EATING DISORDERS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON AND WIDESPREAD OF THE ADDICTIONS IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY AFFECTING ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE.
“Mirror Mirror on the wall who is the fattest one of all"
If you can relate to the above saying, you are not alone. Thousands of women and an increasing number of men look in the mirror everyday and hate what they see. Unfortunately this is also happening with a growing number of children and in particular teenagers.
Eating disorders (or food addiction), afflicts millions of people, thousands of which will die from them yearly. There is good news though; eating disorders can be successfully treated. You do not have to be a prisoner to this anymore, help is available.
What are Eating Disorders?
Boys, girls, men and women from all types of background and ethnic groups can suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are a way of coping with feelings that are making you unhappy or depressed. It may be difficult to face up to and talk about, feelings like anger, sadness, guilt, loss or fear. An eating disorder is a sign that you need help in coping with life, and sorting personal problems. In short, eating disorders are another form of addictive illness. With proper treatment, people can recover. Recovery takes a lot of time and hard work, but in the end it is all worth it. The first step is to acknowledge one has a problem and seek help immediately.
The definition of Eating Disorders or Food Addiction is: “the pathological relationship with food and/or eating behaviour that continues despite life damaging consequences".
The 4 main forms of eating disorders are Bulimia, Anorexia Nervosa, Compulsive Overeating, and Binge Eating Disorder.
B U L I M I A.….is characterized by a cycle of binge eating followed by purging to try and rid the body of unwanted calories. A binge is different for all individuals. For one person a binge may range from 1000 to 10000 calories, for another, one cookie may be considered a binge. Purging methods usually involve vomiting and laxative abuse. Other forms of purging can involve excessive exercise, fasting, use of diuretics, diet pills and enemas.
Bulimics are usually people that do not feel secure about their own self worth. They usually strive for the approval of others. They tend to do whatever they can to please others, while hiding their own feelings. Food becomes their only source of comfort. Bulimia also serves as a function for blocking or letting out feelings, in particular feelings of shame. Unlike anorexics, bulimics do realize they have a problem and are more likely to seek help.
Signs and Symptoms
- Binge eating
- Secretive eating (food missing)
- Bathroom visits after eating
- Vomiting
- Laxative, diet pill or diuretic abuse
- Weight fluctuations (usually with 10-15 lb range)
- Swollen glands
- Broken blood vessels
- Harsh exercise regimes
- Fasting
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Severe self-criticism
- Self-worth determined by weight
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Self-deprecating thoughts following eating
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Tooth decay
- Irregular heartbeats
- Avoidance of restaurants, planned meals or social events
- Complains of sore throat
- Need for approval from others
Physical/Medical Complications
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation) and irregular menstruation
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Dehydration
- Constipation and diarrhoea
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeats
- Depression
- Tears of oesophagus
- Hair loss
- Stomach pain and bloating
- Erosion of teeth enamel
- Chronic sore throat
- Kidney and liver damage
- Parotid gland enlargement
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Cathartic colon (caused from laxative abuse)
- Enema (swelling of hands and feet)
- Low blood pressure
- Chest pains
- Development of peptic ulcers and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Gastric dilation and rupture
- Anemias
- Cardiac arrest and death
A N O R E X I A N E R V O S A…. is characterized by a significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. Most women and an increasing number of men are motivated by the strong desire to be thin and a fear of becoming obese. Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is. Often anorexics do not recognize they are underweight and may still "feel fat" at 80 lbs. Anorexics close to death will show you on their bodies where they feel they need to lose weight. In their attempts to become even thinner, the anorexic will avoid food and taking in calories at all costs, which can result in death. An estimated 10 to 20% will eventually die from complications related to it.
