Eating Disorders – signs and symptoms

Eating Disorders are about attempting to control your life and emotions through food/lack of food. It is important to remember that most Eating Disorders, though their signs and symptoms may be different, share a great number of common causes and emotional aspects.

Warning Signs of Eating Disorders

Eating disorder is a medical problem and should be treated immediately. It is normal that some people especially teenagers tend to go for dieting. Do not misjudge this as an eating disorder. There are prominent symptoms to identify eating disorders.

The symptoms of anorexia include:

* Body weight loss of 15% below the normal weight.

* Constant dieting irrespective of being thin.

* Feeling fat even after gaining the required size.

* Fear of weight gain.

* Loosing menstrual periods.

* Eating in isolation.

* Compulsive exercising.

* Insomnia, brittle hair or nails.

* Mental depression and social withdrawal.

The warning signs of bulimia include:

* Constant eating and purging.

* Frequent use of the toilets after meals.

* Swollen cheeks or glands, reddened finger due to induced vomiting.

* Over conscious on body weight

* Mental depression.

* Irregular menstrual periods

* Dental problems, such as tooth decay.

When You Suspect an Eating Disorder

A person suffering from eating disorders should be subjected to medical examination as soon as possible. They may show resistance and violence when confronted for the first time. They cannot accept the logic behind treatment for a disease they don’t feel to have, according to them they are only dieting to reduce weight. A calm and affectionate approach is required to convince them. If the person resists further, contact a pediatrician or psychologist for other solutions.

Treating Eating Disorders

Treating eating disorder involves medical supervision, nutritional counseling and therapy. This helps the person to regain normal eating habits. Severely starved people may have to be hospitalized. The treatment makes the person aware of healthy food and exercises that can help to maintain his body scientifically.

Preventing Eating Disorders

The approach to food and nutrition is an important factor in the development of healthy eating habits. Always give importance to health, rather than controlling weight.

Parents are responsible for feeding children to make them reach a state of fatness. After that they will either become anxious or the child becomes self conscious and turns to unhealthily eating habits leading to eating disorders.