The dangers of eating disorder

An eating disorder is defined as a disturbance in eating behavior that endangers a person's physical and psycho-social health. Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most common eating disorders. Throughout the last three decades, these illnesses have increased in their rate of occurrence. These are not just unusual eating practices, they are life threatening illnesses doctors recognize as treatable when detected early in their development. Since fitness professionals may come in contact with a higher proportion of sufferers, it is vital for personal trainers and instructors to be informed and ready to assist these people.

Anorexia

Anorexics pursue thinness without regard or acknowledgment of their emaciation and malnourishment. Extreme measures, such as strict regimens of exercise and dietary practices, may be taken to achieve and maintain low weight. Anorexics have an intense, irrational fear of gaining weight. They fear an inability to control elements of their life.

The Road to Development

Anorexia usually begins as a diet. Dieting often starts before or after a major change, such as the beginning of puberty, leaving home for college or breaking up with a significant other. The person may fear change and feel a loss of control. Consequently, dieting becomes something the person can control, thus feeling better about themselves. Somewhere near this point, the positive feelings about oneself (regarding one's ability to control body weight) grow and manifest into a dangerous preoccupation with food and fear of gaining weight.

The practice of dieting becomes almost ritualistic with definite ideas of "good" and "bad" foods as well as the timing of foods. The person may begin to sense something is wrong but will not stop dieting because the quest for a thinner body has become the most important factor in their lire. Their ideal weight is continually lowered as they reach it. To be thin is to be good, controlled, diligent--even perfect. However, as body image becomes more distorted, the person may never have a factual perception of his or her body. At this point it may be necessary for others to intervene and help the person recognize his or her problem.

Most alarming is the fact that many doctors are seeing a growing number of young victims of anorexia. Girls as young as 10 and 11 are in psychiatric facilities for treatment of anorexia. If the illness persists, the growth spurt which occurs at puberty may be delayed. This may result in the patient not reaching their full height and developing brittle bones.

Symptoms

* Excessive weight loss--Anorexia is often identified as a loss of more than 25 percent of body weight.

* Hair, nail and skin problems--Lack of necessary nutrients may lead to scaly skin, brittle nails, stringy hair and even hair loss.

* Ceasing of menstruation--Rigid dieting greatly reduces hormone levels, disrupting the menstrual cycle.

* Extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures--The loss of muscle and fat makes it difficult for the body to retain heat.

* Body hair growth--Fine hair (lanugo) may begin to grow on the body in an effort to keep the body warm.

* Edema or swelling around the ankles.

* Unusual eating habits--Extremely rigid guidelines about eating, such as eating small bites or restricting themselves to a certain number of bites of food.

* Preoccupation with food, weight or calories--Some anorexics report being unable to hold a conversation without discussing food or weight.

* Weighing often--Sometimes 10 or more times a day.

* Extreme physical activity--The person may attempt to accelerate the weight loss process by exercising excessively.

* Social isolation--Due to psychological changes, anorexics may attempt to socially withdraw from their family, friends and peers.

* Poor self-esteem--Low self-esteem accompanies (or possibly precedes) anorexia. This may lead to depression and suicidal tendencies.

* Wearing large clothing--Often times, an anorexic will attempt to hide their "gross" or "huge" body by wearing large clothing. This also helps them stay warm.

* Denial of a problem--Since the person's image of themselves is distorted, they will usually deny they are obsessed with their weight and insist they need to lose more weight.

Medical Problems

Excessive weight loss leads to many adverse health effects. The extreme restriction of food causes the body to break down and cease to function properly as internal organs, such as the kidneys and liver, begin to shrink. Other complications include, but are not limited to constipation, difficulty urinating, muscle aches, cramps, swelling of joints, injuries to nerves and tendons, inability to concentrate and digestive problems. Blood abnormalities include leukopenia (low white blood cell counts), thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts), hypoalbuminemia (low serum protein values) and mild disturbances of thyroid function. Related problems which may develop include both osteopenia (thinning of the bones) and osteoporosis (bone loss from primarily long bones). For adolescent girls, these particular problems may not only retard bone growth but also increase the risk of fractures.