Warning Signs of Eating Disorders
By: Megan FIrman, Jessie Mrgualski, Jordan Gibson, & Brandon
Dangers of Eating Disorders
Bulimia Nervosa Dangers: Purging may result in heart failure due to loss of minerals, the acid in vomit wears down the outer layer of teeth, scarring on your hands from forcing yourself to vomit, the esophagus becomes inflamed and your cheeks swell. Some people strugging with this disorder often develop addictions such as drugs and alcohol. These people also often have depression, and suicidal tendencies.
Anorexia Nervosa Dangers: Starvation can damage vital organs such as your brain and your heart, low lood pressure, thyroid functions very slow, low body temperature, anemia, brittle bones, irregular heart rythms, clinical depression, OCD, substance abuse, and suicidal tendencies.
Binge Eating Dangers: May cause stomach to rupture (rare), high cholestoral, high blood pressure, diabetes, gall bladder disease, heart disease, and even some types of cancer. Depression in these patients is very common.
Warning SIgns of Eating Disorders
There are many different eating disorders as well as many different warning signs for each one. Sometimes it is very easy to tell if someone is facing an eating disorder; however, in some cases it may be very hard to tell. Some warning signs of eating disorders are:
Habitual trips to the bathroom immediately after eating
Hoarding large amounts of food
Exercising compulsively, often several hours per day
Increase in consumption of laxatives, diuretics or diet pills
Withdrawal from friends and family, particularly following questions about her disease or visible physical/medical side effects
Avoidance of meals or situations where food may be present
Wears baggy clothes to hide weight
Has trouble concentrating. Obsesses about food and weight and holds to rigid, perfectionistic standards for self and others.
Fainting/Dizziness
Skips meals
Be Cautious
While it is easy to get help over the internet, it can also be dangerous. This is because some websites actually encourage eating disorders. This is why you must be careful what you are typing into the internet. Previous studies have shown the adolescents exposed to such pro-eating disorder websites have higher levels of body dissatisfaction compared to adolescents that have not been exposed. In addition, young people who have visited these sites are also known to engage in more and more intense eating-disordered behaviors. These websites usually have pictures of really thin models and encourage you to look like them. Some of these websites even give suggestions on ways to engage in extreme exercise, purge after meals, and lose weight quickly. While it is okay to look for help over the internet, make sure you are aware of these sites. Look for websites that help you overcome your eating disorders instead!
Websites that can help with eating disorders:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org/
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-treatment-and-recovery.htm
http://www.mirror-mirror.org/eatdis.htm
http://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/portal/#.VowSzigViko