Living with Anorexia

        Living with someone who has anorexia and bulimia can become one of  the biggest challenges  you will ever face in your life. The heart-wrenching decisions you have to make in the treatments for your loved one.  The helplessness you feel, the constant roller coaster ride of treatment for your loved one. You want to believe that your loved one is alright, that it isn’t an eating disorder, but you know in your heart that this isn’t the case. You watch day by day , as you child commits suicide, blaming yourself, wondering what you did wrong, what could you have done differently.  You worry, endlessly, for the phone call from the hospital that they have been brought in for symptoms of  a heart attack. You dream of days gone by, hoping and praying that it will all end soon, but knowing in your heart this isn’t the case. You have nightmares of attending your loved ones funeral.  There is not quick fix for an eating disorder, it takes years of hard work.

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are very complex disorders, that affect millions of people each  year in the United States alone. Books such as Wasted,  Living with Ed,  Deadly Diet, bring to light exactly how complex eating disorders really are. The emotional turmoil that surrounds the loved ones of the person with the eating disorder.  “When Mary-Kate Olsen checked into an eating-disorder treatment center in 2004 to seek help for our anorexia, it sharpened our society’s already intense focus on young women and weight.”(Cosmopolitan, Oct. 2004, V-237, p.186)   “Anorexia nervosa is an eating problem that occurs when you are extremely afraid of becoming overweight and therefore eat as little as possible.”(Adult Health Advisors 2004, Phyllis Cooper) The desire to diet now affects younger girls, between the ages of 10-24. Media has placed the images of that young girls see today often unrealistic: then, attractive women who are most likely dependent on genetics, fitness trainers and nutritionists. Women featured in today’s media are getting thinner and thinner. Girls who read fashion magazines are 2 to 3 times more likely to diet than girls who stay away from these magazines. Almost 70% of girls say they are influenced by these magazines, and these models influence their view on the “perfect body shape.”

Anorexia nervosa (often referred to as anorexia) is defined as a significant weight loss due to a purposeful attempt to stop eating. Anorectics are intensely fearful of becoming obese, consider themselves to be fat. In an attempt to be even skinnier, they avoid taking in calories at all costs—even if the cost is her life. “When Mary-Kate Olsen checked into an eating-disorder treatment center in 2004 to seek help for our anorexia, it sharpened our society’s already intense focus on young women and weight.”(qtd. in Cosmopolitan, October 2004, p. 186)  Essential features of Anorexia Nervosa:

• Intense fear of becoming obese, which does not diminish as weight loss progresses.
• Disturbance of body image.
• Significant weight loss(at least 15 percent of normal body weight).
• Refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight.
• No known physical illness that would account for the weight loss.

The attempt to lose weight usually occurs through reduced starvation, but anorectics accelerate weight loss by binges of vomiting, using diuretics, taking laxatives, or exercising rigorously. The statistics are alarming. “An estimated 0.5 to 3.6 percent of females suffer from anorexia in their lifetime...”. ( National Institute of Mental Health Jan 2001.)

There is no clear reason why one person becomes eating disordered and another

does not. Current studies indicate that eating disorders result from a complicated mix of biological, cultural, and psychological factors. At this time, little is understood about what aspects of inheritance account for anorectic behavior. One characteristic associated with anorexia is shyness. Anorexia and Bulimia include extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. In addition, they are often accompanied by depression, irritability, withdraw and peculiar behaviors.

        Bulimia is characterized by episodes of bingeing, and purging through vomiting, laxative use or compulsive exercising. Bulimics often binge on large quantities of food. Bulimia is considered to be a more dangerous disorder. The purging aspect of bulimia is extremely detrimental to the human body that causes long lasting damage. A high percentage of bulimics abuse drugs and alcohol, live recklessly, and are sexually promiscuous. Moderate side effects include teeth decay, swelling of the cheeks, throat and esophagus. Vomiting is the most dangerous behavior of the bulimic because it causes an electrolyte imbalance, which reduces the body’s level of potassium. This causes muscle weakness and spasms, in the long run can cause heart attacks. Bulimics are at high risk to develop stomach ulcers and heart problems.