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Recognizing eating disorders

Because everyone today seems concerned about weight, and because most people diet at least once in a while, it is hard to tell what is normal behaviour and what is a problem that may escalate to threaten life and happiness. No one person will show all of the characteristics listed below, but people with eating disorders will manifest several.

What to look for:

  • changes in body weight
  • feeling fat when not overweight (for anorexia and bulimia)
  • obsession with continuous exercise (for anorexia and bulimia)
  • visible food restriction and self-starvation (for anorexia and bulimia)
  • frequent trips to the bathroom immediately following a meal (for bulimia and some people with anorexia)
  • denies feeling hungry or makes excuses to skip meals (for anorexia)
  • guilt surrounding food or eating (for bulimia and binge eating disorder)
  • tooth loss or decay (for anorexia and bulimia)
  • rigid, all-or-nothing thinking (for anorexia)
  • binge eating (for people with bulimia, binging is usually followed by "purging": induced vomiting and the use of laxatives and diuretics; in binge eating disorder, there is no purging. People with anorexia may develop binging and purging behaviours over time)
  • use of laxatives or diuretics (for anorexia and bulimia)

If you notice these warning signs in yourself or someone you care about, it is important to seek help. Eating disorders can be successfully treated, but usually require the help of medical professionals and may involve nutrition education, psychotherapy, family counselling, and medications.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Eating-Disorders

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