Overall Picture of Eating Disorders

One of the most important things to remember is that Eating Disorders are not always about food or weight. They are more often about the pain, anxiety, low self-esteem, or a perceived lack of control in their life. Their weight is one area in their life where they believe they can have control. Unfortunately those with Eating Disorders create an unrealistic body-image, seeing them self as fat when they are not.

General Picture of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is the maintenance of a body weight at least 15% below normal caused by the self-induced avoidance of "fatty" foods and one of the following: ¹

• Self-induced vomiting
• Self-induced purging
• Excessive exercise
• Use of appetite suppressants, diuretics, enemas alone or in combination

Someone who is Anorexic sees himself or herself as fat despite their dangerously low body weight. This body-image distortion persists causing the person to impose ever-stricter dietary limits. The results of this on the health can vary but often include:

• Heart problems
• Gastrointestinal problems (including ulcers, gastritis, and constipation)
• The absence of menstruation in women
• A loss of sexual interest and desire in men
• Women taking hormones or birth control may have persistent vaginal bleeding
• Increased levels of Growth Hormone
• Raised Cortisol levels
• Changes in the peripheral metabolism of the Thyroid Hormone
• Abnormalities of Insulin secretion
• Anemia

If Anorexia strikes before puberty, it can delayed or even stops the growth process itself. In girls, the breasts do not develop and there is a lack of menstruation. In boys, the genitals may remain juvenile. With recovery, puberty is usually completed normally, but the initial menstruation is often delayed. ¹

Someone suffering from Anorexia may be described as a "walking skeleton" due to the pallor and frailty caused by their illness. Many other visible signs of the body's distress often accompany this illness including: ²

• Bruising
• Discoloration of the teeth
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Water retention - most often in the ankles and feet
• Hyperactivity
• The growth of fine hair on the body as the body tries to keep itself warm without the normal stores of fat (called Lanugo)
• Loss of hair on the head
• Low body temperature
• Yellow or Jaundiced skin
• Lack of energy
• Fainting

The self-starvation will eventually lead to a real loss of appetite as the individual becomes malnourished. This is often when help is finally forced on the individual through hospitalization.

As the illness progresses, the person runs the risk of heart, kidney, or multiple organ failure. It is estimated that between 5 and 20% of all Anorexics die from complications related to their illness. ²

Disorders - Eating Disorders