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Do You Have An Eating Disorder?

It is normal to want to look good. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be comforted when youre anxious or depressed. But if youre nervous when its meal time because youre afraid youll gain weight, or youre terrified of getting fat; and you throw up food after eating; if these attitudes describes you, youre not alone. The fact is, millions of youth-most of them girls have an Eating Disorder.

Each of these Eating Disorders, anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge eating has distinct symptoms but all of them involve an abnormal attitude toward food.

anorexia EATING DISORDER:

This Eating Disorder describes a girl no matter how slim she may be, sees an obese person whenever she looks in the mirror. To lose weight, she will resort to extreme measures. Weight loss is a common symptom, hair loss; dry skin, fatigue and loss of bone density are other symptoms. Menstrual periods can become irregular or even cease for several consecutive months. These symptoms may sound harmless but make no mistakes anorexia eating disorder is life threatening. One study shows that up to 10 percent of sufferers of this Eating Disorder die. Usually as a result of organ failure or other problems related to improper nutrition.

BULIMIA EATING DISORDER:

The sufferer of bulimia eating disorder does not avoid food rather binges, consuming as many as 15,000 calories in just two hours, then purges what has been eaten, usually by inducing vomit or by taking laxatives or diuretics. Bingeing is usually carried out in secret. After the binge, however, guilt sets in.

Despite any seeming benefit, purging is dangerous. Laxative misuse weakens the intestinal lining and can lead to inflammation or infection. Frequent vomiting can result in dehydration, tooth decay, damage to the esophagus, and even heart failure. BINGE EATING DISORDER:

Like the bulimic, a sufferer of the eating disorder will consume large amount of food .The difference is that there is no purging. As a result, the binge Eating Disorder sufferer may be overweight. Some will however, starve themselves after a binge or engage in rigorous exercise. Sometimes when weight is maintained in this way, family and friends remain oblivious to the bingers plight.

Even without purging, bingeing Eating Disorder is dangerous. It can lead to diabetics, high blood pressure, heart disease and a number of other maladies. It can also take a heavy emotional toll.

Note that most people who want to lose weight or get into shape do not have an eating Disorder. Still after considering the above, you might wonder if you are heading in that direction; ask yourself;

Am I ashamed or embarrassed about my habits or rituals related to food?

Do I hide my eating habits from others?

Has food become the biggest part of my life?

Do I weigh myself more than once a day?

Am I willing to take risk to lose weight?

Have I experimented with self induced vomiting, laxatives or diuretics

Have my eating habits affected my social life for example, do I prefer to be alone rather than with others so I can binge or purge in secret?

If your answers to these questions indicate that you have an eating disorder, ask yourself:

Am I really happy living this way?

What can I do about the situation?

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posted by 4414 @ 11:41 PM