Eating disorders are thought to occur due to physical and emotional factors in teenagers. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating affect 95% females and 5% males of those diagnosed. Teenagers are most vulnerable due to relationships, emotional disturbances, stress and biological predispositions.
Anorexia
Anorexia nervosa normally affects those persons within 10-20 years of age, mostly teenage girls. Normally there is no history of being overweight. This typically happens with a teen is obsessed with weight and starves themselves. This is characterized by a loss of up to 25% of the usual body weight with a very unnatural fear of becoming overweight. Also a distorted idea of body image and absence of a menstrual cycle are present.
Malnutrition and failing health are serious side effects. This is considered a psychological condition and weight loss is a symptom and not a cause.
Bulimia
Bulimia develops normally in the late teens in girls, and almost half of bulimics were anorexic at one time. Almost 10 percent of all women are affected by this disorder. Bulimics eat large portions of food in very short times, normally in less than 2 hours. These binges are typically done in secret and are high calorie and high carb foods like ice cream and doughnuts or cookies and candies. Up to 80% of bulimics will purge their body of these calories after the episodes by vomiting the food or using laxatives.
Common ages for this ailment are between 12 and 21. Many patients have a normal body weight and have weight fluctuations. The typical bulimic is a white and single female in high school or college. Loss of minerals as well as tears in the throat and stomach ulcers are only some of the side effects of this harmful disorder.
Symptoms of Anorexia and Bulimia
*Dramatic weight loss in a short period of time
*Obsession with calories/carb/fat content of foods
*Obsession with being thin
*Wearing baggy clothing to hide weight loss
*Obsession with continuous exercise
*Frequent trips to the bathroom especially after meals
*Use of or hiding diet pills and laxatives
*Unusual food rituals such as shifting food around on a plate, cutting food into small pieces and hiding food in napkins
*Hair loss or “grey” appearance of the skin
*Tooth decay
*Frequent sore throats or swollen glands
*Bloodshot or bleeding in the eyes, bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks
*Loss of menstrual cycle
*Mood swings, depression and fatigue
Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating
Binge eating can happen at any age but this is not uncommon in teens. Many binge eaters are overweight, with adults having hypertension and high cholesterol or type-2 diabetes. This is sometimes mistaken for bulimia, but these episodes include compulsive or uncontrolled binge eating. These persons eat large amounts of food in short times without having willpower to actually stop eating. This is also thought to be a way of dealing with anxiety through food, and normally happens in secret.
Binge eaters do not purge the body of food, and are normally obese with a history of weight problems. These persons are aware of the fact they do not have control over eating, and feel powerless towards change. This is seen in persons who are at least 20% above healthy weight, and affects up to 2% of adults. Yo-yo dieters are placed into this category, and the cause is unknown at this time.
Symptoms of Binge Eating and Overeating
*Weight gain
*Decreased mobility due to weight gain
*Depression and mood swings
*Excessive sweating and shortness of breath
*Self-defeating statements after eating
*Secretive or vague eating patterns
*Chronic fad dieting
*Hiding food
*Fear of eating around others
Join Samara at Mom’s Key forum and parenting community where you can get advice, give advice and keep up to date with today’s hottest parenting issues.
momskeydotcom/
