Causes

It is important to understand that an eating disorder is merely a symptom of an underlying problem. Eating Disorders can have MANY causes, but food is NOT one of them.

A Person’s eating disorder is triggered by one or a number of (often minor) events

Initial Causes

The causes or underlying issues are different for every person. It is often a traumatic even that has happened in their life, possibly years before the disorder manifested

Physical violence Emotional abuse (bullying) Divorce of parents Death of a loved one Peer Pressure to be thin

The Trigger

An traumatic event does not mean the person will develop an eating disorder, but may lead to low self-esteem which leads to one

Someone comments negatively about your weight or appearance

Media influence Pressure to succeed in school Relationship problems A friend tells you to purge/starve

The Symptoms

The trigger leads to the start of the individuals focus on food and weight

It often starts out as a diet that progressively becomes more and more obsessive

Nobody starts out intending to become eating disordered—it is something that happens gradually over time

Anorexia NervosaSELF-STARVATION

Intense fear of gaining weight, with a refusal to eat

Disturbance of body image Significant amount of weight loss (at least 15%

of normal body weight) Refusal to maintain a minimal normal body

weight No known physical illness that would account

for the weight loss

Anorexia is usually found in high achievers that are extreme perfectionist in all areas of life Distorted body image Intense fear of gaining

weight Feelings of guilt after

eating Is already thin and

weight is still dropping Counts every calorie

and every fat gram eaten

Paleness, dizziness, or fainting spells

Intense dramatic mood swings

Excessively and compulsively exercising

Complaints of being hot or cold

Hair loss High need for control Wearing loose clothes Hiding food in napkins Abuse of laxatives, diet

pills Very poor self-esteem Never eats around

others

Medical Complications

Shrunken organs Kidney disease or

failure Memory loss or

disorientation Fluid imbalances

Deteriorations of muscles (heart)

Irregular heart beat

Bone density loss DEATH!!

Bulimia Nervosa

Episodes of binging and purging Binge eating accompanies by awareness

that the eating pattern is abnormal Repeated attempts to lose weight

through severely restrictive diets, self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, colonics, medications, or excessive exercise

Binge eating and purging occur on average at least 2x weekly for 3 months

Fear of not being able to not stop eating voluntarily

Depressed mood Self-deprecating thoughts following

eating binges

Symptoms

Binging and purging Secretive eating—

missing food Severed self

criticism Feeling guilty after

eating Visits to bathroom

after eating Weight fluctuations Tooth decay

Preoccupation with food

Constant sore throat Feel like have no

control over food Avoids eating in

public Broken blood vessels

in eyes Poor impulse control Excessive and

compulsive exercise regimen

Compulsive OvereatingBinge Eating

A serious condition that is characterized by uncontrolled eating, followed by feelings of guilt and depression.

Often, a compulsive overeater associates food with comfort and uses it to soothe stress or emotional distress.

It may cause a person to continue eating even after (s)he becomes full and can result in serious health problems.

Warning Signs Eats large amounts of food when not hungry

Eats more rapidly than normal

May eat alone

Feels shame or embarrassment from eating

Feels depressed, disgusted or guilty after eating

Weight fluctuates frequently

May use laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight

May purge by fasting, exercising or vomiting

Is preoccupied with body weight

Has mood swings

Health Consequences

Nausea

Weight gain

Weight-related hypertension and/or fatigue

Increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer (in obese people