Recognizing the Signs of ... An Eating Disorder
Eating disorders encompass a wide range of food and weight issues. Although eating disorders are typically more common in women, men can also be affected by problems with eating. The most current research suggests there is no single cause of an eating disorder. Usually, a combination of psychological, physiological, and social factors contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Many people feel the media plays a negative role in portraying unrealistic body sizes which the average person can never attain.
For the person with an eating disorder, problems can be expressed through an obsession with food, body weight, or exercise. Eating can be used as a way of trying to gain control over other issues. Some common behaviours of being at risk for an eating disorder include food restrictions, food rituals, emotional eating, binge eating, starving, vomiting, or compulsive physical exercise. In general, someone with an eating disorder may be obsessed with their appearance; may weigh themselves frequently; may be severely preoccupied with food, weight, and exercise; or avoid eating with others. Typical side-effects of these behaviours and thinking patterns are depression, irritability, and/or self-criticism.
The three most common types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder (or compulsive eating). While anorexia is characterized by drastically limiting one's food intake, bulimia and binge eating disorder both involve overeating. However, if someone has binge eating disorder, some form of purging, fasting, or over-exercise does not follow the eating as it does with bulimia; as well, people with binge eating disorder may be genetically predisposed with a larger body type.
Eating disorders also create dangerous consequences to health, due to the body being deprived of necessary nutrients and also as a reaction to fluctuating weight. Physical side effects of anorexia nervosa can include hair loss, severe dehydration, fainting, osteoporosis, and risk for heart failure. Side effects of bulimia nervosa can include tooth decay, chronic irregular bowel movements, ulcers, potential esophagus rupture, and electrolyte imbalances causing heart attack. Side effects of binge eating disorders can include high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes, and gallbladder disease.
Characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa include:
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Drastic weight loss or keeping weight below a healthy level
- Excessive dieting
- For women, possible loss of menstrual cycle
- Still "feeling fat," regardless of weight
Characteristics of Bulimia Nervosa include:
- Uncontrolled, secretive binge eating
- Frequent fluctuations in weight
- Purging of food (e.g. self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives)
- Fasting or excessive exercise
Characteristics of Binge Eating Disorder include:
- Eating frequently in large quantities; finding comfort through eating
- Feeling out of control with eating, including rapid and secretive eating
- Eating to avoid difficult relationships or feelings
- Feeling guilty and ashamed of over-eating
If you or someone you know is affected by the symptoms of an eating disorder, consider accessing personal counselling at Counselling Services, Conestoga College. Help is also available from medical staff at Campus Health Services (Doon Campus, Room 1A102).
The Eating Disorder Awareness Coalition of Waterloo Region is also an excellent resource. Their phone contact is 519-745-4875 and email is edac@golden.net. The Eating Disorder/ Body Image Directory is a list of resources available in the Waterloo Region. It can be accessed on the EDAC website at www.edacwr.com and includes services and support materials. If you live outside of the K-W Region, the National Eating Disorder Information Centre in Toronto can be accessed by phone at 416-340-4156 (toll-free 1-866-633-4220), by website at www.nedic.ca, or by email at nedic@uhn.on.ca.
You may also refer to our on-line links for more information about eating disorders.