Often times, it is
difficult for parents and families to differentiate between routine dieting,
a temporary food fad and a serious eating disorder. Listed below
are basic definitions:
Anorexia nervosa is self
starvation. People with this disorder eat very little even though they
are thin. They have an intense and overpowering
fear of body fat and weight gain.
Binge eating disorder means
eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, usually alone,
without being able to stop when full. The overeating
or bingeing is often accompanied by feeling out of control and followed
by feelings of depression and guilt.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized
by cycles of binge eating and purging using extreme means such as vomiting,
or taking laxatives or diuretics. People
with bulimia have a fear of body fat even though their size and weight
may be normal.
Disordered eating refers
to troublesome eating behaviors, such as restrictive dieting, bingeing
or purging, which occur less frequently or are less severe
than those required to meet the full criteria for the diagnosis of an
eating disorder.
Compulsive exercising is
exercising for long periods of time as a way to burn calories from food
that has just
been eaten. People with anorexia or
bulimia may over exercise.
from Eating Disorders Sourcebook. Second Edition. 2007
Does this sound like you?
- Even though people tell me that I’m thin, I feel fat.
- I get anxious if I can’t exercise more than two hours per day.
- I think of ways to get rid of food, once I have eaten a meal.
- I feel guilty when I eat.
- I would rather die than be fat.
- I would rather eat by myself than with family and friends.
- I weigh myself daily, and obsess about the number on the scale.
- I have a secret stash of food.
- I worry that I might lose control over how much I eat.
- I constantly calculate numbers of fat grams and calories.
- I get anxious when people urge me to eat.
- Sometimes I think food dominates my life.
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be dealing with disordered eating and an unhealthy pre-occupation with your body weight and shape. By not sharing your thoughts with a health care provider, teacher or family member, the emotional and physical toll can be tremendous. Seeking help from a professional with experience in treating eating disorders can provide you with honest feedback about your condition and advice about what to do next.
What causes eating disorders? Parents... the media... genetics?
An eating disorder is a treatable illness and its cause is multi-faceted. Parents do not cause eating disorders, but family attitudes can contribute to disordered eating behavior. The popular media has increasingly held the thinner body as the ideal and dieting is now common in girls as young as nine or ten. Twin, family and genetic studies also support the possibility that eating disorders may be due to an imbalance in brain neurotransmitters or hormones.
Why a treatment team?
Eating Disorder specialists can help you or your family member develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. Our approach to treatment includes:
psychotherapists skilled in the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or the Maudsley approach for children and adolescents.
neuropsychiatrists skilled in the psychopharmacological intervention of anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive behaviors that often accompany eating disorders.
nutritionists skilled in addressing the myths, misconceptions and fears surrounding food, while establishing appropriate weight expectations.
art therapists skilled in the non verbal exploration of body image and weight issues.
Communication among our team members and our client’s other health providers is a critical aspect of recovery and our treatment mission.