Eating Disorders

Eating Disorder is an obsession which distorts a person's image or his body. It affects the overall well being of a person.

Types of eating disorders:
There are basically two different types of eating disorders mainly anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Both these disorders have by and large similar characteristics. They tend to affect girls more than guys. There is no proper reason as to why a person suffers from these disorders. Both these disorders affect young teens between the age group of 14 to 18 years.

Anorexia nervosa:
People suffering from anorexia nervosa are basically thin. They do not eat food and are afraid of gaining weight. They have a mind set of being fat and tend to count the calories of everything before eating. They also take diet pills or water pills to lose weight. People suffering from Anorexia nervosa exercise excessively in an attempt to lose weight. Even though they lose pounds of weight and start looking sick, they still feel that they are fat.

Features of Anorexia nervosa

• They deny the fact that they are hungry.
• They always feel that they are fat.
• They lose weight around 20% below the normal weight.

Bulimia:
Bulimia is another peculiar type of disorder. It is quite similar to Anorexia nervosa. A person suffering from bulimia eats large volume of food at one time and gets rid of it by vomiting or taking laxatives. Bulimia affects young girls and women more than men. Person suffering from bulimia has an unstable weight which might be average or above average. They also take diet pills or water pills in order to lose weight.

Features of Bulimia

• Consumes large amount of food at one go.
• Make excuses to go to bathroom after eating
• They use laxatives to empty the food from their body

Effects of eating disorders
Eating disorders can affect a person in number of ways.

Effects of Anorexia nervosa: People suffering from Anorexia suffer from problems of heart, liver and kidney. If a persons weight is not proportionate to his height his body might slow down causing low blood pressure and also slow down his breathing rate. They will find it difficult to concentrate on work. Inefficient supply of energy to the body can cause hair fall, breaking of nails, severe malnutrition and finally death.

Effects of Bulimia: People suffering from Bulimia have continuous pain in their stomach. Bulimia can also cause problems of kidneys and tooth decay. The constant rate of purging can cause heavy loss of mineral potassium leading to severe heart problems and may be even death.