Tip of the Day!
The Secrets of Eating Disorders
Did you know that an estimated one million or more
Americans suffer from eating disorders?
Eating disorders range from compulsive overeating
to anorexia nervosa. The disorder usually is the
symptom of another problem, but it requires
attention to nutrition needs. While young women
more commonly suffer eating disorders, they affect
older women and men also. Some of the early
warning signs of eating disorders include:
-
Eating tiny portions or refusing to eat
-
Rapid weight loss without any other cause
-
Intense fear of being fat
-
Excessive exercise
-
Eating in secret
-
Disappearing after eating, often going to the
bathroom
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Great fluctuations in weight
-
Loss of menstrual cycle, or
-
Dependency on laxatives, diuretics or diet pills
If someone you know has a problem, talk to them,
possibly with the help of a medical professional.
Offer to help them work through the treatment--and
most importantly, remain positive with your
support. |
Tip of the Day!
How to Spot an Eating
Disorder—Tips for Parents
Kids can have crazy eating habits. One day they
avoid everything, the next they eat it all. So how can
you tell if your child has an eating disorder?
It's estimated that more than one million Americans
suffer from eating disorders and the most common
age–is the teen years. Knowing what to look for
can help you recognize an eating disorder before it
becomes a life threatening pattern.
Symptoms of an eating disorder can include the
following:
-
eating tiny portions or refusing to eat;
-
an intense fear of being fat;
-
nonstop exercising;
-
becoming secret eaters;
-
disappearance after eating–often to the
bathroom;
-
great fluctuations in weight;
-
large amounts of food disappear quickly.
If you notice a combination of these symptoms, talk
to your child–without challenge–she or he might
deny a problem. Talk to the school nurse or a local
eating disorder specialist, and be prepared to
participate in your child's therapy if it becomes
necessary.
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