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COLUMN BY SUSAN HILL |
PREVIOUS COLUMNSMake Vitamin D When the Sun Shines Vaccinate Our Daughters Against Cancer Artificial Sweeteners—Are They a Sweet Deal—or Not Extremes at Both Ends - Anorexia and Bulimia to Obesity Making sense of Cholesterol's ABCs |
Extremes at Both Ends - Anorexia and Bulimia to Obesity
posted 05/05/2008 | ||||||||||||
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Anorexia is characterized by a distorted perception of body image, preoccupation with foods, calories and weight, excessive exercise and often laxative abuse. There is no such thing as "too thin" for the anorexic. Severe anorexia can cause heart or kidney damage and ultimately death. Bulimia is a disease that involves recurrent episodes where large amounts of food are consumed, then purging or vomiting to get rid of what was eaten. Remorse, guilt and negative thoughts follow. Ultimately, bulimia causes acid reflux, tooth and gum disease, enlarged neck glands and intestinal damage. Both diseases are associated with depression, anxiety, and sometimes substance abuse. Fashion advertising and peer pressures as well as childhood trauma are associated with development of these disorders. There may be a "social contagion" aspect that affects incidence among teens. Recently, several European countries have criminalized activities that promote extreme thinness and excessive dieting, anorexia or other forms of eating disorders. In addition, the fashion industry in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands has initiated several reforms, including banning the use of super-thin models and mannequins. Currently, the typical model is 5'11" tall and weighs 117 pounds with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 16. The new regulation bans the use of models with a BMI of less than 18. |
Body Mass (BMI) is an easy way to know if your weight is healthy. You can quickly calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/ Or if you have a calculator handy: weight in lbs. x 703, divided by height in inches-squared.
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The prevalence of eating disorders in the U.S. and Western countries is estimated at nearly 6 percent of women suffering from anorexia, and another 7 percent with bulimia. In the U.S. alone there are more than 10 million women and one million men affected by these diseases. Many more are involved in binge eating. Teen girls between 15 and 19 are most likely to develop anorexia. Girls and women who diet frequently are twelve times more likely to be binging as well. Men may be affected by these disorders to a lesser degree. However, societal pressures on young males to look muscular and the desire to "bulk up" may lead to bizarre eating patterns, use of questionable or dangerous supplements and steroids or other hazardous drugs.Despite their prevalence, eating disorders rarely make the headlines and there is relatively little funding for research. In 2005, more than 10 million people were afflicted with eating disorders, yet there was only $12 million spent on research. By comparison, 4.5 million people suffered from Alzheimer's disease the same year, yet $647 million dollars was spent on research.Help for people with eating disorders includes nutrition education, medication, and individual, group or family counseling. Contact the National Eating Disorders Association at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org or call their help line at 1.800.931.2237. The National Institute of Mental Health at www.nimh.nih.gov is also an excellent resource. There are local counselors with skills in this area. Get help today for yourself or someone you care about. Susan C. Hill © 2008 To comment on the column, email susan@sanjuanislander.com |
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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