Unhealthy, skinny celebs are everywhere - aren't they?! For many of us when we look at these skeletal stars we start thinking that we would be more successful, happier and beautiful than we already are if we had that shape of body too. It is fair to say that nearly all of us have tried to loose weight to improve our looks - cutting back on the biccys and/or going out for a jog! - but this normally doesn't stop us living our lives as normal.
Sometimes however a person's misshapen image of themselves, and other hidden emotional & psychological problems, can lead them to living a desperately unhappy life because how much & what they eat rules their life.
An eating disorder is not attention seeking.
An eating disorder is a mental illness which develops because of inner emotional (or psychological) problems. What we eat & how much can help us cope with the times that we feel unhappy, stressed, or worried.
Anyone can develop an eating disorder.
There are three main types of eating disorders:
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- Binge Eating
What do these mean?
Anorexia
Being anorexic means that you strictly control the amount that you eat or drink. Often, when anorexic you will starve yourself to an extremely unhealthy, low weight.
Short Term Effects of Anorexia
- Extreme weight loss
- Dizzy spells & feeling faint
- Feeling cold.
- Poor blood circulation
- Constipation and/or abdominal pains
- Periods may stop
- Loss of interest in sex
Long Term Effects of Anorexia
- Women with anorexia tend to have more difficulties when they are trying to become pregnant.
- May develop brittle bones disease
Bulimia
Being bulimic means that after a stretch of not eating much you would eat a lot of food in a short period of time. After this you might begin to feel guilty about the amount you've eaten so will then vomit or take laxatives to get what you have eaten out of your body.
Short Term Effects of Bulimia
- With bulimia you weight will frequently change
- You may get a sore throat, tooth decay & bad breath because of vomitting so often
- Irregular periods
- Loss of interest in sex
- Tiredness
Long Term Effects of Bulimia
- Bulimia can increase your risk or heart problems
- Abuse of laxatives can lead to serious bowl problems
Binge Eating
Binge eating is similar to bulimia in that you eat a large amount of food quickly, to the point you feel uncomfortably full. The difference with binge eating is that you don't rid yourself of the food, through vomitting or the use of laxatives, afterwards.
The Effect of Binge Eating
- Many people who binge eat become obese which leads to problems with blood pressure, heart disease and general lack of fitness.
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