SYMPTOMS & EFFECTS OF EATING DISODERS

 

"MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHOS THE SKINNEST OF EM ALL?"

Since my fellow group mates are contributing to the counterpart research of this project, this passage contains my contribution to the group in a dissected titles:

HOW TO RECOGNISE PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM EATING DISORDER?

According to J.Kittleson (2005), victims of eating disorders often camouflage the fact that they are suffering from said disorder. In fact, anorexic victims are usually seen wearing baggy clothes to conceal their diminished weight or appearance. Bulimic victims normally try to minimise the gagging sounds they make with running water or cleaning up before heading home. Binge eaters on the other hand, often have scheduled their binging sessions in places away from public. Fatigue caused by eating disorders is also an effect that victims try to hide. 

SYMPTOMS OF EATING DISORDERS

(English House Gazette, 2010.)

Eating disorder experts, National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) and The Nemours Foundation deemed that some of the common symptoms related to eating disorders are such as significant weight loss – especially for the anorexic victims. Under the circumstances, Anorexic patients have difficulty consuming their food in a sitting position and they may experience stomach pain, constipation, heartburn and eventually tooth decay if excessive vomiting occurs. Fainting spells, chills, fatigue, irregular menstrual cycle, lack of concentration, depression, thinning hair and low blood pressure are amongst the symptoms for anorexia nervosa.

Here are a few more signs to look out for in ANEROXICS:

•  Skips meals, takes tiny portions, will not eat in front of others, or eats in ritualistic ways
• Always has an excuse not to eat
• Will only eat a few “safe,” low-calorie, low-fat foods
• Loses hair, looks pale or malnourished, wears baggy clothes to hide thinness
• Loses weight yet fears obesity and complains of being fat despite excessive thinness
• Detests all or specific parts of the body, insists she or he cannot feel good about self unless thin
• Exercises excessively and compulsively
• Holds to rigid, perfectionist standards for self and others
• Withdraws into self and feelings, becoming socially isolated
• Has trouble talking about feelings, especially anger

For a bulimic patient, they experience more or less the same symptoms as anorexics however the more profound symptoms are tooth decay and swelling of the salivary glands due to their excessive vomiting. Anxiety and partial insomnia are symptoms linked with bulimia. Paradoxically, where anorexics lose weight, bulimics gain weight – and where anorexics experience low blood pressure, bulimics have high blood pressure. 

(Henry,M, 2013)

  Here are some more signs to look out for: 

• Binges, usually in secret, and empties cupboards and refrigerator
• Buys “binge food” (usually junk food or food high in calories, carbohydrates and sugar)
• Leaves clues that suggest discovery is desired: empty food packages; foul-smelling bathrooms; running water to cover sounds of vomiting; use of breath fresheners; poorly hidden containers of vomit
  
• Uses laxatives, diet pills, water pills or “natural” products to promote weight los
•  Abuses alcohol or street drugs to deaden appetite or escape emotional pain 
• Displays a lack of impulse control that can lead to rash and regrettable decisions about sex, money, commitments, careers, etc.

Other symptoms of eating disorder can range from the sudden change in eating habits such as acquiring a new taste for something, refusing meals or eating fewer meals with family and acquaintances. Compulsiveness to weigh food or exercise and secretive behaviour are also some symptoms to look out for.

EFFECTS OF EATING DISORDER IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

In general, eating disorders wreck not only the victim’s life but also the family and friends. 

PHYSICAL EFFECT

  

During the blossoming age of puberty, an adolescent who suffers from eating disorders will experience stunted physical and sexual development. Eating disorder may delay a young girl’s first menstrual cycle or cause irregular menstrual cycle in another. Her body frame will remain childlike and undeveloped. Several experts claimed that this illness is because the victim wishes not to grow up or is afraid of growing into their sexuality – in other words running away from the transitioning of their growth (J.Kittleson, M, 2005).   

 

SOCIAL EFFECT

1. Typically, people with eating disorders have low self-esteem and this can be hard on them in social situations as even the average person can find social events challenging occasionally. Majority of social events comes hand in hand with food and these circumstances can be very stressing for them. Bingers will most likely lose control when confronted with a wide selection of food at a party. Anorexics may tend to avoid eating in public at all as they don’t wish to be judged by how meagre food they consume. 
2. For bulimics, the urge to purge overwhelms any vacationing spirit.
3. Of course, food isn’t at all the centre of the puzzlement but, eventually eating disorders will drive a wedge between familial relationships because of the secrecy and the need not to be judged by others, also the fact that it is hard although not impossible for them to be cured of it. No doubt, parents would be heartbroken to realise their child is suffering from this mental illness that leads to eating disorders. The eating disorder will become one with the victim that it takes up the space in their life and they become more compulsive about weighing what they eat, calculating the calories and over-exercising themselves. 

HEALTH EFFECT

(Arnaud, 2013)

Look at this picture above. What do you see?

 

Well, I see a person who is suffering from malnutrition. 

(Genericviagra123, n.d.)

Now, look at this picture. What do you see?

  

Well, I know through research that this person is bulimic and he/she too suffers from malnutrition. The reason is because although they consume a large amount of food, their body rarely absorbs any nutrients needed by the body to stay healthy. Other problems are as discussed earlier on in the SYMPTOMS passage, although dehydration, kidney damage, stomach damage and heart problems are there thereafter effects.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bingers harbour the risk of being obese to the point where they may suffer from diabetes, stroke, heart attack and even fatal stomach rupture! 

  

Interesting Fact:

 

We always believe that exercising is good and over doing it a little is fine. BUT. NO. That is not the case. Over-exercising can lead to dehydration, organ failure, broken bones, and osteoporosis and joint problems. Basically, all eating disorder has the potential to murder its victim. In fact, eating disorders that leads to depression often to lead to SUICIDE! As recorded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) approximately 6 and 8.3% of all teenagers foster suicidal thoughts which are often ignored and untreated (Kittleson, J, 2005). 

LONG TERM EFFECT

Common sense tells you that in long-term run, eating disorders are obviously taxing to one’s health. Early treatment is recommended although sometimes, even treatment doesn’t guarantee a full recovery. Personally, I would coin that to the word ‘trauma’ as whatever affects the mind, lasts longer than any other scars. As noted by Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Incorporated (ANRED), 20% of their patients continue to wrestle with food issues and relapses even after treatment.

The mortality rate among people with anorexia is 12 times higher than the death rate among females ages 15 to 24 from all other causes (Mental Health America, 2013).

 

ONE MAIN CAUSE:

Culture. In the United States extreme thinness is a social and cultural ideal, and women partially define themselves by how physically attractive they are (Women’s Health, 2010).

BY VANESSA VERA.

REFERENCES:

- J.Kittleson, M, 2005. The truth about eating disorders. New York : Infobase Publishing.

- Mental Health America, 2013. Eating disorders. [online] Available at: <http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/eating-disorders> [Accessed 8 November 2013].

- Womens Health, 2010. Eating disorders. [online] Available at: <http://www.womenshealth.gov/body-image/eating-disorders/> [Accessed 8 November 2013]. 

*This post is strictly unofficial. For educational purposes only and is based on student opinion and research. Not for any other uses.