Eating Disorders
Not only can eating disorders have a fatal effect on one's physical health, they can also cause fatal disorders to one's mental health. Those who suffer from extreme eating disorders put themselves in stressful situations everyday so that they can feel better about their bodies. Furthermore, people with eating disorders might find they are never happy with their weight or body, and always craving further perfection. Because they are not able to attain this unrealistic standard, they feel they are flawed and useless, leading to suicidal thoughts. Lastly, sufferers may feel like a burden when seeking treatment and that their loved ones would be better off without them. This way of thinking can have disastrous effects. |
Anorexia
Anorexia is a disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. Those with anorexia have difficulty keeping a suitable body weight.
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Bulimia
Bulimia is classified as overeating followed by purging to control weight. People with this eating disorder are dissatisfied with their body image. They eat and then purge, meaning they either vomit or use other methods of removing food from their body.
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Binge Eating
Binge eating is an eating disorder involving episodes of binging, or eating excessive amounts of food. During a binge, one is overcome by a feeling of loss of control. It is usually followed by feelings of intense shame and guilt. People with the disorder do not normally use unhealthy purging methods like those with bulimia. It can lead to weight gain. The added pounds can lead to negative thoughts about body image, and, in turn, can lead to overeating to compensate for the negative thoughts, creating a vicious cycle.
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The Fine Line
Often, people can confuse healthy weight loss with an unhealthy eating disorder. However, there is a fine line between the two which can be characterized by the following:
Healthy Weight Loss:
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Unhealthy Eating Disorder:
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How to Help
How to help yourself:
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How to help a friend:
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