The successful treatment for eating disorders hinges entirely on the skill and knowledge of a team of medical professionals: mental health, medical, registered dieticians, and family counselors. Despite the different disorders that afflict more than 5 million Americans each year, the treatment goal is essentially the same for each. Most faulty eating habits result in unhealthy weight loss. But a few cause unhealthy weight gains. Restoring healthy dietary habits and attaining a healthy weight is the goal. There are a dozen or more disorders, but most people are familiar with only a few of them. All disorders are serious health issues which cause both severe emotional and physical harm. Early diagnosis and intervention is critical in stopping the progression of damage to the body and healing the harm already done. Without proper intervention, debilitating injuries or death can occur. Basically, people afflicted with anorexia nervosa, binge-eating, bulimia nervosa, compulsive eating, and pica seek treatment for eating disorders.
Anorexia nervosa affects teenage girls and women in their early twenties. According to a website about anorexia nervosa, the disorder is characterized by a pathological fear of weight gain. This fear leads to excessive weight loss. The disorder will not disappear or go away by itself. A highly structured treatment for eating disorders program and support system is needed to restore health. Currently, there are no medications to treat eating disorders of any type. For the most part, intense therapy combined with education is the only course of action available. Binge-eating is characterized by recurrent periods of consuming large quantities of food, well past the point of being hungry. Compulsive eaters claim they are incapable of controlling the amount of food they eat or how often they eat. According to a medical website, compulsive eaters often over-indulge in sweet foods. People afflicted by bulimia nervosa quickly eat large amounts of food and then purge the food from their systems by self-induced vomiting, enemas, or laxatives. A person who is afflicted by pica craves non-food substances. The craved substances tend to vary with the person's age. Young children and pregnant women appear to be afflicted the most. Depending on the substance ingested serious medical complications can occur.
Primary care physicians, psychiatrists, dieticians, and social workers are the primary members of the team that provides treatment for eating disorders. Each member of the team has individual tasks, methods, and techniques, but they all work together toward one common goal. That goal is to restore a healthy body and clear mind of the person in their care. Psychological counseling helps the patient learn healthy ways to think about food and body image. Medical professionals work to heal health problems that have occurred due to malnutrition, starvation, or obesity. A dietician helps develop healthy dietary patterns. Family therapists strive to educate family members about how proper diet and exercise are essential to achieving optimal health. But God is the most important team member. Seek God's guidance and counsel. Ask a pastor to be part of the recovery plan, and make prayer an integral part of the treatment program. "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)
If any eating disorder is not treated quickly and a person's weight drops to dangerous levels, hospitalization may be required to restore healthy weight and mind function. If health problems have occurred due to obesity, malnutrition or starvation; hospitalization may be the only option. Many websites providing information about treatment for eating disorders suggest that people who are 15 percent or more under what is considered a healthy weight for their age and height will have a difficult time gaining weight without professional assistance. And people who are 25 percent or more under a healthy body weight will require hospitalization to restore health. A typical characteristic of all these disorders is that a person may not even realize there is a problem. The afflicted person's understanding and judgment is distorted. Therefore, intervention by a friend, family member, teacher, or church member is often required before treatment for eating disorders occurs.
Malnutrition and starvation may be the most serious characteristics of eating disorders. Once malnutrition and starvation starts to break down the body, medical treatment is the primary concern of the team providing treatment for eating disorders. One website lists several signs of malnutrition. Obviously, low body weight is one of the primary visible signs. But some symptoms and signals are not easily seen. For example, a malnourished person may have low blood pressure and a slow heart beat. The person may also feel cold all the time and have purplish skin from poor circulation. Dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, and shrunken breasts are signs, too. Stopping or never getting a monthly period is also an indication of malnutrition. Since some of the warning signs are not outwardly visible, concerned family and friends must probe for more information, if a disorder is suspected.
