Eating Disorders

Do you or someone you know have an eating disorder? Eating disorders are not about dieting or vanity. Eating Disorders are serious psychological disorders where an individual's perception of size, weight and food have affected their eating habits in a significant way. Eating disorders can affect the individual's general health and in most severe forms can be life threatening.

Common types of eating disorders include:

• Anorexia Nervosa:  A person intentionally deprives themself of food to stay "thin".  This can reach a point where a person actually starves themself to death.  These people are at least 15% below "ideal weight" and still see themselves as "fat", due to distorted body image. 
  
• Binge-Eating:  Out-of-control episodes of consuming abnormally large amounts of food.  These people continue to eat, even when full.  This can lead to serious psychiatric conditions, as well as present a great health risk.
  
• Compulsive Eating:  These people feel incapable of controlling how much or how often they eat and sometimes eat non-stop throughout the day.  They often choose sugary foods in an attempt to elevate their mood. 
  
• Bulimia Nervosa:  People with this disorder routinely "binge", consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time and then "purge", to get rid of the just eaten food.  These people induce vomiting, take enemas, or abuse laxatives or other medications. These persons may also participate in excessive exercise regimes.
  
• Obesity:  Consequences of obesity can be serious, leading to psychological disorders as well as serious health problems.

If you or someone you know has what you feel is a serious eating disorder, please contact the CAP Center at 5200 for further information or referral to appropriate health professional.