Yahoo Lifestyle Anorexia: What To Look For
When I interview prospective dietetic interns every year, one of the interview questions I always ask is, "What interested you in becoming a dietitian?" Invariably, in every group of prospective students there are at least a few who say that they or a friend, roommate, or loved one has had an eating disorder.
In a [../experts/weightkoch/1668/the-dark-side-of-eating previous entry] I wrote about a CNN special on eating disorders and celebrities and others who are afflicted by them. In this entry, I take a closer look at one eating disorder: anorexia nervosa, or self-starvation.
Eating disorders have been on the rise since the 1960s, coinciding with the media's growing focus on "the perfect body." Today, at least 10 million Americans are thought to have an eating disorder, but this number is considered low given the challenges in diagnosing eating disorders and suspected underreporting. According to the American Psychiatric Association, between 90 percent and 95 percent of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women, accounting for 0.5 percent to 1 percent of all American women.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious psychological disorder characterized by extreme weight loss and fear of gaining weight. Even when extremely underweight, a person with anorexia believes she is significantly overweight and denies the severity of her low body weight.
Anorexia can result in a long list of medical complications, the most common being dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, loss of bone density and muscle mass, dizziness, and fatigue. Over the long term, more serious effects include brain atrophy, heartbeat irregularities, and organ failure. And anorexia kills. A reported 5 percent to 10 percent of anorexics die within 10 years of the onset of this eating disorder.
Because anorexia typically appears in adolescents in the early to mid-teen years, it is important that parents and caregivers be able to detect the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder early in its course. Here are some signals that someone may be suffering from anorexia or another type of eating disorder:
Menstruation stops in an individual who otherwise has had regular periods.
Dizziness or fainting episodes occur frequently for no apparent reason.
Soft, downy hair starts to grow on the skin, including facial skin (lanugo).
Paleness, constant fatigue, and dry, brittle hair and nails appear.
Bad breath develops, caused by ketosis and also associated with constant brushing of teeth and use of breath fresheners.
The person is obsessed with weight, calorie content of foods, and diet, and has a distorted body image.
She is preoccupied with making food for others, but does not eat any of it herself.
She attempts to hide weight loss by wearing baggy clothing and avoids exposing her true appearance unless absolutely necessary.
If you suspect that someone you know or love may have an eating disorder such as anorexia, it is important to seek professional help. Early and intense treatment of eating disorders will improve the likelihood of recovery. All eating disorders require input from a trained health care team that includes medical, nursing, mental health, and nutrition professionals. You may visit the Web site below for more information about anorexia or other eating disorders, or to seek help for an eating disorder:
National Eating Disorders Association
