Physical Fitness

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Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is characterized by

(a) an intense and irrational fear of body fat and weight gain even when markedly underweight,

(b) relentless determination to become thinner and thinner, and

(c) a misperception of body weight and shape to the extent of feeling or seeing "fat" even when

emaciated.

 

The symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

 

refusal to maintain normal body weight for age and height

weight at 85% or less than expected for age and height

intense fear of weight gain

distorted body image

in women, loss of three consecutive menstrual periods

denial of the dangers of low weight

Anorexia Athletica (Compulsive Exercising)

Anorexia athletica is not a recognized diagnosis in the same way that anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating

disorder are. However, many people who are preoccupied with food and weight exercise compulsively in

attempts to control weight in a misguided attempt to gain a sense of power, control, and self-respect.

 

Symptoms of anorexia athletica include:

 

exercising beyond the requirements for good health

being fanatical about weight and diet

stealing time from work, school, and relationships to exercise

focusing on challenge and forgetting that physical activity can be fun

defining self-worth in terms of performance

rarely or never being satisfied with athletic achievements

always pushing on to the next challenge

justifying excessive behaviour by defining self as an athlete or insisting that their behaviour is

healthy

Consequences of Anorexia

 

Ironically, most anorectics develop an intense interest in food and a fascination with recipes and cookbooks.

They spend many hours planning menus, buying groceries, and preparing meals for others, yet eat next to

nothing themselves. This preoccupation may grow stronger as the pounds continue to drop off.

 

Stringent dieting leads to muscle and fat loss. The body begins to look like a skeleton, bones protrude, legs

resemble matchsticks, and breasts disappear. Facial muscles tighten because there is no layer of fat beneath

the skin to cushion them.

 

Anorexia can last for many years and cause severe health problems. Besides weight loss and absence of

menstrual periods, the physical consequences of anorexia may include:

 

Anemia

Constipation, digestive discomfort, and abdominal bloating

Dehydration, muscle cramps, and tremors

Dental problems

Downy body hair on the face, back or arms

Dry skin

Dull and brittle hair

Excessively low blood pressure

Icy hands and feet

Irregular heartbeat

 

If anorexia remains untreated, it can be fatal. Some victims literally starve themselves to death or die of

conditions related to their malnourished state. Others commit suicide.

Bulimia Nervosa

 

Bulimia is characterized by self-perpetuating and self-defeating cycles of binge-eating and purging. A

person binges by rapidly consuming a large amount of food (or what s/he perceives to be a large amount)

in a discrete period of time and in an automatic and helpless manner. This may anesthetize hunger, anger,

sadness, and other feelings, but also creates physical discomfort and anxiety about weight gain. The

binge is then followed by attempts to rid the body of the food that was consumed, by engaging in

self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, excessive exercise, skipping meals, or dieting.

All these purging behaviours are harmful and unproductive.

 

Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

 

repeated episodes of bingeing and purging

feeling out of control while eating

purging after a binge (vomiting, using laxatives, diet pills, exercise, meal skipping, or

diuretics to rid body of food)

frequent dieting

belief that self-worth requires being thin, and extreme concern with body weight and shape

person may shoplift or abuse alcohol, drugs, credit cards, sex

weight may be "normal"

 

Consequences of Bulimia

 

Unlike anorectics, most bulimics know that their behavior is abnormal and that their eating binges are not

merely ordinary overeating. They also know that anxiety and depression sometimes trigger their episodes.

However, they are usually unable to break the binge and purge cycle without professional help.

 

If you have bulimia, you're probably fascinated with food. You enjoy reading articles about food, buying

cookbooks, and talking about food and cooking. Food and eating become ways to escape from life's many

stresses.

 

You probably plan well for your binges, hoarding food, buying special treats, and preparing elaborate dishes.

The foods you choose may be those you do not let yourself have at other times because you think they are

"bad" and will make you gain weight. Sweets fit into this category.

 

You are also careful to conceal your illness. You may go to a number of different stores so that your

purchases do not cause attention. Perhaps you tell the checkout clerks that you have a large family or are

planning a party as a way to explain your overflowing shopping cart.

 

During the binge, you may abandon normal table manners and stuff yourself, gulping food as fast as you

can. If you are sure you will not be discovered, you may eat at a more normal pace. By the time you're

finished, you may have consumed 3 to 30 times more than you would normally eat in a day.

 

You probably have a secret place to binge&emdash;perhaps a closet. You have also found ways to vomit without

being discovered; locked bathrooms are a popular choice. Because of your secrecy, you may have been able

to hide your binge and purge episodes from your parents, husband, siblings, or roommates for years.

 

This destructive behavior eventually takes a toll on your body. Physical consequences of bulimia include:

 

Broken blood vessels in the face and bags under the eyes

Dehydration, fainting spells, tremors, and blurred vision

Indigestion, cramps, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas and constipation

Internal bleeding and infections

Laxative dependency and damage to the bowels

Liver and kidney damage

Loss of tooth enamel from repeated vomiting

Suicidal depression

Swollen glands in the neck under the jaw.

Upset of the body's fluid/mineral balance, possibly causing rapid or irregular heartbeats or even a

heart attack

Weight fluctuations from alternating diets and binges

Rupture of the esophagus (upper gastric tract)

 

Though bulimia is not as deadly as anorexia, fatalities do occur.