Anorexics usually strive for perfection. They set very high standards for themselves and feel they always have to prove their competence. They usually always put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. A person with anorexia may also feel the only control they have in their lives is in the area of food and weight. If they can't control what is happening around them, they can control their weight. Each morning the number on the scale will determine whether or not they have succeeded or failed in their goal for thinness. They feel powerful and in control when they can make themselves lose weight. Sometimes focusing on calories and losing weight is their way of blocking out feelings and emotions. For them, it's easier to diet then it is to deal with their problems directly. Anorexics usually have low self-esteem and sometimes feel they don't deserve to eat. The anorexics usually deny that anything is wrong. Hunger is strongly denied. They usually resist any attempts to help them because the idea of therapy is seen only as a way to force them to eat. Once they admit they have a problem and are willing to seek help, they can be treated effectively through a combination of psychological, nutritional and medical care.
- Noticeable weight loss
- Becoming withdrawn
- Excessive exercise
- Fatigue
- Always being cold
- Muscle weakness
- Obsession with food, calories, recipes
- Excuses for not eating meals (i.e. ate earlier, not feeling well)
- Unusual eating habits (i.e. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)
- Noticeable discomfort around food
- Complaining of being "too fat", even when thin
- Cooking for others, but not eating themselves
- Restricting food choices to only diet foods
- Guilt or shame about eating
- Depression, irritability, mood swings
- Evidence of vomiting, laxative abuse, diet pills or diuretics to control weight
- Irregular menstruation
- Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation)
- Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
- Frequently checking weight on scale
- Fainting spells and dizziness
- Difficulty eating in public
- Very secretive about eating patterns
- Pale complexion (almost a pasty look)
- Headaches
- Perfectionist attitude
- Feelings of self worth determined by what is or is not eaten
- No known physical illness that would explain weight loss
Physical/Medical Complications
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation)
- Skin problems
- Dizziness and headaches
- Dehydration
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeats
- Cold hands and feet
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Hair loss
- Stomach pains
- Decreased metabolic rate
- Edema (water retention)
- Lanugo(fine downy hair)
- Loss of bone mass
- Kidney and liver damage
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Osteoporosis
- Insomnia
- Anaemia
- Infertility
- Depression
- Cathartic colon(caused from laxative abuse)
- Low potassium (most common cause of nocturnal cardiac arrest)
- Cardiac arrest and death
B I N G E E A T I N G D I S O R D E R….. is characterized by consuming large quantities of food in a very short period of time until the individual is uncomfortably full. Binge eating disorder is much like bulimia except the individuals do not use any form of purging (i.e. vomiting, laxatives, fasting, etc.) following a binge. Individuals usually feel out of control during a binge episode, followed by feelings of guilt and shame. Many individuals who suffer with binge eating disorder use food as a way to cope with or block out feelings and emotions they do not want to feel. Individuals can also use food as a way to numb themselves, to cope with daily life stressors, to provide comfort to themselves or fill a void they feel within.
Signs and Symptoms
· weight gain
· feeling out of control over eating
· low self-esteem
· depression
· anxiety
· experiences fluctuations in weight
· loss of sexual desire
· hiding food
· feelings of guilt and shame
· disgusted with self
· going on many different diets
· belief that life will be better if they lose weight
· secretive eating patterns
· avoidance of social situations where food will be present
· suicidal thoughts
Physical/Medical Complications
· obesity
· menstrual irregularities
· diabetes
· high blood pressure
· high cholesterol
· osteoarthritis
· decreased mobility
· shortness of breath
· heart disease
· liver and kidney problems
· cardiac arrest and/or death
C O M P U L S I V E O V E R E A T I N G…. is characterized by uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain. Compulsive overeaters use food as a way to cope with stress, emotional conflicts and daily problems. The food can block out feelings and emotions. Compulsive overeaters usually feel out of control and are aware their eating patterns are abnormal. Like bulimics, compulsive overeaters do recognize they have a problem.
Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when eating patterns are formed. Most people who become compulsive eaters are people who never learned the proper way to deal with stressful situations and used food instead as a way of coping. Fat can also serve as a protective function for them, especially in people that have been victims of sexual abuse. They sometimes feel that being overweight will keep others at a distance and make them less attractive. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, there is a high proportion of male overeaters.
