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Information About Eating
Disorders
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What are eating disorders?
The “central and cardinal feature of the eating disorders is the distorted
attitude toward weight, eating and fatness that breeds the characteristic
fear of fatness.” (Hsu, L.K. G. (1990). Eating disorders: New York: Guilford Press, p.12)
While the characteristics of different eating disorders vary (see below),
disordered eating occurs on a continuum. Even if an individual does not
meet all of the criteria that mental health professionals use to diagnosis
these specific eating disorders, there still may be a problem to be addressed.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA: Essential
features include that the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal
body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant
disturbance in the perception of the shape or size of his or her body.
Women with anorexia nervosa do not have menstrual periods. A
low body weight is maintained either through restricting or through inappropriate
compensatory methods (vomiting, excessive exercise, or the use of laxatives
and/or diuretics).
BULIMIA NERVOSA: Binge eating is followed
by inappropriate compensatory methods to prevent weight gain. In
addition, the self-evaluation of individuals with this disorder is excessively
influenced by body shape and weight.
BINGE-EATING DISORDER:
A loss of control
over eating results in binges, as in bulimia nervosa, but no methods are
used to compensate for the ingestion of the large amount of food is taken.
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What are the warning signs of eating disorders?
(Note: not everyone shows all of these signs)
- Fear or anxiety of getting fat in spite of obvious thinness
- Eating large amounts of food without any obvious weight gain
- Denial of hunger, even though she/he has not eaten
- Fluctuations in weight
- Excuses self from the table immediately following meals or makes other
frequent trips to the bathroom
- Loss of a significant amount of weight (not because of illness)
- Excessive exercise
- Distorted body image (sees self as fat although actually thin)
- Focus on food and cooking, yet rarely eats
- Use of diet pills, laxatives, water pills
- Preoccupation with food, yet rarely eats
- Dresses in ways to mask body (wears layers of clothing or more clothing
than warranted for the weather)
- Absence of or irregular periods in women
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What is the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered
eating?
- 85% of American women are dissatisfied with their weight
- More than 5 million Americans suffer from eating disorders
- 10% of those with eating disorders are males
- 5% of adolescent and young adult women and 1% of men have eating disorders.
- 15% of young women have substantially disordered eating attitudes and
behaviors
- College women 18-22 years have higher rates of bulimia than those females
younger, not in college, or over 21
- Caucasian women are at greater risk for the development of eating disorders
than are women of other ethnic groups.
- Disordered eating among girls/women in certain sports has been found
to be as high as 62% (link to this site for information about Athletes
and Eating Disorders)
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What aspects of the college environment contribute
to the development of eating disorders?
- Belief that appearance is the key to success in attracting potential
dating partners
- Competition among females to gain the attention of the same men
- Access to unlimited amounts of food in dining halls ·
- Fear of the dreaded “freshman 15”
- Academic and financial stress
- Participation in sports where weight and appearance are perceived to
effect success
- Certain majors and career choices which emphasize health and fitness
may reinforce distorted views about eating and weight
- A way of coping with the stress associated with the transition to college
and the expectations of this new environment...or the stress of impending
college graduation and the changes of that transition
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What individual factors contribute to eating disorders?
- High self expectations/perfectionism
- Extreme need for approval
- All or nothing thinking
- Low self-esteem/poor body image
- Pre-existing anxiety or depression
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How can I help a friend, partner, or family member
who is struggling with an eating disorder?
- Plant Seeds, Not Trees - Approaching several times will
likely be needed
- Sharing is Caring - Use “I” statements, not “You” statements
- Blaming is Shaming - Do not blame or demand change
- Be Specific About Your Concerns - Refer to actual behaviors
that you notice, not your analysis or what you suspect
- Focus on Emotions and Health - Emphasizing looks (even if a
compliment) may perpetuate the problem
- Be Calm - If you are angry or frustrated, it’s not the time
to help
Remember.........
- You probably can’t get your friend to STOP the eating disorder behaviors,
but you may get her or him to LISTEN to your concerns
- You probably can’t get your friend to regain CONTROL over him/herself,
but you can make sure that you don’t take control FROM her or him.
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How can I protect myself from becoming a wounded ally of my friend
who suffers from an eating disorder?
If you become so involved with the person who has an eating disorder
that your own needs are not met, you have less to offer that person. If
you begin to experience some of the following signs, it could be an indication
that you need to pull back a little.
- The quality of your days is determined by whether the person you are
supporting has a “good day” or a “bad day.”
- You find yourself not sharing with others the daily challenges and
joys that make up your own life.
- You find yourself “investigating” or “spying”, looking for signs that
your friend, partner, or family member is engaging in eating disordered
behavior.
- You begin to feel increasingly angry and resentful when you are around
the person with an eating disorder.
BEING A SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT, BUT KNOWING YOUR LIMITS
IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT Top of Page
What treatment for those with eating disorders is available on
the NIU campus?
Northern Illinois University has a nationally recognized treatment model
for those with eating disorders and utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach. This team’s philosophy is that individuals with eating disorders
are best served by having caregivers from a variety of disciplines who
can address the psychological, medical, nutritional, and other aspects
of the eating disorder. To this end, students seeking services for
an eating disorder are encouraged to utilize the assistance of the therapist(s),
physician, nutritionist(s), and psychiatrist on the team. Aspects of treatment can be initiated in the
following ways:
- Eating Disorder Assessment and Counseling: Counseling and Student
Development Center, 200 Campus Life Building, 753-1206
- Assessment of the Usefulness of Medication:
Psychiatry, University Health Service, 753-1311
- Medical Assessment and Follow-up: University Health Service,
753-1311
- Nutritional Counseling: University Health Service, 753-1311
In addition, students may seek assistance through residence hall staff
and, and for student athletes, through the Athletic Trainers in Intercollegiate
Athletics, 753-1957.
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Visit the following Web Pages:
National
Eating Disorders Association
Support,
Concern and Resources for Eating Disorders
Eating Disorder
Information
The Renfrew Center
Something Fishy
Eating Disorder Website
Central
Connecticut State University Eating Disorder Website
Mirror
Mirror Eating Disorders Page
National Eating Disorder
Information Center
Boston
University Counseling Center Self-Help Topics (click on topics on the right side of the screen)
Compulsive
Overeating
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 To
take the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), click here.
informational fliers to be used for educational purposes only:
For more information contact:
Kathy Hotelling, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling and Student Development Center
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 753-1209
khotelling@niu.edu
Page last updated on December 23, 2004
Contacting CSDC by E-mail
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