Eating Disorders Cause and Symptoms

Eating disorders afflict millions of people, thousands of which will die from them yearly. There is good news though, eating disorders can be beaten. This causes dramatic weight fluctuation, interferes with normal daily life, and damages vital body functions. An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects one's physical and mental health. They affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. Eating disorders are very complex, and despite scientific research to understand them, the biological, behavioral and social underpinnings of these illnesses remain elusive. Eating disorders are serious behavior problems.

An eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25. An eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight and food, and eating habits that disrupts normal body function, and daily life activities. It's common for kids - particularly teens - to be concerned about how they look and to feel self-conscious about their weight. Although eating disorders primarily affect women and girls, boys and men are also vulnerable. One in four preadolescent cases of anorexia occurs in boys, and binge-eating disorder affects females and males about equally. They include Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa and Binge-eating. Eating disorders can cause heart and kidney problems and even death.

Causes of Eating Disorders
Environmental
Psychological
Biological
Academic pressures
Genetic factors
Trauma
Symptoms of Eating Disorders
significant weight loss
regularly buys laxatives
preference to eat in isolation
depression
becomes very thin
physical health complications
swollen glands in the neck and below the jaw
Diagnosis for Eating Disorders
Trying to help a child who doesn't think he or she needs help can be hard. Remember that it's not your job to diagnose your child - only a doctor can do that.

Treatment for Eating Disorders
Treatment can include medical supervision, nutritional counseling, and therapy. The professionals try to address a child's perception about his or her body size, shape, eating, and foods. There are a variety of treatment options available: individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support, psychiatric care, outpatient, inpatient, residential and we can help you locate these resources. Fluoxetine and other antidepressants may reduce binge-eating episodes and help alleviate depression in some patients. Low mood may be difficult to spot in an uncommunicative teenager, and lack of interest in physical activity is not something most parents worry about in their teenage daughters.

Prevention for Eating Disorders
Parents and other family members are important in helping a person see that his or her normal body shape is perfectly fine and that being excessively thin can be dangerous.
To make sure that your child knows that you love him or her for who she is and what she does, not how she looks.
By reducing or eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing relapse.
Maintaining a regular diary of eating, thoughts and feelings can be helpful.