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How to spot an eating disorder
Eating disorders come in many different shapes and forms. Some eating disorders, like Anorexia and Bulimia can be very serious – even life-threatening. But there’s another type of eating disorder that affects one in 10 girls and it’s called ‘disordered eating’.
Nicole is a classic example. She’s 16, average weight, but she obsesses over food. Her attitudes towards what she will and won’t eat are really annoying to her friends. But as Nicole says, “I feel really bad if I have a piece of cake or some chips. It makes me feel disgusting afterwards – and really guilty. It amazes me how it doesn’t worry my friends.”
How it started for Nicole:
Nicole has always been conscious about her body shape. As she went through the normal changes in her early teens, her body did the normal pubertal thing and she gained a little weight. A couple of comments from relatives was all it took to set her on the path of disordered eating. She stopped joining in the eating at birthday parties, insisted on eating a healthy dinner at night (sometimes she made her own food because what her family was eating freaked her out). When she went out with friends or guys Nicole always carried healthy food with her - even to the movies.
While Nicole doesn’t behave like someone with Anorexia, her attitudes towards food have became negative and unhealthy. She’s lost a great deal of weight and finds it hard to play sport. Socially, she’s really restricted about what she does and where she goes because so much of it involves eating.
Signs of disordered eating:
- Feel out of control around food
- Feel nervous and guilty about eating
- Find yourself continually on a diet
- Find yourself constantly thinking about eating or not eating
- Eat according to a set of rules that you have created and not according to when you feel hungry
- Attempt to get rid of food by vomiting or taking laxatives
- Starve yourself for periods of time
- Use weight loss medications and supplements inappropriately
- Exercise excessively
- Feel compelled to exercise even if you are tired, unwell, injured
- Binge on food followed by feelings of anxiety, guilt or self-disgust
- Not be able to eat until you have exercised
- Feel that your body is never quite ‘right’
- Feel terrified of gaining weight
- Believe that everything would be all right if only you had the ‘ideal’ figure
How to beat it
The good news is, disordered eating doesn’t necessarily lead to a full-blown eating disorder…but it can. So if you or somebody you know may have disordered eating, here’s a few tips:
1. Find the trigger. Figure out what emotional issues make you behave like this. Often there’s a trigger that will make you skip a meal or binge so write down what happens to make you feel this way.
2. Shift the focus. Instead of focusing on food, do something fun or healthy. Check out some cool workouts that’ll make you feel great and work up a real appetite here.
3. Keep a balance. Whenever you feel yourself thinking about food in a negative way or looking at food as the enemy, correct yourself. Tell yourself that all food is good in moderation.
4. Put yourself to the test. When you’re ready, try eating something a bit naughty and see how you feel. You’ll know you’re getting better if you’re not wracked with guilt or disgusted in yourself!
5. Ask for help. It’s no wonder so many of us have unhealthy attitudes towards food these days. If your eating is getting unhealthy, you’re not alone. Millions of girls suffer from eating disorders and the good news is, that doctors, specialists and counsellors are experienced in helping to get you back on track.
Worried about Eating Disorders? If you’re worried about a friend or about yourself, talk about it. Our favourite place to start is a group called EDEN. Check them out here:
09 3789039
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
www.eden.org.nz
Contact EDEN for a directory of counsellors working with eating issues in Auckland.
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I have been struggling with disordered eating for about a year and a half now. It was only about 6 months ago that I realised there was actually a problem. Because of the nature of the disorder, it is easy to convince others (and yourself) that all you are doing is living healthily. Physically you are, mentally not so much. (I don’t honestly think that if you have a few of those symptoms every now and again it is too serious) It is totally a control thing, and having just come through this, if you are feeling that need to have total control over everything in regards to food, talk to someone, it might be easier to work out earlier on. (For me this had nothing to do with food, I have NEVER thought I was fat, even at 15 kgs heavier than I am now.) Posted by LauraakaDora "on" 02/03 "at"01:49 PM |
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I think it is only natural to feel those things though? Posted by Anjuli9872 "on" 11/18 "at"04:04 PM |
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My mom has always had an obsession with losing weight. She has gotten me on several diets over the years. I’m 18 and I can’t stand the sight of my body. I can always find something wrong with it. A line on my thigh, dimply behind, flabby tummy. It doesn’t matter. I am never happy with my weight. I could stand to lost 20lbs. My friends and boyfriend don’t understand, but I need to be happy with myself, not them happy with me. Posted by beachychix "on" 07/09 "at"11:33 AM |
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I loved this article.  . I do alot of this and now am going to try and stop.Posted by Alexa:) "on" 11/30 "at"10:02 AM |
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WOw really enjoyed reading that article, as never knew about disordered eating. I could pin point many of theose syns in myself and my sisters tho, and we do not have eating disorders, so it could be a little controversial, but could defintiely use some more study i think. Posted by tkennard "on" 08/11 "at"12:17 PM |
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Me also, I have a few of these symptoms:( Posted by Sugaax! "on" 08/08 "at"11:54 AM |
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This has been an eye openier as we are told to eat healthy and exercisde these day. I have been doing all of the above and have just realised i have an earting disorder :( Posted by 58894 "on" 03/13 "at"07:04 PM |
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I was hospitalised, not for an eating disorder but i lived with other young girls who had anorexia or bulimia and i just need to stress to girls out there who “want” to have an eating disorder that it is not glamorous at all once your in it and that not only do eating disorders ruin young womens bodies (i.e. make you infirtile) they put incredible amounts of stress on peoples families and friends too. an eating disorder is so serious and i just urge young people who are struggling with their relationship with food to talk to someone about it. Posted by 40680 "on" 03/10 "at"04:13 PM |
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I have a few of these symptoms. Im mostly just trying to stay healthy though Posted by Kourtney "on" 03/05 "at"03:40 PM |
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I thought this article was quite interesting, as i know quite alot of people with many of these symptoms :/ Posted by 36873 "on" 02/22 "at"06:47 PM |
Best of the rest
