Kathy is a brilliant and beautiful woman.
When she finished law school two years ago, her family and classmates
knew she would succeed at whatever she did. Not only was she charming,
bright and competent at her work, she was also exceptionally
attractive. Kathy, in fact, was very concerned about her appearance –
her clothes, her hair, her make-up. Above all, she was concerned about
maintaining her slim figure.
What
observers did not realize was that behind the self-confident facade,
there was a frightened and insecure young woman. Kathy had an obsession
with being overweight. Even when her weight dropped to abnormally low
levels, she “felt fat”. When alone and in private, she would
alternately eat huge amounts of food, then take fluids to induce
vomiting. She also used diuretics and enemas to encourage the
elimination of foods from the body. Being slim was an obsession. In
time the obsession took its toll on Kathy’s health. She began missing
work because of illness resulting from the binge-purge cycles.
Fortunately
Kathy’s physician recognized the symptoms of an eating disorder which is
called “bulimia”, and encouraged Kathy to seek professional help. Today
she can attribute her recovery, health and well-being to accepting that
referral.
TYPES OF
EATING DISORDERS
There are three major
types of eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia nervosa and compulsive
overeating.
Bulimia
Kathy, in the
previous illustration exhibited symptoms of bulimia. Bulimia refers to
the cycle of binging on high calorie foods, and then using extremely
dangerous methods to control calorie absorption – methods such as
induced vomiting, use of diuretics, enemas, etc. A bulimic person may
go long undetected by friends and outsiders. Over time, however, the
cycle of binge and purge escalates. As this happens the individual
experiences feelings of depression, isolation and helplessness.
Anorexia
Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa can
be defined as self-starvation. Its Latin title means a person with a
nervous lack of appetite. The typical person with anorexia is a young
woman who is highly perfectionistic and achieving. Inside, however, she
is rebelling against her conforming self by a pursuit of thinness. The
process of slow self-starvation typically begins in the young woman’s
early teens.
When family and
friends confront her with concern about her excessive thinness, the
young woman often attributes their remarks to jealousy over her
self-control. By this time she is no longer capable of seeing the
reality of her problem. She begins to withdraw from family and friends.
Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive overeaters can be identified more easily. They may nibble
constantly, but usually overeat in response to some disturbing emotional
situation. The compulsive overeater often goes through phases of rigid
dieting. Behind the process is a person who has a negative self-image
and is desperate to feel better about herself or himself. Food is used
as a means of finding consolation, and thus the compulsive need to eat
becomes more entrenched.
THE PREVALENCE OF EATING DISORDERS
A
1985 study by the University of California showed that by the time girls
were eleven years of age, 80% were dieting. By age 18, 100% had used
some extreme method to control weight. It is estimated that about 20%
of young women have an eating problem severe enough to require
treatment.
ARE
ONLY WOMEN AFFECTED?
Eating
disorders are usually associated with women. Perhaps our society with
its emphasis on slimness for women has contributed to the problem.
However, it is found among men too. A treatment center in Ohio reported
that about 10% of its patients were male. Men hide problems more
readily than women, for it is not as acceptable for them to diet. They
are also more likely to avoid treatment until they are seriously ill.
SIGNS OF
EATING DISORDER PROBLEMS
Following are some
indicators of eating disorder problems:
