Eating disorders

            
            
             Eating disorders are actually the symptoms of the problems in a .
             People with eating disorders can use eating, purging or .
             restricting to deal with their problems. People with eating disorders have, low .
             self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, .
             identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope .
             with emotions. .
             .
             At least 2 million female Americans have a clinically relevant eating .
             disorder. Between 10 - 20 percent of anorexia and bulimia survivors are male. .
             More children under the age of twelve are developing eating disorders. It is .
             estimated that 40% of nine year olds have already began dieting. There are .
             even some four and five year olds expressing the need to diet. There are three .
             different types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and .
             compulsive overeating. .
             .
             Anorexia nervosa is when men and women, mostly women, want to be .
             thin and are afraid of becoming obese. They consider themselves to be fat, .
             no matter what they might weigh. Anorexics do not recognize that they are .
             underweight. They try to avoid food and taking in calories. They have a low .
             self-esteem and they deny that anything is wrong. .
             Bulimia nervosa is when people binge and purge their food. They want .
             to rid their body of unwanted calories. They eat a lot of food and then purge .
             it. Purging usually involves vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, .
             enemas, ipecac, diets, fasting, chew-spitting, and a lot of exercising. They .
             use food as a source of comfort. They feel that it will block their feelings. .
             Bulimics, unlike anorexics, do realize that they have a problem and are more .
             likely to go seek help. .
             Compulsive overeating is when people overeat and gain a lot of weight. .
             There are more male overeaters than female. They use food as a way to cope .
             with their feelings and emotions. Often compulsive overeaters binge. They .
             will eat normally in front of others and then make up for it by eating less, .