There is no single cause of eating disorders.  Biological, social and psychological factors all play a role.  Typically, individuals with eating disorders are described as having low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness and inadequacy.

In most men and women who develop an eating disorder it is triggered by an event or series of events that allow the disorder to take root and thrive.  Triggers can be as subtle as a degrading comment or as devastating as a rape or incest.  Sometimes a life changing event can also trigger the disorder, such as a divorce, marriage or even starting college.  Outside influences such as parents who are preoccupied with eating and overly concerned about or critical of a child's weight, or coaches who insist on weigh-ins may also encourage an eating disorder.  Just the pressure to meet society's standards of beauty and slimness can set the ground for the eating disorder to develop.

Eating disorders are NOT diets, signs of personal weakness or problems that will go away without treatment.  Although eating disorders appear to revolve around eating and body weight, they aren't about food at all, but about feelings and expressing one's self.  People with eating disorders use food and "dieting" as ways of coping with life's stresses.  For some food becomes a source of comfort and nurturing, or a way to control or release stress.  For others, losing weight is a way to gain the approval of friends or family.  Notice how the eating disorder try's to fill a void of what may be missing in an individual's life.

Eating disorders occur in all socioeconomic and ethnic groups. 

More than seven million American women each year will develop an eating disorder and one thousand of those will die from complications of ED.  90% of all individuals with eating disorders are women.

If you have an eating disorder and are ready for recovery PLEASE seek treatment.  Recovery IS possible when you are ready.

Anorexia Nervosa

Individuals with anorexia have an intense dread of becoming fat.  Food and body size become obsessions. It is common for those with anorexia to collect recipes and prepare gourmet meals for family and friends, but not eat any of the food themselves.  They often view that as their way of proving that they are stronger, more in control than those around them.  They are allowing their bodies to wither and "disappear."  Many will gauge their hunger as a measure of their self-control. 

Individuals with anorexia tend to keep their feelings to themselves, seldom challenge authority, and are often described as "too good to be true".  They are also likely to be perfectionists, good students, and excellent athletes.  They strive to be "perfect" in every way.

Symptoms may include:

1. Excessive weight loss
    

2. Menstrual irregularities
    

3. Excessive body/facial hair
    

4. Compulsive Exercise
    

Physical effects of anorexia:

1. Anemia, often caused by iron deficiency, which reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen and causes fatigue, difficulty breathing, dizziness, headache, insomnia, pale skin, loss of hunger and irregular heart beat.  (Here I stress the importance of getting enough protein or taking an iron supplement.)
    

2. Elevated cholesterol
    

3. Low body temperature and cold extremities
    

4. Constipation and bloating (Do NOT take laxatives or diuretics for these...increase your fiber intake and drink plenty of water to counter-act these naturally.)
    

5. Shrunken organs
    

6. Low blood pressure
    

7. Slowed metabolism and reflexes (This is the exact reason not to lower your caloric intake too low, you want to keep your metabolism up to continue to lose weight.)
    

8. Slowed heart rate, which can be mistaken as a sign of physical fitness.
    

9. Irregular heartbeat, which can lead to cardiac arrest.

 

Bulimia Nervosa

Individuals with Bulimia nervosa use diet as a means of emotional control.  Binging becomes a way to relieve stress, anxiety, or depression.  Purging the calories relieves the guilt of over eating.  Overtime it becomes a habit.  Individuals with bulimia are more impulsive, more socially outgoing, and less self-controlled than those with anorexia.  They are also more likely to be substance abusers.

Individuals with bulimia aren't necessarily thin.  Even so, they are starving themselves nutrionally because they are not getting the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients the body needs for survival.  (Once again I stress the importance of daily vitamin and mineral supplements!)

Symptoms may include:
 

1. Binge eating, usually in secret.  (Eating large amounts of food in a generally short time.)
    

2. Preoccupation with food.
    

3. Vomiting and extreme use of laxatives or diuretics after binges. (please read the FAQ in the E.R. for more dangers about this)
    

4. Menstrual irregularities
    

5. Compulsive exercise.

Physical effects of Bulimia:
 

1. Dehydration. (ALWAYS re-hydrate yourself if you must purge.  Try to keep several bottles of electrolyte replacement beverages on hand. )
    

2. Chronic diarrhea (Again I stress the importance of staying hydrated!)
    

3. Extreme weakness
    

4. Damage to bowels, liver and kidneys
    

5. Electrolyte imbalance and low potassium levels, which lead to irregular heartbeat, and in some cases cardiac arrest. (Use the electrolyte replacement beverages, and when you are eating "normally" keep your meals high in potassium.  Check the E.R. for a list of potassium rich foods)
    

6. Tooth erosion from repeated exposure to stomach acid. (To help with this rinse with a solution of baking soda and water before brushing.  If you don't have baking soda, try chewing a couple TUMS and letting it sit on your teeth before you brush.  At the very least rinse well, before brushing)
    

7. Broken Blood Vessels in the eyes and a puffy face due to swollen glands, which are telltale signs of self-induced vomiting.
    