Parents, family, and friends have to be knowledgeable about what to look for and take the initiative to get seek out facilities and medical professionals that offer treatment for eating disorders. Causes of the afflictions vary from person to person. But an overwhelming desire to change body image is the root of the problem. This desire can be influenced by psychological or biological factors. Interpersonal and cultural forces may also play a strong role in the person's thinking. Restricting or excluding certain types of food or being secretive about eating habits is common. Over exercising is a red flag. Vomiting, laxatives and diuretics are potentially dangerous. Vomiting can damage teeth. Laxatives can cause dependency or constipation once they are discontinued. Diuretics can cause dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance. And none really accomplish what the person intends.
Anorexia nervosa affects teenage girls and women in their early twenties. According to a website about anorexia nervosa, the disorder is characterized by a pathological fear of weight gain. This fear leads to excessive weight loss. The disorder will not disappear or go away by itself. A highly structured treatment for eating disorders program and support system is needed to restore health. Currently, there are no medications to treat eating disorders of any type. For the most part, intense therapy combined with education is the only course of action available. Binge-eating is characterized by recurrent periods of consuming large quantities of food, well past the point of being hungry. Compulsive eaters claim they are incapable of controlling the amount of food they eat or how often they eat. According to a medical website, compulsive eaters often over-indulge in sweet foods. People afflicted by bulimia nervosa quickly eat large amounts of food and then purge the food from their systems by self-induced vomiting, enemas, or laxatives. A person who is afflicted by pica craves non-food substances. The craved substances tend to vary with the person's age. Young children and pregnant women appear to be afflicted the most. Depending on the substance ingested serious medical complications can occur.
Primary care physicians, psychiatrists, dieticians, and social workers are the primary members of the team that provides treatment for eating disorders. Each member of the team has individual tasks, methods, and techniques, but they all work together toward one common goal. That goal is to restore a healthy body and clear mind of the person in their care. Psychological counseling helps the patient learn healthy ways to think about food and body image. Medical professionals work to heal health problems that have occurred due to malnutrition, starvation, or obesity. A dietician helps develop healthy dietary patterns. Family therapists strive to educate family members about how proper diet and exercise are essential to achieving optimal health. But God is the most important team member. Seek God's guidance and counsel. Ask a pastor to be part of the recovery plan, and make prayer an integral part of the treatment program. "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)
If any eating disorder is not treated quickly and a person's weight drops to dangerous levels, hospitalization may be required to restore healthy weight and mind function. If health problems have occurred due to obesity, malnutrition or starvation; hospitalization may be the only option. Many websites providing information about treatment for eating disorders suggest that people who are 15 percent or more under what is considered a healthy weight for their age and height will have a difficult time gaining weight without professional assistance. And people who are 25 percent or more under a healthy body weight will require hospitalization to restore health. A typical characteristic of all these disorders is that a person may not even realize there is a problem. The afflicted person's understanding and judgment is distorted. Therefore, intervention by a friend, family member, teacher, or church member is often required before treatment for eating disorders occurs.
Malnutrition and starvation may be the most serious characteristics of eating disorders. Once malnutrition and starvation starts to break down the body, medical treatment is the primary concern of the team providing treatment for eating disorders. One website lists several signs of malnutrition. Obviously, low body weight is one of the primary visible signs. But some symptoms and signals are not easily seen. For example, a malnourished person may have low blood pressure and a slow heart beat. The person may also feel cold all the time and have purplish skin from poor circulation. Dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, and shrunken breasts are signs, too. Stopping or never getting a monthly period is also an indication of malnutrition. Since some of the warning signs are not outwardly visible, concerned family and friends must probe for more information, if a disorder is suspected.
Parents, family, and friends have to be knowledgeable about what to look for and take the initiative to get seek out facilities and medical professionals that offer treatment for eating disorders. Causes of the afflictions vary from person to person. But an overwhelming desire to change body image is the root of the problem. This desire can be influenced by psychological or biological factors. Interpersonal and cultural forces may also play a strong role in the person's thinking. Restricting or excluding certain types of food or being secretive about eating habits is common. Over exercising is a red flag. Vomiting, laxatives and diuretics are potentially dangerous. Vomiting can damage teeth. Laxatives can cause dependency or constipation once they are discontinued. Diuretics can cause dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance. And none really accomplish what the person intends.
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