| Eating disorders |
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Introduction
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Types of eating disorders |
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Self-help tips |
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Other help |
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| Select any section that interests you or
else read on through the page. |
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| Introduction |
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Mostly women suffer from eating disorders
but an increasing proportion of young men are also experiencing
them. They are as much a social and cultural problem as
a personal one.
We live in a society where the media constantly bombard
us with images of successful people who are portrayed
as thin. Women's bodies are particularly scrutinised by
the fashion industry. There is often pressure to fit into
a certain type of look that is currently fashionable.
Since the 1960's fashion models in the West have become
markedly both underweight and taller than the national
average woman. Increased photographic skills and other
technical expertise has resulted in the reproduction of
images of women which are glamorous, superhuman and perfect.
Even the models don't actually look as perfect or glamorous
as their photos appear. We are given the message that
looking thin means being successful in society. Pressure
to conform and the fear of loss of control leads to worry
about one's body image or weight.
On top of this, millions of pounds are spent by the dieting
industry on advertising. Research shows that 90% of men
and women are concerned with their body size and diet
or exercise in an attempt to redefine their natural body
shape.
Other Contributory Factors
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Low self-esteem |
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Relationship or family problems |
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Anxiety
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Depression |
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Stress |
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| The eating disorder itself is usually symptomatic
of an underlying emotional or psychological issue. The
underlying issues are not necessarily unusual or traumatic
incidents but may be fairly commonly experienced problems
that have built up over a period of time. |
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| Types
of eating disorders |
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Even though exact sympoms vary due to individual
personality, lifestyle and circumstances, these are three
commonly experienced eating problems that often have overlaps
between them.
Compulsive
eating
Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa |
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Compulsive Eating
This is where a person finds they have irresistible urges
to binge. Often after a binge they might feel overwhelmed
by feelings of self-disgust or shame. The binge may follow
a period where a rigid dieting regime has been put in
place.
Thus a diet-binge cycle may ensue. The dieter is often
concerned with body size that may fluctuate. Someone who
compulsively eats may appear or feel overweight.
Eating is often not in response to physical hunger pangs.
The eater feels out of control around food. The desire
to binge seems to take over and overpower any will to
diet and lose weight. |
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Bulimia Nervosa
This is a cycle of overeating followed by self-induced
vomiting or purging with laxatives or fasting. The eating
disorder is often kept secret. The sufferers binge or
purge alone and appear normal in body size. Those experiencing
bulimia are constantly preoccupied with food and body
size. They may have lists of high calorie or high carbohydrate
foods that are self-forbidden, these foods become binge
products. The disorder is characterised by secrecy, shame
and guilt until help is sought and recovery begins.
Sufferers from bulimia may experience one or more of the
following: |
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Damage to kidneys |
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Swollen salivary glands |
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Damage to stomach and oesophagus |
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Loss of body fluids |
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Muscle cramps and weakness |
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Fainting spells |
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Fits and irregular heart beats. |
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| The binge seems an automatic response to
emotional pain. Often the person feels out of control
and unable to resist the desire to binge. |
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Anorexia Nervosa
Those who experience anorexia may be totally obsessed
with food yet diet stringently and deny themselves healthy
meals. They are constantly dieting or exercising to loose
weight. The most commonly affected are young women in
education aged 15-25. Although they may appear very underweight
they will feel fat. Anorexia can be life-threatening -
some women starve themselves to death. Sufferers often
feel low self-esteem and may vomit or purge themselves
of food with laxatives. Women anorexics will sometimes
suffer a loss of menstrual periods.
Sufferers may feel terribly isolated and may experience
the effects of starvation including: |
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sleep disturbance |
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reduced mental ability |
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excess hair growth on body |
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poor circulation |
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feeling excessively cold |
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fatigue |
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dizzy spells |
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thin bones leading to deformity or osteoporosis
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stunted growth |
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digestive tract dysfunction |
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| Indeed all eating disorders may incur feelings
of isolation, shame, guilt and emotional pain. |
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| Self-help
tips |
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| Ten tips which may help you to help yourself
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| 1. |
Buy a self-help book. Research has
proved self-help books can be enormously effective.
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| 2. |
Begin to keep a diary - write down feelings. Make
your diary personal to you - your own confidante
and friend in whom you confide your thoughts. Scribble,
stick in photos, draw pictures - there are no rules
about how you have to use the space. |
| 3. |
Begin to be in touch with the feelings and thoughts
around the binges. Begin to understand your underlying
emotional issues. |
| 4. |
Ask yourself what is it that you really want instead
of food - is it a response to the worry of work?
Do you really want a hug, a chat with a friend?
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| 5. |
Start nurturing and pampering yourself. Set aside
time in the day for your own relaxation and leisure
periods. Prioritise your needs. |
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Dare to say yes to yourself instead of no. Learn
to accept the way you are and begin to appreciate
and love yourself. |
| 7. |
Do not overly criticize or judge yourself harshly.
Over zealous self-criticism will drive the compulsion
of the eating disorder. |
| 8. |
Draw a family tree to include all friends and
all those living or dead. Write down your family
history noting dramatic or eventful periods of change.
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| 9. |
See if there are emerging patterns of behaviour.
Look at the way you relate to others. Do you have
equal give-and-take in relationships? |
| 10. |
Be gentle on yourself. Accept the way you are.
Your eating disorder has enabled you to cope with
difficult circumstances. See if you can come up
with other coping strategies which are less harmful.
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| Other help |
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Counselling
As previously stated all eating disorders are symptomatic
of emotional, psychological and social cultural issues.
In one-to-one counselling a person can explore and learn
to understand the underlying issues in a safe, confidential
environment thus breaking the experience of isolation.
An individual can gain new coping strategies conquering
the driven obsession with food and body image that seems
to override all life's activities.
Groups
Being in a group for many has been a relief. Together
sufferers have broken their isolation and realised that
others have had similar experiences. A group may be the
next step on from one-to-one counselling to enable the
participants to regain control over their lives.
Eating Disorder Group, Leeds Mind, Delacy
House, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3HS. Tel 0113 278 8434. Women
only.
Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders, Seacroft
Hospital, York Rd, Leeds, LS14 6UH, Tel 0113 206 2068.
Takes referrals through GPs.
Books
Getting Better Bite by Bite
- A survival kit for sufferers of bulimia nervosa and
binge eating disorders
Treasure & Schmidt - Psychology Press
Eating your Heart Out
Buckroyd - Optima
Anorexia Nervosa
- A Guide For Sufferers and Their Families
Palmer - Penguin |
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| Adapted from material produced
by Royal Holloway College, the University of London |
