Eating Disorders

                                                      Eating Disorders

Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa being the most common specific forms in the United States. Though primarily thought of as affecting females (an estimated 5–10 million being affected in the U.S.), eating disorders affect males as well (an estimated 1 million U.S. males being affected.  

While proper treatment can be highly effective for many of the specific types of eating disorder, the consequences of eating disorders can be severe, including many diseases of the including heart disease, stroke, diabetes many of which result in premature death.

The exact cause of Eating Disorders is unknown. However, it is believed to be due to a combination of biological, psychological an/or environmental abnormalities. A common belief is that "Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger." This, in other words, means that some people are born with a predisposition to it, which can be brought to the surface pending on environment and reactions to it. Many men and women with eating disorders suffer also from body dysmorphic disorder, altering the way a person sees themselves.  

• Does your loved one eat when they are not hungry or when they feel low or depressed?
• Do you catch them eating in secret or eating differently in front of others?
• Do they consume inordinate amounts of food and then purge later with vomiting or laxatives to get rid of the excess?
• Are there foods that are harmful to them, but they eat them anyway?
• Does their behavior change after eating?
• Is their weight a problem?  

If you can answer yes to any of these questions than your loved one is likely addicted to food.  If they are unwilling to accept help, it is recommended that you consider a family intervention.   


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