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Do you ever find yourself saying, "I wish I looked like..."If only I lost a few pounds, then..."
We take the focus off of our internal beauty and focus on our external beauty. We try
to obtain that image that society calls, "perfect". For some girls, they die trying.
This was the case for Elisa McCall. I recently did a TV segment on her story. This story will air the last week of February in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Visit: www.dr-nina.com to view it online.
Below are things you should know about all eating disorders:
Eating disorders -- such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder -- include
extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. Eating disorders are
serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for females and
males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body
type, age, and activity level
• Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
• Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• Loss of menstrual periods
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in short
periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or overexercising.
Symptoms include:
• Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
• Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
• Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills
and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
• Frequent dieting
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is
characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of
feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with
anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.
Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms
of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically
considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally
draining. All eating disorders require professional help.
Reprinted from the National Eating Disorders Association (www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)
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