Recently, I was chatting with a woman while waiting for a plane and a young woman crossed in front of us. The woman said, “Wow, she has a body to die for!” The young woman she was referring to was very attractive, but the wording of her statement left me feeling uneasy. I must have frowned because the woman rolled her eyes and stated, “Apparently, you don’t agree.” I apologized for my reaction and explained that I was traveling on business to do educational seminars on Eating Disorders. I went on to express my troubled feelings regarding how even in our language, the importance of outward appearance has led us to lay our very lives on the line.

I shared with the woman how her statement reminded me of a statistic I recently read from the National Institute of Mental Health. They reported the number one leading cause of death among females 15-24 is complications resulting from anorexia and/or bulimia.

I shared a short list of medical complications to include: malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, acid reflux, anemia, dental and gum problems, kidney problems, possible brain shrinkage, heart problems, sleep problems, stunted growth in adolescents, osteoporosis, infertility and death. The woman stated, “That is the short list? I see famous faces all the time who say they have eating disorders and had no idea that the list of medical complications from anorexia and bulimia were so extensive. After all the media attention due to this problem, it should be easy to recognize people with these warning signs, right?” I shared, “It seems that way, but in America’s image obsessed culture, it has become increasingly difficult to identify and treat eating disorders in their early stages when treatment can be most effective. Eating disorders are often not even recognized until behavioral patterns have become entrenched and resistance to change has become very high. In the meantime, the ages of people identified in the onset of an eating disorder are getting younger, and those affected by the negative and deadly consequences are increasing every year.”
”So, what are the warning signs of an eating disorder?” the woman inquired.
“Well, there are a lot of things to watch out for that most might not think about. Weight, food, calories, dieting, and cooking become the number one topic of conversation and a preoccupation for the person. You may notice them beginning to skip meals, take smaller portions, and will try to find a reason not to be hungry. You may also notice that they are becoming disgusted with certain foods. They will be unable to take a compliment and no matter what size they truly are, they will believe they are “too fat.” The woman I was chatting with grabbed my arm and said, “You have got to be kidding! That is me!” We discussed how so many of us have been caught in a scary path of unattainable perfection and are missing the true beauty that lies within each and every one of us. I continued to share the warning signs of poor nutrition of lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, sleep problems, frequent sore throats, complaints of feeling cold all the time, erratic menstrual cycles, bad breath, and poor complexion. I shared a simple assessment used where if someone answers “yes” two or more times, I would recommend they speak with a professional.

The questions include:
• Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
• Have you recently lost more than 15 pounds in a three-month period?
• Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?...

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By Jennifer Craig, LCSW, BCD