The more weight that is gained, the harder they try to diet and dieting is usually what leads to the next binge, which can be followed by feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame and failure. Dieting and bingeing can go on forever, if the emotional reasons for the bingeing are not dealt with.
In today's society, compulsive overeating is not yet taken seriously enough. Instead of being treated for the serious problem they have, they are instead directed to diet centers and health spas.
Signs and Symptoms
- Binge eating
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Depression
- Self-deprecating thoughts following binges
- Withdrawing from activities because of embarrassment about weight
- Going on many different diets
- Eating little in public, while maintaining a high weight
- Believing they will be a better person when thin
- Feelings about self based on weight
- Social and professional failures attributed to weight
- Feeling tormented by eating habits
- Weight is focus of life
Physical/Medical Complications
- Weight gain
- Hypertension or fatigue
- Heart ailments
- Mobility problems
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Varicose veins
- Hiatal hernia
- Embolism
- Sleep depravation
- Toxaemia during pregnancy
- High blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
- High Cholesterol levels
- Cardiac arrest and death
F O R W O M E N
Eating disorders continue to be on the increase in today's society and not just among teenage girls. Many people believe that eating disorders affect only teenage girls, but that could not be further from the truth. Women are under just as much pressure to be thin as teenagers are. We are seeing more and more women developing eating disorders in their twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond. The onset on anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating can occur at any time in a person's life.
Even though the reasons for the development of an eating disorder may vary, the feelings about oneself are usually the same. The women suffer with feelings of self-hate, worthlessness, low self-esteem, and they usually feel that in order to be happy, they must be thin. Some may feel their lives are out of control and they turn to the one area of their lives that they can control, their weight. Others may believe that once they attain the "ideal" body image, then their lives will become perfect.
There are many reasons why eating disorders may develop later in one's life. With the high rate of divorce, many women are finding themselves back in the dating game in their forties and fifties. They many begin to believe that in order to find another man, they must be thin. If they are in a marriage and find out that their husband has been having an affair, they may blame themselves for that. The woman might feel that her husband has strayed because he no longer finds her attractive. She will then focus her attention on her weight and feel that if she had only been thin, her husband would not have been unfaithful. Usually when affairs happen in a marriage, weight is not the problem. There are deeper problems in the marriage that probably caused the affair to happen. Women need to stop blaming themselves for their husband's infidelity. Sometimes blaming themselves and their weight for the affair is easier than dealing with the deeper problems that caused the marriage to crumble. In other situations, eating disorders may develop once the children are grown and out on their own. A women who has dedicated her life to raising her children, may all of a sudden find herself alone and start to feel like she has no real purpose anymore. She may start focusing on her weight, believing that she will be happy, once she becomes thin. She may also turn to food for comfort to try and fill the void she feels inside.
Society also puts women under a lot of pressure to be thin. Women are constantly being told that they must have a perfect marriage, be a perfect mother, and have the perfect career. They are given the message that in order to obtain all that, we must have the perfect body. Growing older in today's society is much different for women than it is for men. If a man's body changes or his hair starts to turn gray, he is considered to be "distinguished". If a woman's body changes and her hair starts to turn gray, she is considered to be "letting herself go". Eating disorders become a woman's way of escaping the daily pressures of life. Women can no longer enjoy food or allow themselves to provide their bodies with the nutrition it needs and deserves, because society and the media makes women feel guilty for eating.
A while back I read a quote, it went, "When a man gets up to speak, people listen then look. When a woman gets up, people look, then, if they like what they see, they listen". Unfortunately that statement is very true. Women aren't yet taken seriously enough in the business industry and in their careers. A woman trying to advance in her career may feel that in order to be taken seriously and have her ideas listened to, she must be thin. Weight has no effect on someone's intelligence, abilities and job performance. It's time the world started respecting women for their accomplishments and stop judging them by their appearance.
