Overweight, underweight,
or correct weight, Americans seem to be obsessed with body
image. Television, movies, the Internet and even the radio
bombard us with images and pressure to look a certain way.
Is it any wonder, then, that eating disorders are increasingly
diagnosed at a younger age, for both males and females, and
across the spectrum of culture, race, and economic backgrounds?
The National Eating
Disorders Association -
www.NationalEatingDisorders.org define eating disorders as
"complex conditions that arise from a combination of
long-standing behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological,
interpersonal and social factors."
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia
and Compulsive Overeating, the three most recognized diseases,
all involve a preoccupation with food, weight and body image.
But for most suffers, eating disorders are much more than a
fixation with food. Fasting, over eating, purging,
vomiting, compulsive exercising all become means of controlling
feelings and emotions that otherwise seem over-whelming.
Food become a coping mechanism for survival.
Research shows that
personality types at highest risk for anorexia or bulimia tend
to be obsessive, perfectionists, over-anxious, novelty seeks
and/or impulsive.
Recent studies also
indicate that there may be an inherited predisposition to these
diseases. A latent gene, or genes, which, when triggered
by an emotional crisis or environmental factors could produce
the full-fledged eating disorder.
Early diagnosis and
intervention are keys to successful recovery. Eighty
percent of anorexics and almost nine6ty percent of bulimic
patients experience full or partial recovery with treatment.
Recognizing and identifying symptoms is often difficult,
however.
Typically, the disease
begins in pre-teens and early adolescence when young bodies are
changing and peer pressure to conform is most influential.
Symptoms my include feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem,
difficulty expressing emotions and feelings, anger, anxiety or
depression. A negative change in attitudes towards oneself
and a fixation on body image accompanied with an obsession on
eating or not eating are often signs.
It is important that this
vulnerable age group learn the basics of good nutrition, sound
eating and exercising habits as well as understand what is
normal development during this growth period.
Family and Consumer
Sciences, Home and Career Skills, Health and Physical Education
classes provide valuable knowledge enabling youngsters to make
healthy choices, empowering them with the confidence to take
control of their lives.
###
