For millions of people in the US, weight can be an issue that they deal with for most of their lives. They try all of the latest diets that are guaranteed to help them lose weight, often with little to no results. For most people who have weight issues, dieting and exercise is where it ends. But, there are those who have an obsession with their weight, and even if they are so thin that they are unhealthy, they still see themselves as being overweight. This is a psychological problem that can eventually lead to many physical problems.
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are two of the most common eating disorders that we hear about, and they affect thousands of people in the US every year. Most often, those with eating disorders are adolescents and teenagers with self-esteem problems and with the images of super skinny celebrities that bombard them daily on television and in magazines, their issues become even worse.
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa, usually referred to as simply anorexia, is a psychological disorder involving weight loss. In the beginning, most people who have anorexia start out just by dieting to lose a few pounds. Once they have achieved their goals, they realize that this is something that they have control over, and if they feel that there is little in their lives that they do have control over, this to them feels wonderful. Over time, the dieting gets out of control, with many anorexics eating nothing at all if they can get away with it, exercising constantly, and even taking diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, and enemas. Anorexics actually starve themselves, which leads to a number of health problems, including heart disease, which can lead to death. The majority of those who have anorexia are female, but there are still many cases where the patients are male. This is a condition that tends to begin early in life, usually in adolescence or the teen years (about one in every 100 girls have anorexia).
What Is Bulimia?
Bulimia is another serious eating disorder that can cause very serious health problems. People with bulimia are obsessed with eating, and binge. They often eat everything they can get their hands on, usually sugary and high fat foods, and once they have finished, they will induce vomiting to get rid of everything they have eaten. In addition to vomiting, bulimics also use laxatives and diuretics. This is a condition that for many is a lifelong one, and one that if not dealt with, can lead to death. The majority of bulimic cases are teenage females, with a small fraction of cases being male. Some of the physical symptoms of bulimia include tooth decay (stomach acid brought up during the vomiting process will wear away tooth enamel), fatigue, extreme weight loss, bad skin, and for women, irregular periods.
What’s the First Step to Treating Anorexia and Bulimia? Learn About Healthy Eating
Unfortunately, many people with these types of eating disorders never seek treatment for their conditions, and they either get over it themselves, or their health deteriorates without anyone knowing the reason. But, it is possible to successfully treat patients with eating disorders. Of course, there are many steps involved in the treatment of anorexia and bulimia, including psychological treatment, but one of the most important things for a person with these types of eating disorders to do is to learn how they can maintain a healthy weight by following a healthy, well-balanced diet that has all of the nutrients they need to keep their organs, muscles, and even their brains healthy. There are certain things that everyone needs in their diets, and those with anorexia and bulimia are not getting these things, which include the macronutrients carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which are necessary for our survival.
Healthy eating is something that we all need to do, but for those with eating disorders, this can be a real challenge. For those with anorexia, it is going to take much treatment before they can accept that they are getting nutrition into their bodies, and that they are going to gain weight. But, most of the time, it is possible to successfully treat those with eating disorders, and eventually, they will be happy with their healthy diets. In some cases, the conditions are severe, and it takes some time to build up to eating full meals. Basically, with these patients, it’s baby steps all the way, until they are able to enjoy a meal without obsessing about it, and many patients need to be hospitalized, so their eating can be monitored.
Part of the treatment for eating disorders is often done by dietitians or nutritionists. Once the patients have gotten over their fear of gaining weight, and understand that they need to be at a certain weight in order to be healthy, they are given tips on how to continue eating healthy to maintain a healthy body weight. The patients are taught about nutrition, and which foods are good for them, and which ones are not so good. They will learn how to create meal plans for themselves that are healthy and loaded with delicious foods they can enjoy without packing on the pounds, and getting right back to where they started in the first place.
Supplements May Help, Especially in the Beginning
When a person has a severe case of anorexia or bulimia, it is often necessary for them to be hospitalized. And because they are not able to digest very much food at a time, they often need to have dietary supplements given to them, to make sure that they are getting all of the nutrients they need to be healthy. Protein supplements are frequently used, because they not only provide protein, but other vitamins and nutrients, and protein is necessary for healthy muscles, and is a natural source of energy.