Women and Eating Issues
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| Eating Issues vs. Eating Disorders
An eating issue develops when people, often women, become so concerned with food and appearance that this preoccupation negatively influences their lives. Eating issues can affect anyone - of any socio-economic status, any race, religion, or sexual orientation. At Rutgers University, a recent survey showed that 1 out of 3 women are at risk for having problems or concerns with eating. Because we recognize that this problem is broader than only clinically diagnosable eating disorders, we use the term eating issues to be more inclusive. Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can occur, yet many more women who may not meet the diagnostic criteria struggle with eating issues as well. Eating issues vary in severity. Clinically diagnosed eating disorders are only the far end of the continuum. Body Image and Self-Esteem Body Image can be defined as how we feel about our bodies and appearance. Many things influence our body image - our friends and lovers, our family and culture, and the media all send out constant messages about how people should look. As a result of this barrage of images, some women feel that they must change to fit these ideals. This need to please others can negatively affect how a woman sees herself. For some women, the ability to conform to society's expectations may become her only measure of self-esteem. This quest to conform coupled with her dissatisfaction with her body can cause a woman to be dissatisfied with her body image, which in turn can lead to the onset of an eating disorder. Signs and Symptoms: What to look out for Below is a list of signs and symptoms that might indicate that someone has an eating issue. Remember that a woman does not need to exhibit any or all of these behaviors to have an eating issue, these are just some of the most common. |
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Signs can include:
- Dramatic fluctuations in body weight over a short period of time
- Preoccupation with weight and body shape
- A distorted body image, feeling obese even if weight is below average
- An inability to maintain a healthy weight level or willingness not to
- Unusual eating habits and/or food rituals
- Restrictive eating over long periods of time
- Excessive eating after feeling full
- Use/abuse of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, exercise, self-induced vomiting, and/or severe caloric restriction.
Physical and psychological effects can include:
- Depression
- Social withdrawal from people and activities, especially if these involve food
- Abuse of alcohol/drugs
- A preoccupation with the eating habits and appearance of others to the point where that might be all that is thought and talked about.
Most eating issues have their roots in psychology.
Often an eating issue is not just a problem, but also an attempted solution to an underlying concern.
How to Help a Friend
If you are concerned that a friend might be suffering from an eating issue, there are things you can do.
- Speak to your friend privately and express your genuine concern.
- Don't confront her with a group of people, all of whom are firing concerns and accusations at her.
- Confront behaviors, not values.
- Allow your friend time to respond.
- Avoid judging her.
- Know some of the resources in your school and your community.
- Let your friend know that you are available for support to help her deal with the situation.
Remember...
You are not trying to make her better, you are trying to make her aware of your concerns about her behavior.
Keep in mind that resources are available for you as well, since this is a stressful time.
Common Eating Issues
Eating disorders are the extreme expression of eating, exercising or body image issues. The most common of these are described below.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is characterized by excessive weight loss through restrictive eating. For many women, this means restricting food intake until they eat very little, if at all. Anorexia is life threatening. Up to 15-20% of anorexics may die as a result of this disorder.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by a binging and purging cycle. Women who are bulimic consume large amounts of calories (5,000-6,000) in a short period of time (1-2 hours). The binge is followed by purging in which the woman vomits, exercises or uses laxatives to rid her body of the food she just consumed.
Binge Eating
Binge eating is similar to bulimia in that large amounts of calories are consumed. However, there is no purge cycle in this disorder. A woman who is a binge eater often eats at night and in secret, is obsessed with food, and often feels exceedingly guilty and shameful.
Compulsive Exercising
Though not technically an eating disorder, compulsive exercising deserves mention. Compulsive exercising is characterized by excessive amounts of time spent exercising in part due to a distorted body image. A person who engages in this type of activity is likely to attempt to control her food intake as well.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
With this disorder, sufferers are overly concerned with defects, either real or imagined, in their appearance to the extent that they spend hours thinking about or looking at their perceived defect and avoid social interaction. Unlike the aforementioned disorders, BDD effects men and women with equal frequency. Though not fatal in and of itself, this disorder can result in severe isolation for the person who suffers from it.
Resources
Missing a few meals here and there isn't necessarily a problem, especially in light of the busy college lifestyle. However if the pattern becomes intentional, obsessive or disruptive, a closer look may be in order.
Treatment works best with early detection. The sooner a woman acknowledges she has a problem and seeks help, the sooner and easier the recovery can be.