If you are suffering with an eating disorder or think you are, I would urge you to seek help immediately. There is no shame in having an eating disorder. Older women sometimes find it hard to reach out and ask for help, because eating disorders are still very much associated as being an illness that only affects teenage girls. The fact is, eating disorders can affect any woman or man at anytime in their lives, age has nothing to do with it. Eating disorders can be treated and there is help available. You don't need to continue to live this hell everyday. You can free yourself and you can start living the happy, healthy life that you deserve to live.
F O R M E N:
People might be surprised to find out that older woman and even children suffer, but they would probably be shocked to find out that men also can fall victim to this terrible disorder. Why is that? It is because society is still very much in the dark about what eating disorders really are and why someone may develop one.
Eating disorders are not a vanity issue and people do not do this so that they can fit into a smaller dress size. Many people also find this hard to believe, but eating disorders really have nothing at all to do with food. Whether you are anorexic, bulimic, or a compulsive eater, those are just the symptoms of deeper, emotional issues. Just like some people turn to alcohol or gambling as a way to cope, numb themselves, and block out painful feelings and emotions, food is also used in the same way. Anorexics can become so obsessed with counting calories and wanting to be thin, that they spend their whole day thinking about it, which leaves them no time to think about the real problems in their lives. For them, it is easier to think about calories, then it is to face the issues that they may not know how to handle. Many bulimics and compulsive eaters will tell you that when they binge, all the negative feelings, whether they are anger, sadness, stress, loneliness, inner pain, etc., will disappear. When bulimics purge, they usually feel relieved. They say it is almost like they are releasing all the negative feelings they have kept inside. As you can see, they do not binge because they are hungry or have no willpower. They do it because it is the only way they know how to find some relief from the pain that they feel inside. There are many reasons why a person can develop an eating disorder. They may have been a victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. They may have been raised in a dysfunctional family where alcohol drugs and or gambling were abused, or in a family that did not allow emotions to be expressed. Some may have been overweight as a child and were subjected to constant harassing from their peers which could cause them to continue to turn to food for comfort or cause them to start to restrict their food intake. Whatever the reason may be, it is important for people to know that eating disorders are not a vanity issue and people usually develop them as a way to cope with very intense negative feelings and emotions. Having said this, it should not surprise anyone that men too can develop eating disorders.
It is estimated that approximately 10% of eating disorder sufferers are men, but I personally feel that figure would be higher if more men came forward with their problem and if compulsive eaters were included in that figure. It is very difficult for men to reach out and ask for help because eating disorders are still very much considered a "women's disease". They may also not want to come forward for fear that people will think they are gay. Many people automatically assume if a man has an eating disorder, then he must be gay. That is not true at all. Someone's sexual preference has nothing to do with them developing an eating disorder.
The reasons men develop eating disorders are really no different then why a woman, child, or anyone else would. They may have been victims of abuse, come from dysfunctional families, were subjected to teasing from their peers, etc. They also experience the same feelings as anyone else. They have low self-esteem, suffer perfectionism, are over achievers, do not know how to express emotions, avoid conflict, put others needs ahead of their own (co-dependents), feel unworthy and hate most everything about themselves. Many hate themselves so much, they feel they deserve to die. When someone feels that way, they usually start to avoid the very thing that keeps them alive, which is food.
The number of woman that suffer from eating disorders is much higher than men because men are not under the same pressure to be thin. It is more common for men to try and cope with their problems by becoming workaholics or turning to alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex, but the number of men developing eating disorders is increasing. It can also be difficult to know if some men do in fact have an eating disorder. Bulimic men are more likely to try and purge their bodies of unwanted calories by exercising compulsively, rather than by vomiting or laxative abuse. Some people may feel the person is just staying in shape, even though the man may be exercising compulsively because he feels he has to rid himself of the calories he consumed. Many men, like a lot of women, that have been overweight and started losing weight, were praised for the weight loss. They enjoyed the attention they received from losing weight and they may decide that they need to keep losing. They believe that losing weight will help them to be accepted and it will make them happy.
