Eating your life away

“After my half-digested food hit the water’s surface and splashed me in the face, I’d wipe off my fingers and start all over again,” says 16-year-old Nicole, an upstate New York high school student who, prior to receiving treatment, fought bulimia nervosa for more than two years.

“At every meal, I’d tell myself that I was going to stop purging, that it was going to be the last time. But when the next meal rolled around, it would go back to the same old thing. I’d wolf down my food and run to the bathroom. The food tasted just the same going down as it did coming back up.”

While dieting is about losing a limited amount of weight and learning to develop healthy habits, eating disorders reflect all aspects of life: stress, anger, fear, acceptance and pain. Although the symptoms and side effects appear to be physical, eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and compulsive overeating, are all mental illnesses.

The price of an eating disorder is one that is not easy to pay. Negative side effects include hair loss, loss of menstrual cycle in women, mood swings, depression, fatigue and low blood pressure, which means shakiness, anxiety and a pervasive itchiness all over the body. Tooth decay may occur from frequent vomiting, as well as additional damage to the esophagus and throat. If binge eating leads to obesity, one’s risk of heart disease and diabetes increases, and an increased risk of cancer occurs.

The side effects of eating disorders are not purely physical. Emotional problems occur as well. The individual may enter a state of extreme paranoia where they constantly worry that others are watching them. Individuals with eating disorders may also suffer from obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors—food rituals may take over their daily activities.

“All I ever thought about was food,” says Nicole. “It was hard to go about my normal activities when all I could think about was getting rid of my food.” Nicole has been admitted to one clinic since she first began her struggle with the disease.

Nicole is not alone. According to Anred.com, 4 percent of college-aged women suffer from bulimia nervosa, while about 1 percent of female adolescents are suffering from anorexia. Though 1 percent may seem to be only a tiny fraction of the population, look at it this way: one out of every 100 young women is starving herself, sometimes even to death. Only about 10 percent of people with eating disorders are male.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders states that approximately 8 million people in the United States, about 3 percent of the population, have anorexia nervosa, bulimia or a related disorder. Without treatment, about 20 percent of those with serious eating disorders die. However, with treatment, that number falls to between 2 and 3 percent.

Nicole, who prior to her disease had been a straight-A student, was forced to spend her summer taking math and science classes, making up for time lost during her sophomore year. “Even when I was still in school, I noticed myself getting sick all the time and missing a lot of classes,” she recalls. “If I was having a ‘bad day,’ I would go in late after getting sick after breakfast. Sometimes I would even skip seventh period biology class because I would eat lunch sixth period. When I came out of the bathroom, my eyes would be watering, my nose would run, and even though I had mints and gum, I couldn’t find a good way to get rid of the smell.”

In order to recover successfully, people with eating disorders need a substantial amount of support from those who love them. Eating disorders can cause feelings of hopelessness and isolation, causing the individual to push others away when they need them the most. It is crucial to be able to read the signs of a disorder.

Strange food behaviors, such as skipping meals, taking only small portions, and immediately departing to the bathroom after eating are all signs of a disorder. People with eating disorders may dress in layers, try to hide their food or eat in secret, and their weight may fluctuate. They may feel depressed and withdraw from social functions that they enjoyed prior to the disease.

Due to the fact that death and other severe consequences are serious threats of eating-related disorders, early detection is key. With proper treatment and support, individuals struggling with their health and identities can strengthen their self-esteem and gain a clearer sense of the beautiful person that they are in both the inside and outside.

If you or someone you know needs help with an eating disorder, please visit www.anred.com, www.anad.org or call (847) 831-3438.

Kathleen Lavin is a junior at West Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y.