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It is said that 1.15 million people in Great Britain have an eating disorder, so if you think you are one of these you are not on alone. Many people believe that eating disorders are something that can be easily overcome with a good meal, this is not the case. An eating disorder is like an illness, once it has started it is very hard to cure. It takes a lot of effort and work, not just by the individual who is suffering but by the people around them as well.
An eating disorder can develop because of a number of reasons, the most common are because somebody might be emotionally or psychologically stressed. One the solutions for them to overcome this is to stop eating or eat more, they see it as a way to cope with their problems.
In order for somebody to overcome an eating disorder it is important for them to face the problems which are behind the problem, this could be stress at school through exams or bullying, problems at home or something to do with their social life, what ever it is, it needs to be overcome, this is where the support of friends and family is vital.
The three most recognised types of eating disorder are:
You can click on one either of the three links above to find out more about their effects and the signs to tell if you or somebody you know has an eating disorder. If you think that somebody might be suffering from one of these disorders you can contact Jonny Long Life or visit the Eating Disorder website (click on the link below).
For further advice and information you can visit www.edauk.com, they offer great advice and they also have a section which aims to help young people specifically.
Anorexia
This is the loss of appetite through to an individual being nervous, they loose the ability to satisfy their own appetite. The individual focuses on the food they aren’t eating in an attempt to cope with the other things that are going on in their lives. The intense thinking and control they put into thinking about their body shape can lead to changes in the body which effect the way the brain thinks, making it hard for them to make decisions about eating food.
What are the signs of Anorexia?
Extreme weight loss
Slow rate of weight gain compared to the rest of the bodies growth
Dizzy Spells or fainting
Dry, rough or discoloured skin
Intense fear of gaining weight
Changes in personality/mood swings
If this problem is not overcome it can lead to very serious consequences, in the worst cases people can die, and it tends to be younger people who suffer from Anorexia, your friends! If you think anybody you know might have a problem you can get in touch with Jonny or the Eating Disorder Association (see there website address in this section) or you could get them to get in touch.
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Bulimia
This is an eating disorder which causes the person to binge eat, this enables them to come to terms with emotional problems they have, in order to control their weight they will then bring the food back up by making themselves sick. They will also exercise to make sure that they burn off the calories they have put on and to try and prevent them from gaining weight.
This is a difficult disease to detect in a person, they will not loose weight as quickly as somebody who might be anorexic. It can be so hard to detect that people at school and home may not realise what is happening for years!! People concentrate on their food habits in order to cope with emotional issues in their lives.
It is believed that the majority of people who develop bulimia are in their late teens or early twenties. If you are concerned about somebody in your family or school you can get in touch with Jonny Long Life and we will put you in contact with somebody who can help you.
What are the signs of bulimia?
Frequent weight changes
Going to the toilet after meals to make themselves sick
Tooth decay and sore throats from vomiting.
Irregular periods
Poor skin condition
Urges to eat loads of food in one go
Feelings of depression and low self-esteem
If you think that somebody you know might be suffering from bulimia you can get in touch with Jonny or check out the Eating Disorders Association website for more details.
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Binge Eating
This is similar to bulimia but the difference is that they don’t make themselves sick or do exercise to combat the increased weight loss. They will eat loads of food in order to cope with any emotional problems they are suffering from, this could be a number of things including bullying and stress.
What are the signs of Binge Eating?
Eating much more rapidly than usual
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
Eating alone because of their embarrassment at the quantities of food consumed
Feeling ashamed, depressed or guilty after bingeing If you are worried about anybody you know having an eating disorder you can contact jonny through the message boards or email him directly. Alternatively you can visit the Eating Disorder Associations website, www.edauk.com.
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