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| Anorexia | Bulimia | Compulsive Overeating | Over-exercising |
| Helping a Friend | Building A Better Body Image | Campus Resources & Treatment | Links |
Weigh myself everyday?
Skip at least one meal a day?
Count calories and fat grams every time I eat?
Exercise because I have to, not because I want to?
Am I developing an eating disorder?
At least 5-10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men in the US are struggling with eating disorders.
Eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, however they are usually about much more than food. People with eating disorders use food and the control of food to compensate for feelings and emotions that may seem overwhelming. For some, dieting, bingeing, and purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one’s life. Once started they can create a self-perpetuating cycle of physical and emotional destruction. Think of issues surrounding eating as being on a continuum from healthy eating to disordered eating to full-fledged eating disorders. All eating disorders are serious and require professional help. The sooner people get help the more likely they will recover fully.
Anorexia: Self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The body is denied essential nutrients to function normally so it "slows down" to conserve energy.
- Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level.
- Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat.”
- Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss.
- Loss of menstrual periods.
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa:
- Dramatic weight loss.
- Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
- Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (i.e., no carbohydrates, etc.).
- Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
- Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.”
- Denial of hunger.
- Development of food rituals (i.e., eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
- Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
- Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
- Complaints of feeling cold.
- Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
- In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa: Remember this occurs over time.
- Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
- Loss of menstruation leads to reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
- Muscle loss and weakness.
- Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
- Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
- Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
- Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.
- Eating large quantities of food in short periods of time, often secretly, without regard to feelings of “hunger” or “fullness,” and to the point of feeling “out of control” while eating.
- Following these “binges” with some form of purging or compensatory behavior to make up for the excessive calories taken in: self-induced vomiting, fasting, use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
- Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Warning Signs of Bulimia:
- Evidence of binge-eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
- Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.
- Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
- Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.
- Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
- Discoloration or staining of the teeth.
- Creation of complex lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.
- Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
- In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Bulimia can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles can impact the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ function.
Health Consequences of Bulimia:
- Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death. Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
- Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing. Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
- Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
- Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
- Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.
- Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time often secretly, without regard to feelings of “hunger” or “fullness.”
- Frequent feelings of being “out of control” during binges.
- Eating large quantities of food rapidly, without really tasting the food.
- Eating alone.
- Feelings of shame, disgust, or guilt after a binge.
Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder:
- Eating more rapidly than normal.
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
- Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
- Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is consuming.
- Feeling disgusted, depressed & very guilty after overeating.
- Feeling unable to stop eating voluntarily.
Binge eating disorder often results in some of the health risks associated with clinical obesity.
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels
- Diabetes
- Gallbladder disease
- Exercising to get rid of body fat, cellulite and pounds that goes beyond "healthy" exercising by taking over your life.
- Working out several times per day.
- Beginning to plan your day around this rigid exercise regime.
- Spending more time exercising than with friends.
- May include disordered eating.
Warning Signs of Over-exercising:
- Low body weight.
- Tired and weak.
- Frequent injuries and stress fractures
Health Consequences of Over-exercising:
- dehydration
- stress fracture and osteoporosis
- degenerative arthritis
- amenorrea (loss of menstrual cycle) and reproductive problems
- heart problems.
If you think a friend may have a problem, there are things you can do to help.
Focus On The Positive:
- Learn --- read and check out the National Eating Disorder website www.NationalEatingDisorders.org.
- Express Concern --- Talk about health and happiness rather than eating behaviors.
- Be Patient and Be There --- Listen and care.
- Encourage Your Friend to Seek Professional Help --- Offer to go along.
Avoid The Negative:
- Don't Give Advice --- or nag or criticize or treat them like a child.
- Don't Talk About FOOD, BODY SIZE or WEIGHT --- avoid commenting on how they look.
- Don't Expect Change Overnight --- it takes time and a commitment to change.
Unhappy With The Reflection In The Mirror?
Don't Change Your Body...Change Your Attitude...
