Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia?

Question

Give your opinion on teens with eating disorders

What’s the cause of eating disorders?

What are some treatments for eating disorders?

What would you do/say to a family or friend that has an eating disorder?

Are eating disorders easy to overcome?

What are some signs of an eating disorder?

Answer 1

Is this some assignment you are doing, or are you just curious or something? Oh well, I'll humor you.

Teens with eatiing disorders are very misunderstood by the general public in my opinion. Many ppl see teens or anyone with anorexia or bulimia as stupid and believe that the person can just snap out of it, or they just think that all the person has to do is just eat (referring to misconceptions on anorexic) or just stup making themselves throw up (bulimic). So, I personally feel that they need lots of help and support if they are to overcome a eating disorder, and that they don't get nearly enough in out culture. In a way, I guess I sort of feel bad for them, because they need so much love and help and there isn't always someone there to help them.

The cause? I don't know, some ppl with eating disorders where abused as children, or they got to start thinking that to look good or play good (at sports) they had to be thin, and maybe thier parents or someone in authority reinforced that and they got stuck in how addictive it can be. I also personally believe that it can be cause by a chemical imbalance in the brain, like things such as depression. I don't think there is really one definite cause, that's for sure.

Treatments, i think inpatient facilities where they stay somewhere and get help. Therapy (outpatient I mean) is used i know that. I don't know if there is any sort of medical treatment for it directly, but they can treat what reinforces the behavior, such as the person is depressed or the like.

I would let them know that i was there for them if they wanted to talk, and i would hope that they would get help for themselves and that i would support them all the way. I would let them know i care deeply for them and just want the best for them. I would try to persuade them (not forcefully though) that they should get help and that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

I personally have never had either of those, but I've looked into them some out of interest, and I read that it is extremely hard to overcome, and that if the person does therapy it takes a lot of hard work and stuff.

Hmm... i'm not positive. Well, of course if they are becoming extremely skinny, if they stop eating as much or say they will eat later/ or eating an extreme amount and not gaining weight. Extreme amounts of excercise, and obsession with weight, image, excercissing and stuff. The person is very weak, may have fainted in the past, stuff like that i think. I don't really know for sure.

Answer 2

Eating disorders are unfortunately extremely common. More and more so with the skimpy models and unrealistic looking role models of today.

One cause of eating disorders is a lack of self esteem, and the belief that people will like them better if they are just that bit skinnier.

The best thing you can do for someone is get them professional help. Eating disorders can definately become life threatening, and cause many complications in later life. As for what you can say, that varies. People have different triggers, perhaps ask them if they know what their triggers are.

Eating disorders are extremely difficult to overcome. Not only do you have to change the behaviours, but the thought patterns. Even when a sufferer may have overcome the disorder, it readily pops back up. For many it becomes a way to deal with things, so the more stressed they get, the more likely the chance of relapse happening. There is also the fact that they may only stop some of the behaviour. As an example, a bulimic may cease the purging/vomiting after eating, but not stop the binge eating.

Some signs are that they become overly fanatic about food. Is it fatty, have they suddenly taken to only eating salad? Or have they suddenly decided they are vegetarian or vegan, but not supplementing the meat and dairy with alternatives? DO they often dissappear after eating, pick about their food, pushing it around the plate but not really eating it. Are they fixated on weight and looks? Do they often binge eat after something stressful? There are so many symptoms, and they do vary, so do your research and good luck. I hope you can help.

Answer 3

I think that teens with eating disorders are overly worried about how their bodies look to others, when on the outside they are just fine. I think the main cause of eating disorders is a desire to be "like everybody else", including other people like cheerleaders, popular girls (or boys) and celebs who are athletic or naturally skinny--a good way to trigger an eating disorder is by reading magazines with pictures of 85-pound celebs, and watching TV shows with scrawny women in them. The best treatment for eating disorders is to get therapy from a psychologist. I would usually try to get the person to be realistic about their weight, or even make them take a Body Mass Index test to see if they're actually "fat" or not. Eating disorders are very hard to fight, partly because of habit and bodily acceptance and because of the urge to be skinny and attractive. Some signs of a eating disorder are...

For Anorexia:
-eats only a small amount of food at every meal
-plays with food or hides it
-some girls with anorexia have fuzzy hairs on their arms called langua, or something like that--the hair grows naturally to compensate for loss of body heat.

For Bulimia:
-Uses laxatives
-Goes to the bathroom soon after eating
-becomes secretive about food
-eyes are often red (I don't know why, I found out from a book)
-one of the ways bulimic people vomit is to insert their finger into their throat. When this is done repeatedly, their fingertips can become scarred by the throat acids.

For obesity--
-eats whenever emotional--angry, sad, lonely, even happy
-eats excessively, obviously

For all three eating disorders--
-constantly complains about being fat even if they're average weight, a little overweight but not enough to be considered fat by the public, or even skinny
-Either eats a lot or barely no food

Answer 4

There is pradawilly syndrome had been you in no way believe complete and also you come to be eatingingyour self to demise considering that you in no way believe complete its very damaging and will couse strain hair loss excema Athena and melancholy. Hope this infomation used to be helpfull, and well good fortune along with your undertaking.