Lisa was 23 when she stopped eating. At 5'3 she was already a slim 117 pounds, but months later she was barely 100 pounds. She had started to believe food was the enemy.

Her breakfast consisted of an apple or a handful of strawberries. Her lunch consisted of a baked potato the size of her palm. Her dinner was non-existent. She consumed countless cups of coffee and worked out with any energy she had left.

Days came where she decided not to eat altogether. She had dizzy spells, and was very short tempered toward her family and friends. She continually made mistakes at work...

All this time she had no idea why she felt this way. Instead, she drank more coffee to try and remedy the dizziness and stop her stomach from "growling". It wasn't until a visit from her father that her eating habits took its toll, and caused Lisa to collapse in front of him. Since he lived out of town he had no idea of Lisa's condition, and furthermore, was very upset that none of her family members had done anything about it. Thing is, they did try. Her mother tried to talk to her. She told Lisa she thought she had a problem, but Lisa would only retaliate in anger by denying any sort of thing.

I spoke to John Rhone, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and asked his thoughts on the matter of eating disorders. "Generally speaking, many people with an eating disorder are in denial that they have any kind of problem. Their denial often stems from such clinical issues as low self-esteem, a desperate need to be loved, living with a highly demanding perfectionist and critical parent or family, or some other unidentifiable reason.

"Eating disorders such as Bulimia and/or anorexia are both life-threatening. Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binge eating, followed by purging, while anorexia is an all-consuming pursuit of thinness, resulting in self-imposed starvation. It has been my experience that the treatment of such disorders requires constant medical attention, as well as a psychological plan to assist the individual in achieving a more normal and healthy way of life. Occasionally hospitalization is necessary, in conjunction with individual psychotherapy (which may include hypnosis), as well as group psychotherapy."¹

Lisa was indeed in denial. It seemed that, once her father took the reins, she finally, reluctantly went to her doctor. After taking an EKG (a diagnostic test that analyzes the electrical activity of the heart), the first words out of her doctor's mouth was "Karen Carpenter".² Not only did Lisa's starvation affect her heart, but it affected her internal organs as well. Her pituitary gland had gone awry, giving her the symptoms of menopause. That would explain the lack of her menstrual cycle for the past few months, which also affected her chances of having children. Her pancreas also went off-kilter, causing her to become hypoglycemic.

It is what Lisa calls "the curse". "Here is a girl who believed food was the enemy, and now is forced to eat all the time". In addition, the lack of food in Lisa's body also meant lack of oxygen to the brain. This explained her constant dizziness, changing moods and, most importantly, her memory. Before the eating disorder, Lisa was intellectual, creative, spiritual and had an incredible imagination for writing. Afterward her short-term memory was almost non-existent. Her doctor then recommended and referred her to a nutritionist and a therapist.

What caused the eating disorder?

With many girls it seems the media is to blame. Lisa was one of those girls who started to feel self-conscious about her figure, even though she was already in good shape. The ultra-thin women on TV intimidated her. It didn't help that her boyfriend at the time was having his own weight issues, and made her feel she was the one who had the problem.

She began to have self-doubts when she looked in the mirror, and wondered if she "measured up". To this day Lisa still has self-doubt and compares herself to other women in the media. "I remember watching an episode of Desperate Housewives. Eva Longoria's character was a size double zero. I didn't even know there was such a size! I felt more self-conscious than ever about being size 4!"

I had the opportunity to speak with former Game Show Network co-host and model Stacey Hayes about the media's impact on self-image and self esteem. "I feel the recent trend in young Hollywood, in particular, to be very disturbing. Many young actresses are falling prey to the unhealthy trend of being a size 0 or even a 00, no matter what the cost to their health.

"There is no doubt that being in the public eye creates pressure to look good on every level, but for me I am much more concerned with being healthy than being super skinny. I eat whatever I want (yes, I was blessed with a very fast metabolism), but with that said I maintain a 5-day-a-week exercise regimen (hiking, walking on the beach, treadmill), regardless of how busy I am, mainly because working out makes me feel good, releases stress and I believe keeps me in a state of good health. I am a 7-day-a-week wheat grass drinker, non-smoker and a life-long vegetarian."

Jorge Jimenez, a father of three, also gave his opinion about the media's impact on the younger generation. "It is important for parents to know what their children see is superficial � they think that these images are "perfect kids". In reality everyone is different. Child actors have to lose so much weight before a show. Jeez, let kids be kids."

