Eating is vital to life. We must eat on a daily basis in order to keep our bodies functioning efficiently. But sometimes we find it difficult to eat in ways that we know are healthy. Emotions, stress and peer pressure can cause teens to alter their eating habits in unhealthy ways. The result can be an eating disorder.
Eating disturbances and disorders occur in virtually all types of people. People of all races, religions, sexual orientations, and economic backgrounds suffer from eating disorders. They affect more females than males, but do occur in both sexes. Eating disorders can happen at any age, but most frequently occur initially during adolescence and young adulthood.
Physical
1: marked weight loss or weight gain
2: fluctuations in weight of up to 10 pounds or more
3: amenorrhea; menstrual cycle irregularities
4: chronic sore throats or stomach problems
5: decay of tooth enamel
6:dizziness and/or fainting episodes
7:growth of fine "lanugo" or baby-like hair on body
8:chronic fatigue
9:hair loss
10:dehydration
11:swollen cheeks
12:bloodshot eyes
Emotional and Behavioral
1: preoccupation with food and calories
2: fear of eating foods that contain fat
3: "good" and "bad" food categories
4: restricted number of foods in diet
5: intense fear of weight gain or becoming "fat"
6: avoiding situations where food is served
7: frequent weighing of self
8: compulsive, excessive exercise habits
9: purging behaviors (vomiting, laxatives/diuretics, enemas)
10: depression and/or anxiety
11: isolation or withdrawal from family and friends
12: denial of eating problems or weight loss
Sometimes it is not easy to spot the signs of an eating disorder or disturbance. Many people with anorexia will wear large, baggy clothing to hide the weight loss from others. They will also cook for others to hide their lack of eating. Most people with bulimia will not have any significant change in weight. They may restrict their intake of food in front of others and binge only in privacy.
An important concept to remember is that the bulimic or anorexic behaviors you see are only the symptoms of a deeper, underlying problem. Until the emotional and mental processes that caused the eating disturbance or disorder are dealt with, the disturbance or disorder will not go away.