Posts Tagged ‘Eating Habits’

Eating Disorders should not be neglected

Eating disorder treatment needs to be considered with the utmost attention and urgency. It is one disease that afflicts the majority of the young people in the present day society and thus it requires to be addressed expeditiously. Majority of our youngsters are under a tremendous stress to look good and fit. Also in majority of the cases they zealously follow some of the most harmful and debilitating eating habits that later on lead to many serious illnesses. Some of the most common types of eating disorders are like anorexia, bulimia among others. In the modern times there are people and institutes that are really interested in helping the people suffering from eating disorder.

These eating order treatment centers are like a haven for people who have no control over their eating habits.  The eating disorder treatment programs that are provided at these centers are designed in the most scientific manner. Care is also taken that the exact reasons behind the patients getting afflicted with this easting disorders are addressed in toto. Another factor that these eating disorder clinics keep in mind is the counseling of the parents and friends of the patient. This is done in order to make sure that the patient is continuously fed with positive thoughts and energies.

Once the patient is out of the eating disorder treatment center the eating disorder help does not stops there. In fact these eating disorder treatment centers make it a point that the patient does not passes into the relapse after wining the battle with the eating disorder.

Why are Women so Prone to Eating Disorders?

More than 90 percent of people who are suffering from eating disorders are females, particularly girls in their teens and 20s, according to the reports of eating disorder treatment centers.  There is a reason as to why the scales are tilted towards women when it comes to suffering from problems like bulimia, binge eating and anorexia.  Girls are generally known to more fussy about eating because they believe that they have to adhere to a certain body-type and they usually connect emotions with food.  The fairer sex more than often tends to under-eat or overeat depending on their emotional state.  

Here are some ways to know physical signs and eating habits of women who suffer from eating disorders, according to information put forth by eating disorder treatment centers:

Eating too less or keeping away from certain types of food:  She may just keep herself from certain types of food because they remind her of something that was negative or disparaging.  Also she may think that eating a ‘bite’ more may make her fat.
 Obsessed about exercising:  Most bulimics, who feel guilty and are not into purging food, will instead stress themselves to lose weight by over-exercising.  They think that by exercising too much after having food, they will be able to become thinner as before.
 Using laxatives: Bulimics tend to use laxatives just to void food if they believe that they may end up eating more.
 Menstrual problems:  Irregular menstrual cycles or inability to get periods are identifiable with girls who are suffering from anorexia.
 Deceiving people about eating: A girl who is anorexic may find excuses to avoid eating. She may pass food around the plate, talk more in order to distract people from thinking if she is eating or not. She will cut food into thin slices just to make it seem that she is eating something.
Skipping breakfast:  She may skip breakfast or she would just eat a thin slice of bread and a juice, just to feel that she has eaten for the sake of it.
 Talking about calories: Calories, weight loss and such topics that fascinate her, and they even become obsessed about reading about how a celeb has lost lots of weight in any magazines or website.
 Not eating food in front of others: She would not like to show much she is eating; so she tends to eat when no one is around.
Toilet woes: Either with laxatives or without, she will be going to toilet more often than not, because eating wrong or excessively can make her feel constipated  and cause intestinal issues.
Avoid socializing: Anorexics are often told by people that they are too thin.  Due to low self-esteem they start avoiding people and moving around in social circles.

Look at some of these signs that are related to eating habits in women to know if they are suffering from eating disorders. It is better if they find the best eating disorder treatment  so that prompt help and counseling could be administered.

Do You Have An Eating Disorder?

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two of the most common forms of eating disorders. Statistic gathered by the Academy of Eating Disorders state that more than ten percent of women have symptoms, varying in degrees, of eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is defined as having an intense fear of gaining weight. The person who suffers from this disease will do anything it takes not to gain an ounce. If they gain even as much as half a pound, it can send them into a panic and they will stop eating altogether. In extreme cases, the person affected becomes emaciated to the point where hospitalization is required.

Although Anorexia Nervosa is generally found in women, the amount of men that this eating disorder affects is rapidly increasing.

There are several other severe reactions that the body can have to this eating disorder. Women will stop menstruating, and in girls, it can be delayed altogether. Puberty is can be delayed. For boys and men, their sex hormones decrease or in severe cases, disappear completely.

Anorexia Nervosa also has psychological symptoms. Irritability, withdrawal and depression can be found in all victims of this eating disorder. Another symptom of Anorexia Nervosa is that the person afflicted with will develop compulsive eating habits. All food is put into two categories; good and bad.

The person afflicted with this eating disorder are deathly afraid of eating the foods that are in the “Bad food” category.

Often, a person who develops Anorexia Nervosa because they cannot control certain aspects of their life. They feel that the food that they eat is the one thing that they can control.

Bulimia Nervosa is another form of eating disorders. This is different from Anorexia because the person afflicted will binge eat.

This is when the person diets or starves themselves for long periods of time and then eats enough to fulfill their hunger. When they are done eating, they will begin to feel guilty then an intense fear of gaining weight will overcome them and they will purge themselves. To do this, they will either make themselves vomit what they consumed or they will use laxatives to clean out there system. Some who are afflicted with this eating disorder will exercise to the point of exhaustion. Although they think they have it under control, they do not. The cycle will start all over again.

Although those with bulimia maintain a normal body weight, it can still have devastating effect. From vomiting over and over again, a victim of Bulimia can develop esophageal erosion similar to acid reflux disease, as well as the erosion of tooth enamel.

If you are a parent of someone who has either one of these eating disorders, it is critical that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you are not sure your child has these disorders, let a medical professional confirm it or put your fears to rest.

Anorexia and Bulimia are a very private part of the victim’s life. They will have the fear that treatment means weight gain and they will go to any extent for that not to happen.

These eating disorder can be deadly. It is important to recognize the symptoms, and if there are any changes in your child’s eating patterns. If they start to eliminate their favorite foods from their diet ask questions and do not stop until you have a satisfactory answer.

Through the help of a physician medical treatment can be done to correct the physical damage caused. Therapy from a mental health professional one on one and in a group setting is usually the course of treatment, which works hand in hand with a doctor.

Summary:

Anorexia and Bulimia can only be diagnosed and treated by a physician. It is important that you seek treatment as soon as you recognize the symptoms. Part of the treatment will be session, whether private or group, with a psychologist. Group session have shown great results as the people afflicted with these eating disorders share their stories and usually support each other.