Everyone took health class in high school — we’ve all seen some afternoon special either with the pink Power Ranger or Tracy Gold and we know that being obsessed with attaining the perfect body can have dangerous consequences. Nevertheless, eating disorders still happen.
While no longer at the forefront of many people’s minds, or hip-enough fodder for Lifetime movies, eating disorders are very real diseases that affect about 2 percent of the population, or 8 million Americans, most of whom are teens and young adults. While the victims of eating disorders are 10 times more likely to be female than male, more than a million men and boys suffer from eating disorders each day.
The common image of someone with an eating disorder is a deathly skinny young woman with dark, sunken eyes and bones protruding from under her skin. Or the girl who eats what she wants and is then discovered in the bathroom after lunch throwing up her meal. While anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, respectively, are the most common eating disorders, there are other options for the body obsessed. Excessive exercising, for example, is another manifestation of a distorted body image and is the manner in which most male eating disorders manifest themselves. Additionally, even though not traditionally thought of as eating disorders, binge eating and obesity, indicators for low self-esteem and poor self-image, are eating disorders. Thus, an eating disorder is any inappropriate relationship with food stemming from a poor self/body image.
One of the tricky things about eating disorders is that, since they are an outward manifestation of an inner process, people don’t often fit into one single definition. A bulimic can become an anorexic, or exhibit aspects of both, for example. An eating disorder can even begin with normal dieting that spirals out of control. Though I am hesitant to blame a “body obsessed” society, there are certain activities young people are involved in that force them to become body conscious and can result in eating disorders. Sports such as gymnastics or wrestling are just two examples. There are other individual and family psychologies that play roles in the development of eating disorders as well, since many teenagers who feel controlled by their parents take control of the only aspect of their lives they feel they can: what they put in their mouths.
Eating disorders arise for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways, and unfortunately, many sufferers become very adept at disguising their weight changes and denying a problem, so they are difficult to diagnose. Unfortunately, eating disorders can produce serious health problems and even result in death. Without proper calories and nutrients, the body begins to alter its physiology and slowly begins to shut down. As a result of anorexia, the body switches to starvation mode and can result in a decreased blood pressure, hair loss, loss of periods, light-headedness and brittle bones. Bulimics suffer from damage to the stomach and kidneys, dental damage from stomach acid eroding the teeth, esophageal ulcers and bleeding, and decreased potassium levels that can damage the heart and result in death. Eating too much can obviously result in obesity, but it also increases the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus and heart disease.
Treating eating disorders is difficult and a long process involving medical care for the physical ailments and psychiatric or psychological care and counseling for the psychological aspects of the illnesses. Sufferers of eating disorders require intense therapy to improve their self esteem and body image; otherwise the medical treatments are ineffective if the person fails to understand the harm they are doing and continues to engage in unhealthy eating behavior. Many times, these patients require admission to a hospital for initial treatment to ensure they first stop the unhealthy behavior, then receive the necessary treatment for medical complications and diet to a healthy weight. This is followed by, and in conjunction with, intense therapy to address psychological issues and internal and external stressors that might induce the behavior. Often, people are treated with anti-depressants to address the psychological aspects of their illness. When deemed appropriate, they can be discharged and followed closely in an outpatient setting.
Eating disorders are often difficult to detect in someone, but if you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, seek help at Student Health or from other medical professionals.
Katie is a University Medical student. She can be reached at k.mcbeth@cavalierdaily.com.
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