Eating disorders are very serious problems that continue to afflict millions of people across the world. Typically, a person either suffers from anorexia or bulimia and deprives their body in one of two ways. If anorexia is the chosen method of ?dieting,? a person will starve themselves completely. Sometimes eating a carrot stick per day. The second way is through bulimia. This is the ?binge and purge? way of staying slim. People that choose this method will eat a lot and then vomit almost immediately after they've finished a meal.
There are horrible consequences to both of these eating disorders that range from osteoporosis to death. Yet, many children and adults are still starving themselves and subjecting their bodies to harsh treatment so they can have the ideal shape. Ironically, those that are anorexic and/or bulimic don't ever achieve that perfect body they've always dreamt of. Instead, they lose so much weight that they look unhealthy, sick and even scary. Once it has reached this point, the anorexic or bulimic person cannot even see how they truly look- all they can think about is losing more weight.
It's a vicious cycle that won't end on its own. Anorexic and bulimic people will think that they are fat no matter how undernourished their body becomes. They can be near death and still refuse to eat. That's why it's so crucial anyone dealing with an eating disorder gets help from a professional. A doctor will be able to help them deal with the issues that are making them want to starve themselves and help establish healthy eating habits.
It's best to try and catch the eating disorder right when it's beginning because it will be easier to treat but it doesn't usually happen this way. So, if you or someone you know is suffering from anorexia or bulimia or both, encourage them to seek help immediately. In some cases, you might have to push for it and even get the help for them. They probably won't understand your intentions at first but once they've started thinking clearly again, they'll thank you. It can be a little intimidating talking to someone about a problem you know they don't want to discuss- but you just might end up saving their life.
Today, eating disorders, particularly anorexia and bulimia, are commonly associated to Hollywood female celebrities, for it has somehow became a trend among stars that a thin physique is sexier and more attractive. Famous female celebrities who are rumored to have eating disorders are Nicole Richie, Mary Kate Olsen, and Britney Spears.
There are different types of eating disorders, and anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two of the most common cases. These two types of eating problems can result to serious and grave effects to one's health.
Anorexia and bulimia are two different cases of eating disorder. In order to identify them properly, the following are the characteristics of anorexia and bulimia:
Defining anorexia
Anorexia is characterized as a psychological eating problem, wherein one possesses a very thin physique because she refuses to eat or drink anything, thus, causing the lack of nutrients absorbed in her body. A teenage girl or a woman refuses to eat anything because of an extreme fear and anxiety of becoming fat. Another cause of this type of eating disorder is a woman's wrong perception of her body weight and shape, thinking that she is still fat and big even though she is not consuming any food at all.
Common symptoms of anorexia are:
1. Extreme of excessive consciousness on one's body or figure. 2. Irregular menstrual cycle. 3. Selective eating habit; preferring meals that are low in calories and fat. 4. Prefers to wear baggy clothes to hide thin physique. 5. Regularly skips or avoids meals. 6. Maintains a strict and strong exercise routine.
Physical and emotional effects of anorexia:
1. Exhaustion and fatigue 2. Less immunity to other diseases 3. Always irritable 4. Depressed 5. Isolates self from friends and family members
Defining bulimia
Bulimia is different from anorexia in the sense that a bulimic person eats too much food, then eventually gets rid of extra calories by means of vomiting, extreme fasting, or too much exercise. The known cause of this type of eating disorder is binge eating. Bulimia is basically attributed to the binge-and-purging cycle.
Common Symptoms of bulimia are:
1. Irregular eating patterns 2. Too much or abnormal consumption of food 3. Over-conscious of body weight and physical appearance 4. Constant vomiting
Physical and emotional effects of Bulimia:
1. Malnourished physical appearance 2. Brittle nails and dry skin 3. Self-esteem issues 4. Always stressed out and depressed
Although anorexia and bulimia are generally treatable, these types of eating disorders require support and help from family and friends in order for one to effectively break the habit of zero food consumption, binge eating, as well as the purging cycles. However, if the anorexic or bulimic condition is already beyond serious, treatment becomes more difficult and may even be useless.
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