16 Mar Be Aware and Save a Life

The last week of February is Eating Disorder Awareness Week. And though a few weeks have gone by, I don’t want to not discuss how important it is to be aware of eating disorders and how startling common they are. Awareness can lead to early detection, which can lead to prevention which, in turn, can save a life.

To help understand the gravity, and prevalence, of eating disorders, I gleamed statistics from the CDC , the NCBI, the  ANAD (the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), and NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association)

Facts: 

• The onset of eating disorders happens during teen years with 86% by the age of 20.
• Anorexia has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness, though the mortality rate of those who suffer from bulimia or other non-specified eating disorders come close.
• In the United States 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a “clinically significant” eating disorder at sometime in their life. (NEDA)
• A new study estimates that about half a million teens struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating.  (NEDA)
• Eating disorders aren’t a “female” disease. Men are much less likely to reach out for help because they  think of it as such.
• Eating disorders are not a fad.
• Eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice.

Millions of people suffer from eating disorders and hide behind a cloak of shame. Research and education about eating disorders is underfunded and, often, insurance does not cover treatment. An effective treatment plan for eating disorders must involve a psychiatrist (who might prescribe anti-depressants or another kind of medication) a therapist and a nutritionist all of whom specialize in eating disorders (iaedpny.com provides a list of professionals who specialize in eating disorders). A family practitioner might be involved, and there definitely needs to be family support.

Today, I want to focus on Binge Eating Disorder (BED), which is a debilitating illness that effects 2% of adults in the United States (approximately 4 million Americans) (Womenshealth.gov). Binge eating disorder is characterized by:

• Eating large amounts of food (when not hungry)
• Eating until you’re uncomfortably full.
• Feelings of being out of control while eating.
• Feelings of disgust, guilt, shame and depression.
• Eating alone or hiding what they eat because of the shame.

Symptoms and signs to look for are:

• A marked increase in weight, not medical related. (Though not all who suffer from BED are overweight).
• Finding empty food packages, hidden food stashes.
• Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, body image, dieting.
• Ritualized behavior at mealtime.
• Abnormal eating habits, food preferences.
• Withdrawal from friends and activities

The health repercussions of BED mirror many of the health problems faced by overweight and obese people: Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, gallbladder and heart disease as well as certain kinds of cancers.

Those who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder often experience anxiety, depression and personality disorders. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE. When I have clients come in, ashamed of their eating disorder, I ask them, “Would you be embarrassed if you were diagnosed with a heart murmur? A type of cancer?” Then I tell them their eating disorder is a sickness, a disorder located in their brain, which is an organ like their heart, lungs, liver or kidneys. There is no shame in being sick.

There is no shame in asking for help.

If you’re reading this, it’s the first step to awareness. This year’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Association’s theme was, “Three Minutes Can Save a Life: Get Screened. Get Help. Get Healthy.” Their focus is intervention, mirroring the CDC’s national campaign on early detection. “Early identification and treatment of disordered eating and weight control behaviors may prevent progression and reduce the risk of chronic health consequences.” (S. Bryan Austin et al, Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy,  Vol. 5, No.4, Screening High School Students for Eating Disorders: Results of a National Initiative, October 2008).

Take three minutes to get screened. Awareness is the first step toward health.

Please click on the links I’ve provided throughout this article for more comprehensive information.