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Eating disorders
Eatingdisordersareamentalillness.Theycanaffectwomenandmenofallagegroups,froma rangeofbackgroundsandfromdifferentcultures.Despiteanincreaseintheincidenceand understandingofeatingdisorders,manypeoplelivewiththesedisordersforalongtimewithout treatmentoraclinicaldiagnosis. Femaleadolescentsandyoungwomenaremostcommonlyaffected,butmencanbealsobe affectedbyeatingdisorders.Itisestimatedthatapproximatelyoneinevery100Australian adolescentgirlswilldevelopanorexianervosaandapproximatelyfivein100Australiansdevelop bulimia. Signs and symptoms Somehabitsandbehavioursarecommontopeoplewitheatingdisorders.Theyinclude: Weightlossorweightchange,usuallyduetodieting,butsometimesfromanillnessor stressfulsituation. Preoccupationwithbodyappearanceorweight. Lossordisturbanceofmenstrualperiodsinfemales. Sensitivitytocold. Faintness,dizzinessandfatigue. Increasedmoodchangesandirritability. Socialwithdrawal. Anxietyanddepression. Inabilitytothinkrationallyorconcentrate. Increasedinterestinpreparingfoodforothers. Obsessiverituals,likeonlydrinkingoutofacertaincup. Wearingbaggyclothesorchangesinclothingstyle. Excessiveorfluctuatingexercisepatterns. Avoidanceofsocialsituationsinvolvingfood. Frequentexcusesnottoeat. Disappearanceoflargeamountsoffood. Tripstothebathroomaftermeals. Dieting.

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Dieting,depressionandbodydissatisfactionarethemostcommonriskfactorsfortheonsetofan eatingdisorder. Causes Thereisnosinglecauseofeatingdisorders.Itiscurrentlyagreedthateatingdisordersare multifactorialthatis,social,psychologicalandbiologicalfactorsallplayapart,invarying degrees,fordifferentpeople. Contributingfactorsmayinclude: Social factors Mediaandotherpresentationsoftheidealshapeasslimandfit. Mixedmessagesabouthealthandfastfood. Pressuretoachieveandsucceed. Occupationsorpursuitswithanemphasisonbodyshapeandsizeforexample,modeling orgymnastics.

Psychological factors

Eatingdisorders

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Majorlifechangesoreventssuchasadolescence,relationshipbreakdowns,childbirth,the deathofalovedone,ortheaccumulationofmanyminorstressors. Fearoftheresponsibilitiesofadulthood. Abeliefthatloveisdependentonhighachievement. Poorcommunicationbetweenfamilymembers.

Biological factors Adolescenceanditsassociatedphysicalchanges. Geneticorfamilialfactors.

If you think you have an eating disorder Manypeoplehaveproblemswiththeireating.Ifyoudohaveaneatingdisorder,youhavetheright togethelp.Rememberthatthesedisorderscanbeovercome. Gettingprofessionalhelpandsupportfromothersisimportant.Recoverymaybeslowasyoulearn toapproachfoodinamorepositivewayandunderstandthereasonsforyourbehaviour,butthe effortwillbeworthwhile. Family and friends Parents,siblings,partners,friends,extendedfamily,workcolleaguesandothersoftenexperience manydifferentfeelingsastheylearntocopewiththeeffectsofaneatingdisorderontheperson, andontheirownlives. Thestrainoflivingwithaneatingdisordercancreatetensionsanddivisionswithinafamily.There maybefeelingsofconfusion,grief,anger,guiltandfear. Familyandfriendscanremindtheirlovedonethattheeffortassociatedwithrecoverywillbe worthwhileforeveryone.Themostimportantthingistoshowlove,careandfaithintheperson, andseekadviceattheearliestpossibletime. Somesuggestionsforfamilyandfriendsinclude: Behonestandopenaboutyourconcerns. UseIstatementsratherthanyoustatements.Forexample,Iamconcernedforyou becauseIhavenoticedyouarenotsohappyatthemomentratherthan,Youarenthappy atthemoment. Focusonthepersonsbehaviouralchanges,ratherthantheirweight,foodconsumptionor physicalappearance. Trytotakethefocusofffoodandweight.Thepersonwiththeeatingdisorderisalready likelytobeexcessivelyfocusedonfoodandweightissues. Mealtimesshouldnotbeabattleground.Frustrationsandemotionsneedtobeexpressed butnotatmealtimes,whicharealreadylikelytobedifficult. Dothingsasyouusuallywould.Thepersonwiththeeatingdisorderneedstolearntocoexistwithfoodandotherpeople,ratherthanotherslearningtoco-existwiththeeating disorder.

Treatment and recovery Manydifferentformsoftherapyareavailableanditisimportanttorememberthatdifferent approachesworkfordifferentpeople.Oncetherightapproachisfound,prospectsofrecoveryare excellent.Professionalhelpandsupportfromothersisimportant. Becausethedisordersaffectpeoplephysicallyandmentally,arangeofhealthpractitionersmight beinvolvedintreatmentincludingpsychiatrists,psychologists,doctors,dietitians,socialworkers, nursesanddentists. Where to get help Yourdoctor Yourlocalcommunityhealthcentreoranotherhealthpractitioner TheEatingDisordersFoundationofVictoriaSupport,ReferralandInformationLineTel. (03)98850318or13005502369.30amto5.00pm,MontoFri.

Things to remember

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Thereisnosinglecauseofeatingdisorders. Dieting,depressionandbodydissatisfactionarecommonriskfactorsfortheonsetofan eatingdisorder. Eatingdisorderscanbeovercomewithprofessionalhelpandsupportfromothers.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

EatingDisordersFoundationofVictoria

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

Eatingdisorders

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