University
of Washington
Counseling Center
Eating Concerns
CC
Home
Calendar of
Events
Online
Mental Health Screening
Personal
Counseling
Career Counseling
Study-Skills
Light Therapy for
S.A.D.
Biofeedback/Neurofeedback
Training
Resource
Brochures
Pre-doctoral
Internship Program
Practicum
Counselor Program
|
Do you:
-
feel
that others pressure you to be thin?
-
feel guilty
about what you eat?
-
feel that
your weight is one of the only things you can control?
-
feel you've
become isolated from family and friends?
-
prefer
to eat alone?
-
use food
as a comfort?
-
consume
large amounts of food in a brief amount of time?
-
feel fat
despite others telling you that you're not?
-
ever exercise
excessively?
-
ever induce
vomiting after eating or drinking?
-
count
all the hidden calories or grams of fat in each bite of food?
-
often
feel depressed and unhappy with yourself?
-
diet excessively?
-
use laxatives,
diet pills, or diuretics each week?
-
weigh
yourself several times each day?
-
eat when
you're lonely, anxious, depressed, or nervous?
-
think
that you might have an eating disorder?
If
you answered yes to several of these questions, you may have an eating
disorder. An eating disorder is not just about eating,
body
weight, and dieting; it is much more than that. It often begins as a
way to control weight and just gets out of control. Please remember
that an
eating disorder is something that can be treated with therapy and hard
work. You can heal! |
Some
definitions:
Eating
disorders may be divided into two categories: anorexia and
bulimia.
Anorexia
is usually defined as willful starvation--deliberate and obsessive
starvation
in the pursuit of thinness.
Bulimia
is usually defined as a craving for food which often results in
overeating
followed by purging--either by vomiting, laxatives, or exercise.
Although
most people who suffer from eating disorders are female, males also may
become bulimic or anorexic. Some people also exhibit a
combination of the symptoms of these disorders.
Who's
at Risk?
-
females,
especially those in traditionally masculine roles
-
certain
subcultures where weight is restricted--runners, dancers, wrestlers,
etc.
-
someone
with early physical development, particularly women
-
someone
who was overweight in childhood
-
someone
who needs social approval
-
someone
who has difficulty asserting needs in a direct manner
-
someone
with poor impulse control
-
someone
with a family history of substance abuse
-
someone
who has been sexually abused
-
someone
who engages in prolonged dieting
-
someone
with a high need for control
-
someone
with an obsessive need for perfection
Symptoms:
Many of the
symptoms
of eating disorders are similar; however, each disorder is somewhat
different.
If someone is anorexic, you might expect to see: an extremely thin
person;
an over-achiever; a perfectionist; an isolated individual; loneliness;
black-white thinking; an obsessive preoccupation with food--obtaining,
cooking, and eating; all-encompassing fatigue; extreme sensitivity to
cold; compulsive exercise; distorted body image; and lack of menstrual
period. If someone is bulimic, you might expect to see: the use of food
as a comforter; laxative or diuretic abuse; heart palpitations; mood
swings;
constant concern about body image and weight; quick trips to the
bathroom
after meals; dualistic thinking; excessive exercise; some isolation;
low
self-esteem; and average body weight.
Health
Risks:
Both
forms
of eating disorders are dangerous to good health and can cause major
problems,
both now and in the future. Some of the immediate physical complaints
include
constantly feeling cold, bloodshot eyes with dark circles, finger
calluses,
dizziness, weakness, lackluster hair, moodiness, insomnia, irregular
menstruation,
swollen glands, weight loss, sore throat, or dry skin. Some of the
long-term
effects include extreme weight loss, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea
and/or
constipation, malnutrition, loss of tooth enamel, metabolism
disruption,
heart attack, electrolyte imbalance, permanent damage to internal
organs,
kidney failure, and death.
How
to help...
If you
suspect that a friend has an eating disorder, please remember that help
is available at the Counseling Center. The following suggestions
may also help you to help your friend.
DON'T:
-
tell
her
she's crazy
-
blame
her
-
gossip
about her
-
follow
her around to check her eating or purging behavior
-
ignore
her
-
reject
her
-
tell
her
to quit this behavior
-
feel
you
need to solve her problem
DO:
-
listen
with understanding
-
appreciate
her openness and the risk she took to share
-
support
her and be available
-
give
her
hope
-
gently
suggest counseling
- offer
to accompany her to the first counseling appointement
Resources:
Campus
Resources
401
Schmitz
Hall, Box 355830
(206)
543-1240
(short-term therapy and outreach presentations)
East
Stevens
Circle, 3rd Floor
(206)
543-5030
(individual and group therapy)
Local
Resources
Eating
Disorders Northwest
Children's
Hospital
(206)
587-2377
National
Eating Disorders Northwest
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 382-3587 ext. 18
(800) 931-2237
Renfro
Center Referral Line
(800) 736-3739
Additional
Resources
© 2005 UW Counseling
Center