The LIGHT Center, T-90, College of the Redwoods (476-4290) - January 16, 2000

So how many of us ate way too much great food over the holidays? In North American society, gastronomic indulgence is acceptable during special occasions such as Christmas. Most of us resolve to get back into our more "usual" dietary habits once the holidays conclude. For those individuals with an eating disorder however, the holidays are especially hard. There are psychological, interpersonal and social factors that interact during the holidays that make it very hard for the person with an eating disorder. The factors that can lead to the development of an eating disorder are well documented and include the following:

• Low Self-esteem
• Depression, anxiety
• Loneliness, anger
• History of being teased based on body appearance
• Cultural pressures that value "thinness"
• Troubles with personal relationships
• Possible biochemical abnormalities

While the public is most familiar with Anorexia Nervosa, it is only one of the disorders related to food intake.

For people with anorexia, control is the primary driving factor. When unable to control other happenings in one's life, the person with anorexia is able to control their weight loss. Stepping on the scales each morning reinforces the notion that they are in control. It is generally easier for the person to focus on their eating and weight loss than to focus on the underlying problems facing them in their lives. Perfection is a driving force for these people, and the thinnest body they can achieve is perfection. Approximately 10 - 20% of all sufferers eventually die from complications of the disorder.

Bulimia also serves to block out anxieties or feelings. The person with bulimia will binge, and then rid their body of their intake. The degree of the binge is individual in that it could be an entire dinner for one person, only a candy bar for another. The ridding of the body of the calories can occur through vomiting, laxative abuse, fasting, diet pills or excessive exercising. Individuals with bulimia recognize the presence of a problem, whereas those with anorexia may not.

Compulsive overeating is also a way to block out worries and feelings. The food is used as a way to cope with stress and daily problems. Those with overeating problems tend to feel "out of control". The pattern of abnormal intake usually begins in childhood, with the person failing to develop the more appropriate methods of dealing with stress. This becomes a vicious circle in that the more weight that is gained, the greater the efforts at dieting, the more likely binges become, and the feeling of powerlessness becomes overwhelming.

Comments? mailto:trish-blair@redwoods.edu

Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may go. -- Louise Driscoll

There are a multitude of signs and symptoms associated with these conditions. Below are only a few of them that are commonly observed.

• Noticeable weight loss
• Always being cold
• Muscle weakness
• Obsession with food
• Difficulty eating in public
• Pale complexion

• Food gone missing
• Swollen glands
• Broken blood vessels
• Tooth decay
• Sore throat
• Social avoidance

• Under-eating in public
• Many diets
• Depression
• Fear of not being able to stop eating

Your reaction to someone you suspect has an eating disorder should be measured. Here are some tips.

• Encourage them to get help
• Be patient, recovery takes time
• Listen rather than advise
• Assist them in any way you can
• Remember that eating disorders are more common in college students than in other populations.

• Talk about food and weight
• Force them to eat
• Comment on their weight change or appearance
• Get angry with the sufferer
• Make mealtimes a battleground
• Take on the role of a therapist