It’s Not About Food by Kim Leatherdale, ATR, LPC

America’s fascination with weight and body image leads to spending over $40 billion dollars a year on the diet industry. It is no surprise eating disorders strike between 7-10 million American women each year. Over 90% of those diagnosed with an eating disorder are women ages 12-25; meaning almost ten percent of young women have an eating disorder. Even more frightening, anorexia has a death rate 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death for females ages 15-24.

With prompt and proper treatment someone with an eating disorder can recover. It is important professionals, friends and family recognize a need for treatment and help someone seek it. In this article I will outline the frequently seen signs and symptoms of the two most common eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa

This is the best known of the eating disorders and involves restriction of calorie intake. The hallmark signs are thinness, continued dieting despite being underweight, expressing fatness even when thin, excessive exercise and/or focus on calories, moving food around plate without eating, losing/thinning hair, feeling cold at normal temperatures, fine hair growth, and dizziness or fainting. Often the physical symptoms are seen by medical professionals first, leading to treatment.

Bulimia nervosa

This is less recognized because the sufferer is often of normal body weight or even slightly overweight. Bulimia involves binging on food and eliminating the calories by vomiting, fasting, exercising, laxative / diuretic / enema use, and/or drug use. Signs to watch for include: emotional eating, shame about eating, obsession about weight and frequent weight fluctuations, using the bathroom frequently after meals, feels out of control and/or depressed, swollen glands in neck, scratches on back of hands, and dental problems.

Friends and family (even professionals) often avoid or minimize the topic, but a person suffering with an eating disorder needs help. Following are some things to do and to avoid when trying to help your loved one:

1. Tell them you want to help in a concerned and sincere manner

2. Help them seek professional help as soon as possible- the quicker the treatment the better the results

3. Know the resources available- therapist, psychiatrist, medical doctor, dietician

4. Get educated about eating disorders

5. Be prepared to hear a denial and respond by expressing concern over what you’ve observed

6. Be patient

7. Watch for physical or mental health issues

8. Refuse to get into a battle of wills

9. Be aware of your own perceptions and prejudices about weight

10. Encourage him/her to talk

11. Understand it’s usually not about food

12. Realize this is real to them and it is a form of coping

13. Compliment on attributes rather than looks (happy, kind, accomplishments, etc.)

14. Get support for yourself and tell someone

15. Encourage a wellness lifestyle focused on the whole person (not diets)

16. Don’t try to solve the problem or cure them

17. Don’t try to get them to eat or gain weight

18. Don’t give simplistic solutions like “if you’d just eat everything would be alright”

19. Don’t comment on appearance (yours, others, or theirs)

20. Don’t talk weight, dieting, nutrition, or refer to food as “good”/“bad”

21. Don’t analyze behaviors

22. Don’t agree to keep the eating disorder a secret

23. Don’t equate thinness with happiness

24. Don’t look for “The” answer or cause of the illness

Remember, you cannot compel someone to seek help, change habits, or adjust attitudes. You help by identifying and sharing concerns, providing support, and knowing where to get information.

If you suspect someone is suffering from an eating disorder, encourage them to seek help from a knowledgeable professional. One place to find professionals with treatment experience is the National Eating Disorders Association; their website is www.edap.org. Some states have organizations as well listing therapist in the state; for example, the Eating Disorders Association of New Jersey, www.edanj.org. This particular state organization has multiple support groups available for both sufferers and family/friends.

Copyright 2007 Kim Leatherdale, ATR, LPC. Kim is a licensed professional counselor with a practice in Pluckemin, NJ. If you have any questions for her, please e-mail her at arttherapy@oneimage.com or call her office at 908-256-4779.