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Eating disorders growing problem in U.S. By Melissa Kanz Eight million people in the U.S. suffer from eating disorders, according to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc. “Eating disorders are rampant in the United States,” Debbie Smolik, consulting dietitian at Johns Community Hospital, said. “I believe it has so much to do with our culture and society's goal for unobtainable thinness.” Smolik said even young girls have jumped on the diet bandwagon. “Elementary age girls already believe that they need to be dieting as young as 10 or 11,” she said. Smolik said dieting in the United States is viewed unrealistically. “Realistic goals for weight loss are to lose about 10 percent of total body weight in a six month period of time,” she said. Smolik said there are many weight loss programs which promise individuals they can loose weight fast - often more than the recommended percentage - in weeks. “People buy into ‘Quick Weight Loss' when there is no such thing,” she said. Smolik said there are three types of eating disorders - bulimia, binge eating and anorexia. Bulimia, which two to five percent of Americans are affected by, can be associated with all types of disorders, Smolik said. “Bulimia almost always includes overeating,” she said. Bulimic behavior is a recurrent behavior to prevent weight gain. “This behavior includes self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, medications and/or over exercise,” Smolik said. According to Smolik, a person who engages in this behavior is considered bulimic if it occurs twice a week for a period of over three months. Binge eating is described by consuming an abundance of food and experiencing lack of control over eating. “Binge eating is defined as eating large amounts of food within a two-hour period of time,” Smolik said. “Food intake is literally out-of-control and hunger is not an issue.” These episodes of eating is generally done alone and is followed by feelings of guilt, disgust and depression, she said. According to Smolik, binge eating and compulsive overeating are the most common types of disordered eating patterns. However, Smolik said the most dangerous type of eating disorder is anorexia. “An anorexic's body weight usually falls below 85 percent of their ideal body weight which becomes very dangerous,” she said. Smolik said anorexics possess an intense fear of gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. “They look at themselves as ‘fat' even when they are not,” she said. Smolik said there is not an exact reason people suffer from eating disorders. “Eating disorders often times coincide with a psychiatric diagnoses like depression and anxiety disorders or substance abuse,” she said. “Other reasons could be a genetic predisposition, parental conflict, family rigidity and even weight sensitive sports like dance or gymnastics.” Smolik said there are several signs to look for if someone suspects a friend or family member may have an eating disorder. “(Signs) are constant and repetitive dieting, obsession with food and exercise, eating alone and eating only diet foods,” she said. Smolik said individual or group-based therapies are regularly available to help people suffering from an eating disorder. “Different therapies include psychotherapies and cognitive and behavioral counseling,” she said. “A team of people including a physician, psychiatrist, a dietitian and mental health counselor should be involved in the care of a person with disordered eating.”
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