What is an eating disorder? |
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An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight that harms a person’s well-being. Although we all worry about our weight sometimes, people with an eating disorder go to extremes to keep from gaining weight. Eating disorders usually start in the teens but may begin as early as age 8. There are two main eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia. |
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What causes eating disorders? |
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We don’t know exactly. Possible causes include feeling stressed out or upset about something in your life, or feeling like you need to be ”in control”. Society also puts a lot of pressure on people to be thin which may contribute to these disorders. |
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What are anorexia and bulimia? |
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People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They don’t want to eat, and they are afraid of gaining weight. They may constantly worry about how many calories they take in or how much fat is in their food. They may take diet pills, laxatives or water pills to lose weight. They may exercise too much. Anorexics usually think they’re fat even though they’re very thin. People with anorexia may get so thin that they look like they’re sick.
Bulimia is eating a lot of food at once (called bingeing), and then throwing up or using laxatives to remove the food from the body (called purging). After a binge, some bulimics fast (don’t eat) or overexercise to keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia may also use water pills, laxatives or diet pills to ”control” their weight. People with bulimia often try to hide their bingeing and purging. They may hide food for binges. Bulimics are usually close to normal weight, but their weight may go up and down. |
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What’s wrong with trying to be thin? |
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It’s healthy to watch what you eat and to exercise. What isn’t healthy is worrying all the time about your weight and what you eat. People with eating disorders do harmful things to their bodies because of their obsession about their weight. If it isn’t treated, anorexia can cause stomach problems, heart problems, irregular periods or no periods, fine hair all over the body, including the face, and dry scaly skin. If untreated, bulimia can cause stomach, heart, kidney and dental problems (from throwing up stomach acid), and dehydration (not enough water in the body). |
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Can eating disorders be treated? |
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Yes. For anorexics, the first step is getting back to a normal weight. If you’re malnourished or very thin, you may be put in a hospital. Your doctor will probably want you to see a dietitian to learn how to pick healthy foods and eat at regular times. For both anorexics and bulimics, family and individual counseling (talking about your feelings, about your weight and problems in your life) is helpful. |
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What are the warning signs? |
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Warning signs of anorexia and bulimia include unnatural concern about body weight (even if not overweight), obsession with calories, fat grams and food, and use of diet pills, laxatives, and water pills. |
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