Health: Eating Disorders

So we ask you… What is your body image? Do you think you have love handles or sexy curves, a six-pack or a keg, big butt or bootylicious? When all is said and done it is up to you. If you don’t think that you measure up to Jennifer Anniston or Brad Pitt and you want to change yourself there are HEALTHY ways to change. Our goal is that by the time you finish this article you will be able to tell the difference between healthy and unhealthy ways of caring for your body that carry the potential consequence of the development of an eating disorder.

Preface this by talking about guys and girls can get all of these diseases:

Types of Eating Disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Warning Signs: If you think that you have a problem or are worried that a friend/loved one might have an eating disorder use the warning signs below as a guide.

Skipping Meals
Avoiding situations where food may be present
Isolating
Body disparagement
Excessive or compulsive exercise
Very low or no fat diet
Eliminating certain foods or food groups
Always calculating fat grams and calories eaten
Use of laxatives, diuretics or diet pills
Use of supplements/protein powders
Vomiting/frequent bathroom visits after eating
Rapid changes- in weight and behavior
“Odd” food rituals
“Unhealthy” – pale, wan, drawn
Weighing self often/worry about size and shape
Amenorrhea
Cold or dizzy

Emergencies: Act Immediately!

If you or a friend/loved one shows any of these signs there could be a very serious problem and you should act immediately to do something. Your health could be in danger.
Fainting
Collapsing
Too weak to walk
Throwing up several times a day
Suicidal

Health Consequences

Eating disorders can cause some serious damage to your body (including the ultimate damage - death), all of which absolutely can’t be worth the “look” of your body. But, as we always do, we will let you make your up your own mind.

Anorexia Nervosa:
Anorexia is essentially starving yourself and the problem with that is that your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs and there can be some MAJOR health consequences, some will definitely surprise you!
1) Muscle loss
2) Hair loss, dry hair, dry skin, layer of downy hair all over the body called lanugo (to keep it warm)
3) Fainting, exhaustion, and general weakness
4) Severe dehydration which can cause kidney failure
5) Dry brittle bones (reduction in bone density which happens to older people, but can also happen if you deny your body of essential nutrients)
6) Abnormally low blood pressure (which can change how the heart works and can result in heart failure)
7) Will literally send your body into starvation mode which slows down your metabolism. Your body is unsure of when it will get its next meal and so it ravenously stores up everything you put in it. When you do start to eat a normal diet again rapid weight gain can occur because your metabolism has been permanently slowed down.

Bulimia Nervosa:
Bulimia is basically characterized as self-induced vomiting. Purging (which includes vomiting, laxative overuse, over exercising, and refusal to eat, or starvation) can have some extremely dangerous consequences:
1) Your body loses a lot of water (result is dehydration), potassium, and sodium. You probably wouldn’t know it, but all of these are extremely important for your body’s organs. Specifically, the heartbeat can become irregular and could lead to heart failure if the problem is extreme.
2) Tooth decay and staining (from stomach acids)
3) Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from constant purging
4) Gastric rupture can sometimes happen from binge eating
5) Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation can be a result of abusing laxatives

Binge Eating Disorder (BED):
Binge eating can lead to being obese which can have major effects on your short term and more importantly your long term health! These are just some of the consequences of being obese, besides not being able to do everyday activities.
1) High blood pressure
2) High cholesterol
3) Heart disease
4) Diabetes

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