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Eating Disorders

Our eating is controlled by a number of factors such as food availability, appetite, peer and cultural practices, family or voluntary control. Due to pressures such as fashion trends, unhealthy weight loss diets, and peer pressure many people, especially females diet to a body weight which is less than what is required for healthy living.

Eating disorders are serious impacts on one's eating behaviour. It may involve an unhealthy extreme reduction in one's food intake or on the other hand, extreme overeating followed by the feelings of guilt and distress about body shape and weight.

It is important to remember that having an eating disorder is not because one has failed or does not have enough will power. In fact it is a recognised medical illness which is treatable. The most common types of eating disorders are bulimia and anorexia nervosa. A third type of eating disorder, binge-eating is not yet a formal psychiatric diagnosis although it has been suggested.

Many eating disorders develop though early adulthood, often adolescence, although there are cases among children and later on in adulthood.

It is very common for an eating disorder to coincide with another psychiatric disorder such as anxiety, depression. Those who suffer with eating disorders are also likely to experience a number of physical health problems such as heart conditions or kidney failure. Conditions such as these can become serious enough to lead to death. It is therefore essential to recognise and treat an eating disorder.

Evidence has proved that a female is much more likely to develop an eating disorder than a man.

Anorexia Nervosa

It has been estimated that between 0.5% and 3.7% of females have anorexia nervosa at some time during their lifetime. At first, the symptoms may be difficult to spot because symptoms are often hidden by the sufferer. However, some can be spotted quite early on and these include:

-- A resistance to maintain body weight at the normal weight for height and age

-- A very strong fear of becoming fat or even gaining weight even though sufferer is underweight.

-- Distorted opinion of body shape/weight through self- evaluation. Strong denial of extent of weight loss/underweight.

-- Affected menstrual periods in that they become infrequent or cease (in those females who have already reached puberty).

Those who suffer from this disorder believe that they are overweight even though they are often very thin.

Eating becomes a strong obsession as very unusual eating habits develop for example avoiding meals, eating certain foods in very small quantities. It is very common for an anorexic to carefully weigh and measure foods.

An anorexic repeatedly recheck their body weight and often try other techniques to lose and control their body weight such as compulsive intense exercise. Vomiting or abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas. It is very common for girls with anorexia to have a delayed first menstrual period.

Anorexia and its outcome vary from individuals. Some recover fully following a single episode where as others have relapses over a number of years. Approximately 0.56% die per year.