over their bodies , sensitive to cold , digestive problems , heart problems , frizzy hair , brittle nails , bloated belly , protruding bones , electrolyte imbalances , low energy , low bone density , and stopped menstrual cycles in women . ( Canopy Cove-Eating Disorders ) Many die from cardiac arrest , unless they get the proper intervention .
Individuals affected by anorexia come from all incomes , ethnic , and social backgrounds . The people most commonly affected are people with a type A personality and in the public ey , such as pastor ’ s family members , exercise instructors , cheerleaders , gymnasts , actors , dancers , wrestlers , or anyone whose weight or appearance is highly emphasized ( Section D-Eating Disorders , 2015 ). People who have been abused sexually , physically , or emotionally sometimes try to take control over their bodies through avoiding food to be thin , to disappear . Rape , incest , and domestic violence victims are commonly treated in eating disorder treatment programs . Victims of body shaming will often try to fend off the attacks by striving to be thin . Many of these unfortunate people see themselves as fat , even though it is painfully obvious they are too thin . The majority of anorexics just want appropriate love and acceptance for who they are .
PURGING FOR PERFEC- TION : BULIMIA NERVOSA
Sarah *, a newspaper reporter , goes to the gym regularly . She is a bit plump and very pretty with great sense of humor . In her 30s , she tries to keep up with the news field , but inside she wonders if she will ever be good enough . Not feeling quite like she will ever measure up to the image she thinks others have of her , she secretly binges on sweets . Sarah easily polishes off a dozen donuts , then immediately heads to the bathroom immediately to throw it up . No one knows what her deep dark secret is behind her persistent desire to be good enough .
Bulimia is an eating disorder of purging what one eats . It may or may not be accompanied by Anorexia or Binge Eating Disorder ( BED ). Bulimics get rid of what they eat , usually after binging on food . Food is the tool driven by a damaged self-image . This person tries to control weight gain through vomiting , laxatives , diuretics , or excessive exercise , commonly called Anorexia Athletica ( Jackelyn Eckern , 2015 ). They hope to find the perfect self , but the damaged emotional lens with which they view themselves threatens their lives . Most bulimics are an average or slightly above average weight , which makes this disorder harder to detect .
The signs of bulimia include : missing food or empty packages , frequent , sudden bathroom trips after meals , smell of vomit after the person leaves the bathroom , eating in secrecy , abuse of weight loss supplements , diuretics , or laxatives , swelling of the mouth from vomiting , blood shot eyes , discoloration of teeth , dehydration and electrolyte imbalance , withdrawal from friends and family . Bulimia victims often struggle with pain from sexual , physical , and emotional abuse .
Many begin this disorder as a result from difficult life transitions . Body shaming and expectations of a thin appearance are also common . This person desperately tries to control life by what he or she eats and purges ( Jackelyn Eckern , 2015 ).
Bulimics are at risk for a number of health issues and death . Cardiac problems and arrhythmia are the most serious concern . They often have chronic acid reflux and erosion of the teeth , throat , and esophagus . Laxative and diuretic abuse cause difficulties with bowel movement and urination . Suicide attempts are more common with this disorder than anorexia and binge eating . This individual is in serious need of help , but may not get it because no one suspects it unless they live with them ( Selah House-Bulimia ).
STUFFING FEELINGS : BINGE EATING
Mark * is a young adult who still lives at home with his mother . His large size of almost 400 pounds is hard to miss . He works out regularly , but struggles to fit on some of the exercise equipment . His legs bow inward at the knees from the weight he carries . He suffers from high blood pressure and high cholesterol even though he is only in his twenties . He feels like no one would want to hire him for a job , going from interview to interview with a reasonable set of skills on his resume . He says potential employers look him over with a disapproving glance . One told him flatly that he was too fat and a liability risk . When he finishes his workouts , he plunges coins