- Separate Your Self-Esteem From Your Appearance --- who you are isn't defined by your weight or your thighs. Develop other measures of successes that don't focus on body size.
- Think Critically About Media Images ---- Models represent 1% of the population and they have to go to unrealistic measures to maintain their appearance. Many photos are computer generated using pieces and parts from various women.
- Get Moving --- Use exercise for movement, flexibility, grace, strength and endurance.
- Eat Healthy --- You are in control of the foods you choose to eat. Start with fruits and vegetables. Alter your eating patterns. List your triggers for problem situations. Confront your cravings. Eat for nutrition, not emotion.
- Learn To Cope With Stress --- use relaxation strategies, exercise, yoga, meditation to manage your stress, not using food as a stress management tool.
Treatment and Campus Resources: The exact treatment needs of each individual will vary. It is important for individuals struggling with an eating disorder to find a health professional they trust to help coordinate and oversee their care.
Eating disorders are best treated using a team approach. Members of a team may be a psychologist, physician and a nutritionist.
Campus Resources
If you think you have issues with eating, a concern about a friend or just want information on eating a healthy diet, contact any of these campus resources.
Counseling Center 458-8590
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Christy Barongan, Ph.D.
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James Worth, Ed.D.
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Anne Schroer-Lamont, Ph.D.
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Peer Counselors--- look for their posters around campus with their names and phone numbers
Student Health Center 458-8401
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Jane Horton, M.D.
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David Copeland, M.D.
Office of Health Promotion 458-4501
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Jan Kaufman, M.P.H.
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LIFE Peer Health Educators---educational programming
Dorm Counselors/RA’s
SAMS (Student Athlete Mentors)
These resource people can assist students confront/support a friend, assist in planning special menus/eating within the dining hall, connect students with on-campus medical and counseling services, and locate treatment options outside of campus. In addition, Washington and Lee employs a consulting psychiatrist, Kirk Luder, M.D. (available on a referral basis from the Counseling Center or Student Health Center).
National Eating Disorders Association www.nationaleatingdisorders.org General information about eating disorders and body image concerns, tips for helping a friend avoid or deal with an eating problem, treatment referrals, prevention and educational materials
Anorexia Nervosa and Other Related Eating Disorders www.anred.com ANRED, which merged with the National Eating Disorders Association, still maintains its website. This site provides a wealth of information on eating disorders.
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders www.anad.org Information about eating disorders and how to confront a friend.
Perfect Illusions www.pbs.org/perfectillusions 2003 PBS show about eating disorders and the family. Good info on eating disorders and getting help.
American Dietetics Association www.eatright.org Clicking on Healthy Lifestyle and Knowledge Center will get you to information about eating and an extensive nutrition-reading list.
Food Addicts Anonymous www.foodaddictsanonymous.org This website offers hope for recovery from the despair and shame of food obsession.
Overeaters Anonymous www.overeatersanonymous.org OA is a non-profit international organization that provides volunteer support groups worldwide. Patterned after the Twelve-Step Alcoholics Anonymous program, the OA recovery program addresses physical, emotional and spiritual recovery aspects of compulsive overeating.
Something Fishy www.something-fishy.org This extensive page provides numerous links and lots of information about eating disorders and body image issues.
Anorexia Survival Guide www.anorexiasurvivalguide.com Helpful tips and practical suggestions for parents of a child with an eating disorder. Informative monthly newsletter "Anorexia Survival Guide for Parents" highlights key concerns and coping strategies.
Gürze Books www.bulimia.com Gürze Books publishes and distributes a wide variety of book titles dealing with eating and body image issues. Also information on eating disorders.
Caringonline www.caringonline.com Very comprehensive information with a wide variety of topics.
Eating Disorders: Recovery is Possible www.angelfire.com/oh3/anorexia
Mirror Mirror www.mirror-mirror.org Extensive information and links to other eating disorder websites
Body Cage www.bodycage.com The world of eating disorders powerfully exposed. Mixture of first person accounts, harsh realities and coping strategies.