eatingdisorders

Eating disorders are complex diseases and not just a condition that can be treated with willpower. They meet the definition of a disease because like other diseases they have a particular destructive process for an individual, with a specific cause (that cause can be either known or unknown), and display characteristic symptoms. All eating disorders are primary diseases and not the secondary result of some other disorder. They are chronic conditions with an identifiable progression and predictable symptoms. Eating disorders arise out of the combination of genetic, sociological, and psychological factors.

GENETIC

Many researchers believe that there is an inherited predisposition to having an eating disorder. Studies have shown that the co-occurrence of eating disorders among identical twins is greater than the co-occurrence among fraternal twins. Since identical twins are genetically more similar than fraternal twins, this would support an inherited component. Other research on the genetic component of eating disorders has focused on neurochemistry. Researchers have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and neuroepinephrine are significantly decreased in acutely ill patients suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. These neurotransmitters also function abnormally in individuals afflicted with depression. This leads some researchers to believe there may a link between these two disorders. Besides creating a sense of physical and emotional satisfaction, the neurotransmitter serotonin also produces the effect of feeling full and having had enough food.

SOCIOLOGICAL

Environmental conditions reinforce the practice of an eating disorder. We live in a society that reinforces the idea to be happy and successful we must be thin. Today, you cannot read a magazine or newspaper, turn on the television, listen to the radio, or shop at the mall without being assaulted with the message that fat is bad. During adolescence, a particularly vulnerable time to the development of an eating disorder, the influence of peers becomes important. Self monitoring and comparing ourselves to others becomes central to our psyche. Peer teasing and pressures to conform to the norm are common in the background of eating disorder individuals. As our bodies developed and changed, how others and we reacted to these changes influenced our eventual body acceptance. Other societal issues include dysfunctional families, sexual abuse, physical abuse, domineering coaches and controlling relationships

PSYCHOLOGICAL

The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Through the practice of the eating disorder, the individual may feel a sense of partial control over their seemingly uncontrollable life. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing.

COMPULSIVE OVEREATING

Like all other eating disorders, compulsive overeating is both an addiction and a way of dealing with emotional issues. If those issues are not dealt with, then it is very difficult to just "stop" overeating. After all, if it has become your way of dealing with stress, letting it go is such a hard thing to do. Sufferers don't necessarily like being overweight but they do like the sense of comfort that eating brings. The binges can be likened to smothering the real problems in the hope that they will go away. So how is it possible to deal with problems in ways which aren't food related? Well, the bingeing is trying to deal with them by filling an empty void. Logic dictates that there must be other ways of filling this void. And it is a deep, emotional void, a feeling of emptyness which food can only temporarily fill. What exactly is missing will vary from person to person. For one, it may be a lack of love, for another it could be a lack of security, or a feeling of violation following abuse.

BULIMIA

Bulimia, which means "Insatiable hunger", has much in common with anorexia. Both involve and obsession with food and weight. But though many people with anorexia do binge eat from time to time, most of those who have bulimia as their main problem do not suffer from anorexia. It tends to be people of normal weight or a little overweight. This means that if they are secretive about their compulsive eating, as is usually the case, it may take a long time for the problem to be detected. Bulimia mainly affects women between the ages of 15 and 24. Most women report that they are tense before embarking on and episode of binge eating.Food eaten on a typical binge may vary from as much as three to thirty times the amount consumed in a normal day.It will probably include many sweet and fattening foods which are usually excluded from the diet.It is estimated that over half those affected by bulimia induce vomiting either during or after the binge to avoid food being absorbed by the body. Many do this secretly, using bags or other containers, which are later disposed of to avoid detection.Even more, it seems, use large quantities of laxitives in the mistaken belief that they will clear out the food from the body before it has the chance to be converted into energy. And a large number use diuretics, which have no real affect on weight but can cause potassium defiency. Some bulimia sufferers are aware of this and eat oranges, which are rich in potassium, to make up the lack.

SYMPTOMS

Individuals suffering from an eating disorder may be unaware that they have a disease or may have difficulty asking for help. Below are some "danger signs" to help determine if you or a loved one could be at risk. If three or more of the following symptoms apply to you or a loved one please contact us. You or your loved one may be at risk of having an eating disorder.
* Thoughts about "feeling fat"
* Fear of gaining weight
* Feelings of loss of control when eating
* Weight determines self-esteem
* Body image obsession
* Guilt or shame after eating
* Repeated attempts at dieting
* Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time
* Self-consciousness or embarrassment about eating
* Sneaking food
* Lying about eating habits
* Strict dieting
* Fasting
* Restrictive eating
* Self-induced vomiting
* Laxative abuse
* Diuretic abuse
* Compulsive exercise
* Eating to relieve stress or depression
* Eating when not hungry
* Eating sensibly in front of others and then making up for it when alone
*Depression
*Low body weight
*Menstrual irregularities
*Gastrointestinal complaints
*Embarrassment about body weight

Eatingdisorders not only affect the disordered individual but also the person's relationships with others. Those who care the most, are often those most affected. Oftentimes, relationships with family members and friends are severely damaged as a result of the eating disorder. Communication within the family is often strained and sometimes non-existent. Feelings of anger, fear, sadness, shame, guilt and abandonment run rampant in the affected family. Family and friends are often concerned but do not know what to do. The following is a partial guideline for families and friends to assist in the recovery from an eating disorder.
It's Not Your Fault. Eating disorders are diseases and are not caused by family, friends or even the eating disordered individual themselves. There is no simple cause of eating disorders nor is there a simple cure. It is not possible to force an Anorexic to eat, prevent a Bulimic from purging, or stop a Compulsive Overeater from bingeing. Family and friends often feel they must take on responsibility for the eating disorder, which is something they truly have no control over. The guilt associated with this misplaced responsibility can become paralyzing at times. Once you, as a family member or friend, have accepted that the eating disorder is not anyone's fault, you can be freed to take action that is honest and not clouded by what you "should" or "could" have done.
Being There. Eating disorders can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Even though it may be difficult to understand, the practice of an eating disorder may give the effected individual a feeling of security. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying intra-personal issues that attribute to an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feeling worthless, identity concerns, and inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. For many the practice of an eating disorder is their cry for help. You may be the one who has to initiate the conversation as often the eating disordered person feels afraid, unsafe or even that they do not deserve the help. As a family member or friend, you can help them by empathetically listening and finding out their perspective of the situation. To empathize with someone you need not agree with their perspective, but you must listen to them in a nonjudgmental way. You can listen empathetically by attempting to understand the other person's feelings through relating similar feelings you have had through related experiences. Practice active listening. In active listening, the receiver tries to understand what the sender is trying to portray. The receiver then puts what they understand the sender has said into their own words and reiterates the message back to the sender. It will be healing and comforting for the person to share her or his own perspective without feeling judged. Eating disordered individuals often feel that if they were truthful about their disease, family members and friends would abandon them. Acknowledgement, acceptance and understanding can go a long way.