Understanding the nature of eating disorders

By CASSIN COLE M.A.

Eating is essential to our survival however, when eating assumes an emotional role beyond its normal physical role, it can result in a life-threatening disorder.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Genetics, personality traits and other factors play a role in the onset of an eating disorder. Additionally, our society's glorification of being thin and prejudice against those who are overweight set the stage for developing an eating disorder.

There are also many Web sites that promote unhealthy eating patterns. These Web sites are highly accessible and may prove to be both obstacles in both the prevention and the treatment of eating disorders. Many of these sites teach visitors how to achieve unnatural and unhealthy body weight and often times they advocate that eating disorders are lifestyle choices, not life threatening diseases.

The bottom line is that people are dieting in record numbers in their quest to be thin. Extreme dieting can take on the form of an eating disorder. Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior (such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating) combined with strong feelings of distress/concern about one's body shape or weight.

Some people become intensely afraid of gaining weight, to the point that even small amounts of food are avoided. People with this problem often are obsessed with the number of calories they ingest; and if they take in any calories at all, they consume as few as possible. Further, these people exhibit a significant disturbance in their perception of the shape or size of their body. They do not view themselves as dangerously thin; when they look in the mirror they see someone hideously overweight.

The starvation experienced by these individuals can cause damage to vital organs, many females even stop having their menstrual cycle. Twenty percent of people suffering from an eating disorder will die prematurely from complications related to their disorder, including suicide and heart problems.

The common signs of this starvation eating disorder (called anorexia nervosa) include:

• Hair and nails becoming brittle, may begin to lose hair

• Skin may become dry and yellow

• Developing fine hair on body

• Strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of others or cutting food into small pieces

• Becoming obsessed with their next encounter with food

• May experience depression or mood fluctuations

• Wearing baggy clothes to hide the body

Eating disorders often are long-term illnesses that may require long-term treatment. Eating disorders also frequently occur with other mental conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety problems. The earlier these disorders are diagnosed and treated, the better the chances are for full recovery.

Awareness is essential to the treatment and understanding of eating disorders, for more information visit www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/eatingdisorders.cfm.

This column is presented by Manatee Glens. . . Helping Families in Crisis through Mental Health and Addiction Services and supports the community through prevention and recovery.. This not-for-profit health care provider delivers services from seven Manatee County locations including the Manatee Glens East, located at 5233 4th Avenue Circle East on State Road 64. Manatee Glens welcomes your questions about mental health and substance abuse matters. For further information, call 941-782-4299 or send an e-mail to exeoffice@manateeglens.com.