Eating Disorders

A. Eating Disorders
1. Anorexia
Anorexia is one of the two main eating disorders. According to The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland “anorexia is characterised by the deliberate refusal to eat enough to maintain a normal body weight. As a result, both the body and the mind are starved of the nutrients needed for healthy, balanced functioning”. People that suffers from anorexia live theirlives in a constant fight with weight loss. They live in the knife edge. They cannot look at themselves in the mirror, fearing they will have to face a fat image. But their mind play games with them, their perception of their body is completely disturbed. They follow strict diets, and do whatever it takes to lose weight, as abusing of laxatives and diuretics, or doing excessive exercise. Peoplewith anorexia believe, even if they are emaciated, that they are fat, and their main fear is having, what is in fact, a healthy normal weight.

Anorexia is most commonly among teenagers. Statistics from The Royal College of Psychiatrist place that “about one in a hundred sixteen to eighteen year old girl has the illness”. The main symptoms, both physical and psychological, derived from anorexia,and according to The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, are:
“Physical sings and symptoms: Increased sensitivity to cold; poor circulation; bloating of stomach, fluid retention; constipation and abdominal pain; restlessness, inability to settle; difficulty sleeping, tiredness; dry, thinning hair; dry, discoloured skin; growth of fine, downy hair on the face and body resulting from the body'seffort to keep warm; loss of period; decreased interest in sex.
Psychological sings and symptoms: Low self-esteem; irritability and mood swings; difficulty resolving conflict; social isolation; difficulty coping with change and frustration; inflexible thinking; depression; obsessive and compulsive behaviour.”
We should take into account that as both a mental and physical disease, in anorexia, asin all eating disorders, the emotional factor underlying the physical symptoms must be taken into account for a long-term recovery.

According to The Royal College of Psychiatrists “About four out of ten people with fully established anorexia make a full recovery, and others improve. Only about three in ten continue to have major long-term illness. Untreated, about 15% of all sufferers will diefrom the disorder within twenty years of its onset” But according to Eating Disorder Help, in United States, “Anorexia statistics show that with treatment, only 60% make a full recovery. About 20% make a partial recovery, and the final 20% stay dangerously underweight.” Though it has to be taken into account that “20% of people with anorexia who do not get treated will die. About 80% of those whodo get treatment do not get enough of it, because otherwise they leave against medical advise, or their health insure coverage may refuse to pay further treatment.”

2. Bulimia
Bulimia is the other one of these two main eating disorders. According to The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland “Bulimia is characterised by repeated episodes of binge-eating followed by behaviour aimed atcompensating for the out of control eating”. People that suffer this illness consume large amounts of food in short amounts of time, and afterwards they try to “purge” themselves, get rid of it, by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, or doing exercise, they have to get it out of their bodies. Sufferers are, as well those who suffer from anorexia, very afraid of gaining weight.

This disease usuallybegins with a diet, but the preoccupation with food and weight can became obsessive, then they begin to feel out and control and soon they will find themselves locked into a compulsive cycle of eating and purging. It can also develops after a period of anorexia. The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland has established the next symptoms:
“Physical sings and symptoms: Frequent changes in weight;...