Anorexia and Bulimia are chronic, progressive, and can be deadly diseases. Anorexia alone has the highest mortality rate among mental illnesses. To make matters worse, the disease is very secretive and most of the signs aren't too noticeable to the uneducated parent or loved one.
Typical Signs
-never viewing body weight as 'acceptable' or 'ok'
-continuously dieting
-a distorted perception of their weight
-a distorted or exaggerated perception of one's body shape
-feeling over weight in spite of dramatic weight loss
-wearing baggy clothes
-irritable when not using excessive exercise
-cutting food up into tiny pieces or other odd eating habits
-pretending to eat
-not eating around others with regularity or
-ordering only salad or non nutritional foods
-purging: orally or using laxatives or excessive exercise or any combination thereof.
-going to the bathroom frequently after eating
-mounting anxieties
Common Symptoms
-loss of bone density
-thinning of hair
-brittle nails
-sunken cheeks or 'gaunt' in the face
-low blood pressure
-low heart rate
-low potassium levels
-low magnesium levels
-electrolyte imbalance
-heart failure
-stomach ulcer
-dizziness
-depression
If you or someone you know might be suffering from anorexia or bulimia, please seek help immediately. Sometimes a doctor who specializes in eating disorders can be difficult to find so it is advised that you seek help from and eating disorder therapist or nutritionist or dietitian right away. They can then refer you or your loved one to the proper medical professionals. Eating Disorders can be and are all too often deadly. If you suspect that someone you know and love has any eating disorder, get them to a nutritionist/dietitian or doctor right away.
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