Author
John Nguyen
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Author
John Nguyen
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This week of February 26, through March 1, 2024, is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Eating Disorders are, unfortunately, a relatively common disability. These disorders are also classified as a mental health disability. It is important to learn the symptoms of these disabilities in hope of protecting friends and family that may be quietly suffering through them. You probably heard of Anorexia and Bulimia, but what do these words mean? Knowing the signs may be beneficial to you in the future.
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia, or the full name, anorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder that is characterized by drastic weight loss. A person with anorexia may have almost an obsession with their body image. The person might appear unusually thin and malnourished. Take a look at this chart that shows the main characteristics of anorexia, presented by the DSM-5:
Characteristics of Anorexia
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It’s important to note that anorexia is NOT the same as dieting. With dieting, you are watching your weight while eating healthily. Dieters will also still respect their hunger urges and attempt to eat in order to regain energy. Anorexic individuals, however, will most likely be reducing the amount the calories to almost 0 day by day. Even if the stomach craves nourishment, a person with anorexia will most likely say that they are not hungry, or that they have recently ate.
What is Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia, or the full name, bulimia nervosa, is another eating disorder. This one is characterized by repetitive actions of binge eating, followed by purging, or prolonged periods of fasting. Like with anorexia, bulimia is a mental illness that deals with the fear of weight gain. With bulimia, the individual would have difficulty controlling their hunger urges, causing them to overeat. They would most likely get a feeling of guilt afterwards due to the sudden calorie intake. So, what comes in, must come out. Unfortunately, this is done so forcefully. A bulimic person will forcefully throw up to get rid of the food intake. They may also be seen using laxatives in incorrect situations. Others may suddenly stop eating for a couple days to offset the calorie intake. Here are some more characteristics of bulimia that you may see:
Characteristics of Bulimia
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Something to look for is that a bulimic person may have some scarred, or damaged fingers. This could be from forcing their fingers down their throat to vomit. The stomach acid is strong enough to tear away from the skin if the purging is a repetitive occurrence.
Help for Eating Disorders
So now you know some of the signs and symptoms of a person suffering from an eating disorder, but what should you do if you notice these signs? It’s important to know remedying these issues can take some time. Be there in time of need. Let them know that you care. Everyone could use someone to talk to from time to time. Then, when they feel comfortable, ask them to try therapy. There are multiple types of therapy that can assist in reducing eating disorder symptoms. A common type for eating disorders tends to be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but make sure that the patient talks about their situation to the therapist in order to ensure the most effective treatment plan.
Conclusion
As we go through National Eating Disorder Awareness week, keep in mind individuals who may be exhibiting signs of eating disorders. And if you’re going through an eating disorder, know that you are not alone. Mental illness is a tough challenge to face, but with therapy and other treatment plans, these issues can be resolved.