Health Risks and Treatment

1. Medical Problems

• Irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, death
• Kidney damage, death
• Liver damage (made worse by substance abuse),
• Destruction of teeth, rupture of esophagus, loss of muscle mass
• Damage to lining of stomach; gastritis, gastric distress
• Disruption of menstrual cycle, infertility
• Stunted growth due to undernutrition. Even after recovery and weight restoration, person may not catch up to expected normal height.
• Weakened immune system
• Swollen glands in neck; stones in salivary duct
• Excess hair on face, arms, and body.
• Arthritic damage to joints
• Anemia, malnutrition. Disruption of body's fluid/mineral balance
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), including shakiness, anxiety, restlessness, and a pervasive itchy sensation all over the body
• Increased risk of bowel, breast, and reproductive cancers
• Permanent loss of bone mass, fractures and lifelong problems
• It may even lead to death.

2. Psychological Problems

• Feelings of anxiety, self-doubt, guilt and shame
• Feelings of alienation and loneliness
• Depression can lead to suicide.
• Person feels out of control and helpless.
• Compulsive behaviors.
• Obsessive thoughts and preoccupations about food and weight.
• Interpersonal relationships are damaged or destroyed

Warning Signs

1. Food Behaviors

• The person skips meals, takes only tiny portions and will not eat in front of other people
• Always has an excuse not to eat -- is not hungry, just ate with a friend, is feeling ill, is upset, and so forth.
• Becomes "disgusted" with former favorite foods like red meat and desserts.
• Chooses primarily low-fat items with low levels of other nutrients, foods such as lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, and so forth.
• May also buy special binge food.
• Sometimes the person uses laxatives, diet pills, water pills to promote weight loss.

2. Appearance and Body Image Behaviors

• The person loses, or tries to lose weight.
• Has frantic fears of weight gain and obesity.
• Spends lots of time inspecting self in the mirror and usually finds something to criticize.

3. Exercise Behaviors
The person exercises excessively and compulsively.

4. Thoughts and Beliefs

• The person becomes obsessive about losing weight.
• Argues with people who try to help, and then withdraws, sulks, or throws a tantrum.

5. Feelings

• Becomes moody, irritable, cross, snappish, and touchy.
• Withdraws into self and feelings, becoming socially isolated.

6. Social Behaviors

• Tries to please everyone and withdraws when this is not possible.
• Anorexics tend to avoid sexual activity. Bulimics may engage in casual or even promiscuous sex.
• Relationships tend to be either superficial or dependent. Person craves true intimacy but at the same time is terrified of it.

7. Other Behaviors

• Substance abuse: alcohol, prescription medications, recreational drugs.
• Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
• Threats of suicide or suicide attempts
• Homicidal threats or attempts, stealing and other criminal acts, and any other behaviors that can logically be expected to bring harm to self or others.

Treatment of Eating Disorders

• Yes, eating disorders are treatable, and lots of people recover from them.
• About 80 percent of people with eating disorders who seek treatment either recover completely or make significant progress
• Recovery is a difficult process that can take seven to ten years or even longer.
• Some people recover faster than others .The ones who recover work with physicians and counselors to resolve both the medical and psychological issues that contribute to, or result from, disordered eating.

What is the Best Treatment for an Eating Disorder?
Every person's situation is different so the best treatment must be tailor made for each individual. A physician or counselor must make an evaluation and then make recommendations. The following points are worth keeping in mind.

• Hospitalization to prevent death, suicide, and medical crisis.
• Weight restoration to improve health, mood, and cognitive functioning.
• Medication to relieve depression and anxiety
• Individual counseling to develop healthy ways of taking control of one's life.
• Group counseling to learn how to manage relationships effectively
• Family counseling to change old patterns and create healthier new ones
• Nutrition counseling to debunk food myths and design healthy meals
• Eating Disorder Support groups to break down isolation and alienation.