Yahoo! News recently had an article about looking thinner in photos. The author, Gina Hughes, quotes a celebrity photographer, who mentions it is all about lighting and getting the right angle when walking down that red carpet. Hughes' response: "You're beautiful. Embrace every bit of yourself. Ten years from now, those "extra" pounds are not going to matter. What will matter is that a special moment with your friends and family was captured on film."

Producer Mark DeMucha mirrors these sentiments. "My view is that eating disorders, as a general rule, are merely symptoms of a larger, more deeply rooted problem. Treating an eating disorder as a standalone condition is, in my opinion, doomed to fail, as it does not cut to the root of the real problem. I have a friend who suffered from a variety of 'eating disorders'.

"Skinny as a rail she was, but always trying to purge and starve her self. After nearly killing herself on multiple occasions she finally had herself admitted to a facility. The root of the problem was a sense of lost control, a sense of worthlessness. All of these things were born out of a traumatic childhood. Once tuned into the real source of her pain she learned that she was really OK. She will never be 'Normal' as they say; but at least she can now recognize where a lot of hurt, pain and shame comes from. That has given her enough of an edge to fight to stay alive."

What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?

Anorexia/Bulimia:

• Dramatic weight loss in a relatively short period of time.
• Obsession with weight and complaining of weight problems (even if "average" weight or thin).
• Obsession with continuous exercise.
• Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately following meals (sometimes accompanied with water running in the bathroom for a long period of time to hide the sound of vomiting).
• Visible food restriction and self-starvation.
• Visible binging and/or purging.
• Use/hiding use of diet pills, laxatives, ipecac syrup (can cause immediate death!) or enemas.
• Isolation. Fear of eating around/with others.
• {mosgoogle right}Unusual food rituals, such as shifting the food around on the plate to look eaten; cutting food into tiny pieces; making sure the fork avoids contact with the lips (using teeth to scrap food off the fork or spoon); chewing food and spitting it out, but not swallowing; dropping food into napkin on lap to later throw away.
• Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to avoid eating (Anorexia) or to eat at a later time (Bulimia).
• Flushing uneaten food down the toilet (can cause sewage problems).
• Vague or secretive eating patterns.
• Hair loss. Pale or "grey" appearance to the skin.
• Dizziness and headaches.
• Frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands.
• Low self-esteem. Feeling worthless. Often putting themselves down and complaining of being "too stupid" or "too fat" and saying they don't matter. Need for acceptance and approval from others.
• Complaints of often feeling cold.
• Loss of menstrual cycle.
• Constipation or incontinence.
• Bruised or calluses knuckles; bloodshot or bleeding in the eyes; light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks.
• Perfectionist personality.
• Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
• Mood swings. Depression. Fatigue.
• Insomnia. Poor sleeping habits

What are the treatments?

As noted earlier, therapy is usually the first step to find the root of the problem. Depending on the severity of the disorder, an individual may attend one on one counseling or, if needed, attend a rehabilitation center. The eating disorder didn't happen overnight, so it is not expected to heal overnight. A list of resources can be found at the end of this article.

A note of caution - be aware of how severe the eating disorder is, and of the person's mental state. In one case, a young girl in group therapy was very disturbed, and instead of helping her heal, the group attendance only helped her learn new ways of losing weight. She began taking six diet pills a day, without her doctor's knowledge. She died of heart failure later that week.

What are some of the dos and don'ts when a loved one is recovering?

This question is directed to the family and friends of a loved one with an eating disorder. It is not something you will find on the Internet or in a book. It comes directly from someone with experience. Lisa remembers having a very hard time trying to eat again. Her parents would stare at her or nod at each other as if to say "oh look, she's eating". That was only a turnoff, and caused her to stop eating.

If they asked her about it she was still very sensitive. In fact, she was a little embarrassed by the whole situation. Take care. Be patient. When she or he (men have eating disorders also) wants to talk about it, let them. Be open-minded and open-hearted. This is a vulnerable time for them, and they need you more than ever. Try not to stare at them while they are eating, or make them feel like they are on display.

What is the long-term prognosis?

Recovery from an eating disorder varies from person to person. In Lisa's case it is still a struggle. Her memory is better, but she tends to have short-term memory loss from time to time. Hypoglycemia is still a burden. "I don't think I will ever get used to it". From time to time she still finds herself obsessing about her body or comparing herself to others. "It is like a virus. Once you have this type of sickness, it never truly leaves you."

How do you prevent an eating disorder?