I truly believe that once our society is educated and discovers what eating disorders really are and why someone may develop this addictive disorder, they will have no trouble accepting that men too can suffer from one. If you are a man that is suffering with an eating disorder, I would urge you to seek help. There is no shame in having an eating disorder.
F O R C H I L D R E N & T E E N A G E R S:
In today's society we are now seeing more children under the age of twelve developing eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and compulsive eating are the most common among such young children, but there are cases of bulimia being reported. In a recent study it was estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already dieted and we are beginning to see four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. It's a shame that children so young are being robbed of their childhoods. Why is it that so many young children and teenagers are becoming obsessed with dieting and their weight? I feel the family environment has a lot to do with it, along with the fact that children and teenagers are constantly being exposed to the message society gives about the importance of being thin.
Children and teenagers raised in a dysfunctional family are at a higher risk for developing an eating disorder. In a home where physical or sexual abuse is taking place, the child may turn to an eating disorder to gain a sense of control. If they can't control what is happening to their bodies during the abuse, they can control their food intake or their weight. Self imposed starvation may also be their way of trying to disappear so they no longer have to suffer through the abuse.
Children and teenagers may also develop eating disorders as a way of dealing with the many emotions that they feel, especially if they are raised in a home that does not allow feelings to be expressed. Children or teenagers who are compulsive eaters are usually using food to help them deal with feelings of anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, abandonment, fear and pain. If children are not allowed to express their emotions, they may become emotional eaters. Also, if parents are too involved in their own problems, the child or teenager may turn to food for comfort.
Society and the media also send the message that being thin is important and necessary. You just have to turn on the TV Saturday morning music shows and see just how the music videos give them that message. Children and teenagers are not only told that they need to be wearing the newest in designer clothing, but they must also look perfect in them.
If children and teenagers are going to grow up to love and accept their bodies, they must be raised to love and accept themselves. As parents you need to be very encouraging and supportive and help to build their self-esteem. Children and teenagers need to know that you are proud of them and they need to know that you love them for who they are, not what they look like. Parents should also encourage their children to express their feelings and emotions, and most importantly, parents need to listen to what their children are telling them. You need to be involved in your child's life and you need to spend time with them to provide them with the special attention that they need and crave. However, being overly involved in a child's life and not allowing them privacy could lead a child to become anorexic as a way to gain a sense of control over their life. Not being involved enough could lead a child to feel lonely and abandoned, which could cause a child to turn to food for comfort.
If your child is showing signs of turning to food for comfort, you need to sit down and talk with the child. Find out about their feelings and what is bothering them. You need to deal with the real problems. Criticizing a child about their weight is probably the worst thing that you can do. Parents that push weight loss end up degrading the child, shaming the child and making them feel worthless for being overweight. None of this will encourage the child to lose weight. Instead, it will lead to more feelings of self-hate and cause the child to want to eat more for comfort.
G E T T I N G H E L P:
One of the hardest things to do is admitting and accepting that you have an eating disorder. The next hardest thing to do is reaching out and asking for help. Many of us feel that since this is our problem that we should deal with it on our own. People with eating disorders are very independent and are not used to sharing their feelings with anyone, especially not a therapist. They may feel too ashamed or embarrassed to reveal to someone what they are doing. Please know that there is no shame in having an eating disorder. This problem is too big to correct on your own and you need the help of qualified individuals.
Recovery is a long road, and you do not have to travel that road alone. It really is important to reach out for help. There is no shame for having an eating disorder and help is available. You do not have to be a prisoner to your eating disorder forever. Not only is it okay to ask for help, it is necessary. Recovery can become reality with help.
If you or a loved one is in the grips of an eating disorder (Food Addiction) do not hesitate to call us TODAY at GATS Counselling & Treatment Services for an immediate assessment.
GATS Counselling & Treatment Services
P.O. Box 6411 Halifax Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Ph 088223 4555 (7 days) Checkout our website:
www.gatscounselling.com
Contact Name: Robert Mittiga Addiction Specialist Phone: 08 8223 4555 (7days)
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