8. Cuts and calluses across the fingers from thrusting a hand into the throat.
    

9. Ruptured esophagus due to forced vomiting. (If you suspect that you have ruptured your esophagus seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY!)

 

Compulsive Overeating (COE)

Individuals with compulsive overeating disorder have a "addiction" to food.  They use food and eating as a way to deal with their emotions, daily stress, problems in their lives or to feel a empty void inside.

Individuals with Compulsive Overeating are usually overweight, and aware that their eating habits are not normal.  They often times feel guilty for not being "good enough", according to society's standards.  They feel shame for being overweight, and usually have very low self-esteem.

They are at a greater health risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/ or failure and stroke.

Symptoms may include:

1. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others, because they feel they may not be able to control their eating.
    
2. Chronic dieting on a variety of popular diet plans.  Usually "fad diets."
    
3. Hiding food to eat alone later
    
4. Holds the belief that food is their only "real" friend.
    

Physical Symptoms may include:

1. Frequently out of breath after relatively light activities.
    
2. Excessive sweating
    
3. Leg and joint pain
    
4. Weight gain
    
5. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuity.
    
6. Mood swings. Depression and fatigue.
    
7. High blood pressure and or cholesterol

 

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Individuals with Binge Eating disorder have a combination of symptoms similar to Compulsive Overeaters and Bulimia.  They periodically consume an unusually large amount of food in a relatively short time.  They eat until they are uncomfortably full, but they do not purge following the binge.

Individuals with BED typically use the binges the same as a Compulsive Overeater would.  As a way to deal with emotions, daily stresses, problems in their life, or to fill an empty void inside.  They are typically of average weight or overweight.  If overweight, they may hide behind their weight, subconsciously feeling undeserving of any love.

A person suffering with Binge Eating Disorder is at health risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/or failure, arthritis and bone deterioration, and stroke.

Symptoms may include:

1. Frequent Dieting
    
2. Feeling unable to stop eating voluntarily
    
3. Aware of abnormal eating habits
    
4. Weight fluctuations
    
5. Depression
    
6. Feelings of shame
    
7. Antisocial behaviour
    
8. Obesity
    
9. Eating when not physically hungry

Physical symptoms may include:

1. High blood pressure
    
2. Gall Bladder Disease
    
3. Diabetes
    
4. Heart disease
    
5. Certain types of Cancer

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ( ED-NOS)

Having this type of disorder can mean the individual has Anorexia but still gets their period, or is still of an "average healthy weight"; or it can mean that the have some symptoms of Anorexia as well as Bulimic behaviours (Bulimirexic).

Body Dysmorphic  Disorder (BDD)

Individuals with this disorder have a preoccupation or obsession with a defect in appearance;  this may be an actual imperfection or an imagined one.  (One way to understand this type of disorder is to think of looking at yourself in a fun house mirror. That is the perception people with this disorder may see when they look in a regular mirror.)

Individuals with BDD often times have low self-esteem and unreasonable fears of rejection from others, due to their perceived ugliness.  Some may realize that this perception is distorted, but find it the impulse to think about it uncontrollable.

Individuals with BDD sometimes practice compulsive rituals to look at, hide, cover and/or improve their "defects".  They may go to any lengths to improver their appearance. They may see out plastic surgeons, or even attempt their own surgery, or commit suicide.

Symptoms may include:

1. Preoccupation with an imagine defect in appearance.
    
2. The inability to function "normally in a social or occupational environment.
    
3. Depression
    
4. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

 

The following is a  list of tests that your physician will perform if he/she suspects an eating disorder or if you are ready to seek help in recovery.

When you decide that you are ready to seek treatment for your eating disorder treatment will most likely involve a team of dieticians, psychotherapists and physicians.  Treatment may include the following:

If you are seeking recovery we wish you all the best, and hope not to see you back here.  Here are some great recovery links to help you on your way.

Something Fishy

Makayla's Healing Place

Mirror-Mirror

S.C.a.R.E.D.