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Teen Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight that harms a person's well-being. Although it is a good idea to worry about weight, but people with an eating disorder go to extremes to keep from gaining weight.
Eating disorders usually begin in a teenager trying to deal with a major physical, emotional or biological problem. Sufferers experience bouts of depression. The eating disorder is an attempt to regain and raise their self-esteem.
Many teens suffer from any of the following types of eating disorder - anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating and compulsive eating. About 95 percent of them are females.
Anorexia Nervosa:
People with anorexia have an intense fear of being fat.
He/she is usually 15% below ideal weight and still considers himself overweight. He hardly eats at all, may even weigh food before eating it.
Symptoms:
- Excessive exercise
- Fatigue and muscle weakness, headaches
- Obsession with calories
- Unusual eating habits (ie. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)
- Mood swings
- Evidence of vomiting, laxative, diet pills or diuretics to control weight
- Irregular menstruation in women
- Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation)
- Fainting and dizziness
- Pale complexion, dehydration
Medical Complications
- Amenorrhea
- Skin problems
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Hair loss
- Kidney and liver damage
- Osteoporosis
- Anaemia
- Infertility
Bulimia Nervosa:
Known as purge behaviour, this person eats a large amount of food, then gets rid of it quickly by vomiting or taking laxatives. After a purge, some bulimics fast or over-exercise to avoid gaining weight. Bulimics are usually close to normal weight.
Symptoms of bulimia:
- Binge eating
- Bathroom visits after eating
- Vomiting, laxative or diuretic use
- Weight fluctuations
- Harsh exercise regime
- Depression and severe self-criticism
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Self-deprecating thoughts following eating
Medical Complications
- Amenorrhea and irregular menstruation
- Dizziness
- Constipation, diarrohea and dehydration
- Shortness of breath
- Erosion of teeth enamel
- Chronic sore throat
- Low blood pressure
- Development of peptic ulcers
Binge Eating disorder:
Like bulimics, binge eaters have episodes of uncontrolled or compulsive eating. During such episodes, binge eaters consume large quantities of food in a short time without the intention to stop or purge later.
Binge eating is a way of managing anxiety through the use of food. It occurs secretively.
Symptoms:
- weight gain and fluctuations in weight
- out of control regarding food
- Low self-esteem, anxiety
- loss of sexual desire
- going on many different diets
- avoidance of situations where food will be present
Medical Complications
- obesity
- menstrual irregularities
- diabetes and heart problem
- high blood pressure and cholesterol
- osteoarthritis
- decreased mobility
Compulsive Eating Disorder:
Compulsive overeaters usually feel out of control and are aware their eating habits are abnormal.
Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when eating habits are formed. They were never taught the right way to cope with stress and used food as let out.
Symptoms:
- Binge eating
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Withdrawing from activities because of embarrassment about weight
- Eating less in public, while overweight
Medical Complications
- Weight gain
- Hypertension
- Heart ailments
- Arthritis
- High blood pressure and cholesterol
- Shortness of breath.
Every problem has a solution. You have to try hard to get over your problem.