Thinking About Eating Disorders

Allow me to tell you the story of a friend of mine.

A young teenage girl we know recently suffered through the death of her mother and consequently had to be faced with being raised by her father in whom she was petrified of. Did I mention she was to be in charge of raising her 6 younger brothers and sisters.

She was always thin, but now weighs 90 pounds. She doesn’t think she has a problem and her father doesn’t think she has a problem. There are many questions in this situation, the major one being does she have an eating disorder. If she does have an eating disorder, what type is it….anorexia, bulimia?

It’s clear she needs help, others have tried, however her father prevents any intervention. The question becomes, what is causing the eating disorder? That’s why I assembled this collection of articles and ebooks on eating disorders. Hopefully, you…the reader, might see yourself or someone you care about in the articles to come. Perhaps you might see that you are experiencing the symptoms discussed for anorexia or bulimia. Maybe you binge eat.

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever when it comes to developing an eating disorder. The celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual’s self esteem. When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it’s important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted.

This truly is a life and death discussion. Admitting you might have an eating disorder of some type is the first step in finding a solution to your problem. I pray that you might listen to the voice inside your head as you read the following material.

 

An Overview of Eating Disorders

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever when it comes to developing an eating disorder. The celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual's self esteem. When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it's important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted. Eating disorders are a mental condition, and while many discount the problem as situational and fixable if an individual desires to be fixed, they can be very difficult to overcome. In this article, we'll be giving a basic overview of some of the more common eating disorders that our culture faces today.

One of the most commonly occurring eating disorders within our society today is anorexia nervosa. Many are familiar with the affliction, in which one suffers from such an intense occupation with their self image that they literally starve their bodies in hopes of attaining a slimmer figure. While dieting and exercise are efficient ways of losing weight, those with anorexia resort to drastic methods for trying to attain a body figure that they will never be satisfied with. It is marked by a preoccupation with weight loss and a poor self image. In advanced cases of anorexia, women may lose the ability to have a period.

Bulimia is another eating disorder that permeates our culture today. As opposed to anorexics, which use dieting techniques and weight-loss pills to a high degree, bulimics find solace in 'purging'. Bulimic individuals usually eat a large amount of food, then retreat to a bathroom in order to regurgitate, or 'purge' the food from their system, causing them to lose the nutritional value and calories that the food they consume offers. The use of laxatives may also be employed by bulimics, causing a case of diarrhea and eliminating the nutritional value that they receive. You may be able to see warning signs for bulimia if an individual binges upon foods that are high in fat and sweets, engorging as much food as possible, then retiring to the bathroom in order to purge the foods. Poor self image is also a leading reason why people may become bulimic, and it's an important thing to note when considering the health of a friend or family member.

These are just a few of the eating disorders that can cause excessive trauma to the body and mind of an individual. If you know someone who you suspect has an eating disorder, you may want to discuss the problem with them with love and compassion, being sure to let them know that you are there for them. In severe cases, you should speak with a doctor in order to determine the best course of action for helping an individual.

Written by: Scott Parat