2. Causes  It is important to understand that an eating disorder is merely a symptom of an underlying problem. Eating Disorders can have MANY causes, but food is NOT one of them.  A Person’s eating disorder is triggered by one or a number of (often minor) events

3. Initial Causes  The causes or underlying issues are different for every person. It is often a traumatic even that has happened in their life, possibly years before the disorder manifested  Physical violence  Emotional abuse (bullying)  Divorce of parents  Death of a loved one  Peer Pressure to be thin

4. The Trigger  An traumatic event does not mean the person will develop an eating disorder, but may lead to low self-esteem which leads to one  Someone comments negatively about your weight or appearance  Media influence  Pressure to succeed in school  Relationship problems  A friend tells you to purge/starve

5. The Symptoms  The trigger leads to the start of the individuals focus on food and weight  It often starts out as a diet that progressively becomes more and more obsessive  Nobody starts out intending to become eating disordered—it is something that happens gradually over time

6. Anorexia Nervosa SELF-STARVATION  Intense fear of gaining weight, with a refusal to eat  Disturbance of body image  Significant amount of weight loss (at least 15% of normal body weight)  Refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight  No known physical illness that would account for the weight loss

7. Anorexia is usually found in high achievers that are extreme perfectionist in all areas of life  Distorted body image  Intense fear of gaining weight  Feelings of guilt after eating  Is already thin and weight is still dropping  Counts every calorie and every fat gram eaten  Paleness, dizziness, or fainting spells  Intense dramatic mood swings  Excessively and compulsively exercising  Complaints of being hot or cold  Hair loss  High need for control  Wearing loose clothes  Hiding food in napkins  Abuse of laxatives, diet pills  Very poor self-esteem  Never eats around others

8. Medical Complications  Shrunken organs  Kidney disease or failure  Memory loss or disorientation  Fluid imbalances  Deteriorations of muscles (heart)  Irregular heart beat  Bone density loss  DEATH!!

9. Bulimia Nervosa  Episodes of binging and purging  Binge eating accompanies by awareness that the eating pattern is abnormal  Repeated attempts to lose weight through severely restrictive diets, self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, colonics, medications, or excessive exercise

10.  Binge eating and purging occur on average at least 2x weekly for 3 months  Fear of not being able to not stop eating voluntarily  Depressed mood  Self-deprecating thoughts following eating binges

11. Symptoms  Binging and purging  Secretive eating— missing food  Severed self criticism  Feeling guilty after eating  Visits to bathroom after eating  Weight fluctuations  Tooth decay  Preoccupation with food  Constant sore throat  Feel like have no control over food  Avoids eating in public  Broken blood vessels in eyes  Poor impulse control  Excessive and compulsive exercise regimen

12. Compulsive Overeating Binge Eating  A serious condition that is characterized by uncontrolled eating, followed by feelings of guilt and depression.  Often, a compulsive overeater associates food with comfort and uses it to soothe stress or emotional distress.  It may cause a person to continue eating even after (s)he becomes full and can result in serious health problems.

13. Warning Signs  Eats large amounts of food when not hungry  Eats more rapidly than normal  May eat alone  Feels shame or embarrassment from eating  Feels depressed, disgusted or guilty after eating  Weight fluctuates frequently  May use laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight  May purge by fasting, exercising or vomiting  Is preoccupied with body weight  Has mood swings

14. Health Consequences  Nausea  Weight gain  Weight-related hypertension and/or fatigue  Increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer (in obese people