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How teens deal with… Eating Disorders
By Meagan Richardson

There are three major eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, and obesity. All of which are very serious and fatal problems.

Anorexia (anorexia nervosa) is an illness that usual occurs in teenage females, but can also be found in teenage boys and adults of both genders. Anorexia usually occurs when a person wishes to lose weight in order to reach a weight they consider desirable. People who have anorexia usually starve themselves and exercise constantly to become skinny. People with sever anorexia are at risk of death by starvation and other serious health factors. Warning signs of anorexia according to FamilyDoctor.Org are as follows:

• Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
• Fear of gaining weight
• Refusal to eat
• Denial of hunger
• Constant exercising
• Greater amounts of hair on the body or the face
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Absent or irregular periods
• Loss of scalp hair
• A self-perception of being fat when the person is really too thin

Anorexia is an illness that must be treated as soon as warning signs appear. A person can be hospitalized and kept in great care till a normal diet is obtained.

Bulimia (bulimia nervosa) is a type of eating disorder that involves a person who binges (eats a lot of food at one time) and then purges (throws up the food or takes things such as laxatives to rid the food from their system). Some signs of bulimia according to WomensHealth.Gov are as follows:

• Using diet pills, or taking pills to urinate or have a bowel movement
• Going to the bathroom all the time after eating (to throw up)
• Exercising a lot, even in bad weather or when hurt or tired
• Someone with bulimia may show signs of throwing up, such as:
• Swollen cheeks or jaw area
• Calluses or scrapes on knuckles (if using fingers to induce vomiting)
• Teeth that look clear
• Broken blood vessels in the eyes

People with bulimia don't usually lose as much weight as people with anorexia.

Obesity is also a major eating disorder. This one of course is the result of overeating and being unable to rid your body of all the weight. According to the American Obesity Association, the causes of obesity are as follows:

• Physical Activity - Lack of regular exercise.
• Sedentary behavior - High frequency of television viewing, computer usage, and similar behavior that takes up time that can be used for physical activity.
• Socioeconomic Status - Low family incomes and non-working parents.
• Eating Habits - Over-consumption of high-calorie foods. Some eating patterns that have been associated with this behavior are eating when not hungry, eating while watching TV or doing homework.
• Environment - Some factors are over-exposure to advertising of foods that promote high-calorie foods and lack of recreational facilities.

And a non-changeable factor:

• Genetics - Greater risk of obesity has been found in children of obese and overweight parents.

All of these eating disorders have the potential to be fatal and if recognized help should be sought out immediately. For more information on eating disorders, you can contact the following:

http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/causes.shtml

http://familydoctor.org/063.xml

http://www.mentalhealth.org

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org