• Parents can avoid using negative statements about their body and their eating. If they are constantly dieting or preoccupied with weight or appearance, they will pass on these obsessions to their children.
• Parents should model balanced behaviors for their kids -- eat all foods in moderation, and move your body for fun and fitness.
• Remember people come in all shapes and sizes -- we are so much more than our looks.
• Do not pressure others to be a superstar, super achiever, or perfect.
• Discuss the messages given off from the media and other places about weight and appearance if they start bothering you or affecting how you view yourself, counteract them with different values about weight and size.
• Develop interests and skills that lead to personal expression and fulfillment without emphasis on appearance, involve your friends and family - make it a group effort.
• Make family meals relaxed and friendly. Refrain from commenting on someone's eating; resolving family conflicts at the table or using food as a punishment or reward.
• Listen to your friends and family members - make time for solid communication.
• If you notice a pattern of anxiety or depression, get help immediately.

Online Resources for Eating Disorders:

It can be scary and embarrassing to seek help for an eating disorder. But help is available! Treatment providers who specialize in eating disorders are available all over the world. You can search online, in private. Each of the following organizations provide online referrals to help you find treatment for eating disorders.

• National Eating Disorders Association (USA & Canada)
• Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center (USA; some in Australia, Canada, Germany, Scotland, & UK)
• Pale Reflections Eating disorders community Treatment finder (worldwide)
• www.healthyplace.com

¹ Cottage Care Centre Eating Disorders Program, Santa Barbara, California 93105.

Comments

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Blair   |2007-08-26 14:28:54 This article is really important for educating pople about eating disorders, but I am really sick about everyone stressing about how the media is at fault. As a runway model (I am in high school, so I only take a few weeks off a year to do runway shows in NYC, LA, Milan, London and Paris - no photo shoots) I am constantly questioned about fashion's influence on young girls and how it promotes eating disorders, bad body image, etc. But the thing is, models (especially runway) have to be tall and thin only to show off the clothes. In essence, we're walking mannequins. Also, the majority of models do NOT have any type of eating disorder - we just happen to be built this way, and have always been the tallest and skinniest in our class. I am 5'11" and weigh 101 lbs. I eat, I excersize, I live life. If someone looks at me and says, I wish I was as thin as her, then guess what? It's not my fault. So I'm sick of the whole industry being blamed for something that is really an individual, personal issue. Reply 0   0

Sarah- aka- Hp GaL04   |2007-08-14 00:33:15 I know this was posted a while back, but I just have to comment. I too have been battling anorexia. This story is good for people to see what I had to go through last year. I lost so much weight (went from a size 18 in misses when I first lost weight the natural way to a size 3 in juniors once the anorexia settled in) and I did start out obese and now on the verge of being too thin. I have improved so much (right now, I cannot wait to eat breakfast in the morning. lol), but still have my days and i am still suffering from the physical symptoms. At first I lost weight the right way and then I became a vegetarian. It wasn't that that made me anorexic, but mainly my fears and my body issues. I also exercise a lot. I mainly do yoga and go to the gym. I don't exercise as much, but it started out a lot. I also seeked psychotherapy, which my therapist decided to do hypnosis (I didn't turn into a brainwashed zombie. It was very much like a guided meditation with positive affirmations for self improvement and to recall past events more clearly) to make my fears pf gaining weight disapparate (Ha! Harry Potter reference). Seriously, that helped. If that didn't then I would have been referred to a hospital. I am lucky to have improved. This essay addressing this horrible illness is great. The media is blamed for a lot of this in teen and college students. I blamed Britney Spears when she first came onto the scene. I just wanted that perfect body and now look what happened to her. I also blame peer pressure. I was picked on for being fat. These two actions can destroy a person. Next time you look in a fashion magazine, ask yourself this when you see a model or a person, who looks "perfect", are they happy? Think about it. Reply 0   0

Jacqueline   |2007-08-07 21:36:20 This is so hard....you have to educate people about eating disorders in the hopes of preventing those that have yet to start, however reading an article like this for someone (like me) who battles an eating disorder is difficult. Reading the article was like a trigger for me and I really had to stop and force myself to not contemplate relapsing. Hard call....education or potential trigger? Reply 0   0

Jessica   |2007-07-23 08:40:30 I had a similar problem. Although I am eating now, sometimes I relly have to force myself to do it. I am glad you are doing an article about this. The more people talk about it the more it becomes less "taboo". It took a long time for me to talk to anyone because I was so embarrassed. Reply 0   0

Dana   |2007-07-23 06:40:43 wow....thanks for this article. In today's society there is so much pressure to be a certain way....many try being that way and put themselves into very dangerous situtations with their health... Reply 0   0

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