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Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. 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 their problems. Some of the underlying issues
that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression,
feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthlessness, 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. Eating disorders are usually divided into
three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating.
Anorexia is a easting disorders where the main characteristic is the restriction of food
and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Any actual gain or even
perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there
a true feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience
body image distortions. Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or
sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the
Anorexic as being fat. For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is a loss
of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate in restrictive
dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. If Anorexia Nervosa
is left untreated, it can be fatal.
Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle. The Bulimic
eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives,
diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, chew-spitting, vigorous exercise,
or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binges usually consist of
the consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time. Binge eating disorders
usually occurs in secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved
with their body shape and weight. The medical complications of bulimia nervosa or binge-purge cycle
can be severe and like Anorexia can be fatal.
Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and
depression. They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings.
Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately
followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. Binge eating, like
Bulimia, often occurs in secret. It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to
eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less
by bingeing in secret. For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges consist of “grazing”
on foods all day long. Similar to Anorexics and Bulimics, Compulsive Overeaters
are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. The number on the scale
often determines how they feel about themselves. Medical complications can also
be severe and even life threatening for Compulsive Overeaters.
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