Eating disorders are actually the symptoms of the problems in a .
People with eating disorders can use eating, purging or .
restricting to deal with their problems. People with eating disorders have, low .
self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, .
identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope .
with emotions. .
.
At least 2 million female Americans have a clinically relevant eating .
disorder. Between 10 - 20 percent of anorexia and bulimia survivors are male. .
More children under the age of twelve are developing eating disorders. It is .
estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already began dieting. There are .
even some four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. There are three .
different types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and .
compulsive overeating. .
.
Anorexia nervosa is when men and women, mostly women, want to be .
thin and are afraid of becoming obese. They consider themselves to be fat, .
no matter what they might weigh. Anorexics do not recognize that they are .
underweight. They try to avoid food and taking in calories. They have a low .
self-esteem and they deny that anything is wrong. .
Bulimia nervosa is when people binge and purge their food. They want .
to rid their body of unwanted calories. They eat a lot of food and then purge .
it. Purging usually involves vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, .
enemas, ipecac, diets, fasting, chew-spitting, and a lot of exercising. They .
use food as a source of comfort. They feel that it will block their feelings. .
Bulimics, unlike anorexics, do realize that they have a problem and are more .
likely to go seek help. .
Compulsive overeating is when people overeat and gain a lot of weight. .
There are more male overeaters than female. They use food as a way to cope .
with their feelings and emotions. Often compulsive overeaters binge. They .
will eat normally in front of others and then make up for it by eating less, .
