost enough weight. You need to stop now." One of two things will happen. She will either listen and trust your opinion like she has in the past and stop restricting her intake; or she will ignore you and continue with the weight loss behaviors.

Obviously if she does not stop restricting there is reason for concern. You can then follow up with her and begin discussion on why she is still trying to lose weight and express your concerns.

The other approach you can take, especially if she is resistant to going to a physician or therapist is to say something like, "I know you think I am overreacting and I am willing to consider this is a possibility. So here's what I am willing to do so we can find out how much of an issue this is."

Then you give her some guidelines you expect her to follow in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Preferably ones she is agreeable to and the two of you have negotiated together. Some examples might be, "You have to maintain the weight you are at right now." Or "You have to eat 3 meals a day and this is what these meals must include."

Then you say, "Okay, we have an agreement then." And you repeat the agreement. She needs to verbally agree to her commitment. You let her know that if she is unable to keep her agreement, then she will have to see a physician, therapist, nutritionist or whatever the physician recommends.

You also need to say that if this happens, it is not negotiable. She will not be given a choice about whether or not to attend these appointments, period. This is her chance to show you she does not need further help and if she can't keep the agreement, this will be evidence that she needs outside help.

So again, one of two things will happen. She will be able to reign herself in and get back on track with her eating or she won't. Here's the thing. If there is a real problem or one is building, she may be able to maintain or follow the guidelines for a short time, but she won't be able to sustain it. So you want to give her enough time to really see if she can keep her commitment.

Let me give a word of caution. If your daughter has already lost too much weight and her weight is dangerously low, then this approach is not appropriate because she needs intervention immediately. This can only be used early on in the process when you are evaluating your daughter's emotional, mental and physical health.

Autor: Lynn A Moore

Do you want to learn more about eating disorders?

If so, download my free e-book "Eating Disorder Basics for Parents" here http://www.why-my-daughter.com/edb.html

Lynn Moore educates, coaches, and consults parents on how to help their adolescent with eating disorder behavior. She will guide you through the treacherous waters of deciding what kind of help you need and what you, the parents need to do and can do to help your child.

Added: February 1, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/