This article was originally published in March of 2010, The Spectator

This past February was the month when the National Eating Disorders Association had a week committed to raising awareness about the dangers surrounding eating disorders as well as the need for early intervention and treatment. The association wanted to inform as many people as possible about how serious an eating disorder can be. In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with body image which leads to an eating disorder that can have life threatening and life limiting consequences. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and a condition known as compulsive overeating. People who are suffering with these disorders have extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.

According to Husson University’s head nurse Connie Potvin anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation. It is a serious life-threatening eating disorder where the individual’s perception of their body is distorted. A prime example of this is when a person is on the borderline of being emaciated, yet they see “fatness” when looking in the mirror. The symptoms of anorexia nervosa include refusal to maintain body weight at or above a normal weight for one’s height, an intense fear of weight gain or being “fat” and extreme concern with body weight and shape. The other affects of this disorder include loss of menstrual periods and the development of a condition know as Lanugo, where the body will grow little hairs which act as a form of insulation due to the loss of essential fat deposits.

Bulimia nervosa is also a very serious condition. This affliction is described as a cycle of binge eating followed by purging. The symptoms of this illness include feeling out of control during a binge, eating beyond a sense of comfortable fullness, and purging after a binge that is typically self-induced by using laxatives, diet pills or fasting. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are characterized by attempts to exert excessive control over one’s own body.

Binge Eating Disorder also known as Compulsive Overeating manifests itself in periods of impulsive gorging beyond the state of fullness. While there is no purging in this condition, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive dieting along with the development of a deep feeling of shame or self-hatred. The majority of time, these disorders are masking the true feelings of pain inside a person such as loneliness, anxiety, depression and feelings of inadequacy. Our culture doesn’t help the situation because it is constantly portraying beauty as being thin.

If any of these behaviors seem too familiar in someone you care about, there are ways to help. First, educate yourself about these eating disorders; it will help you understand what your friend is going through. In addition, it is important to sit with them and express your concerns in a loving and supportive way. Second, be a healthy role model with regard to sensible eating, exercise and self-acceptance. Third, don’t put yourself down or make jokes about your size or anyone else’s, this will only make the victim feel worse. Fourth, don’t wait until the situation gets out of control and your friend’s life is in danger. Most importantly, you need to support and understand the person as much as possible. You can always stop by the Counseling Center or the Student Health Center here on campus to get more information or support. In addition, right here in Bangor, the Acadia Hospital holds weekly meetings every Wednesday from 6-7 pm in the Osprey Room for individuals to receive support for their eating disorders. The only requirement to participate is a desire to recover.

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