Health Notes: Eating Disorders
Janice Petersen Parish Nurse
February is National Eating Disorders month and so we are bringing you some general information on eating disorders. More information can be found at the following link or you can stop and visit the Parish nurse. This information is from the follow website:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-resources/general-information.php
You can tell if a person has an eating disorder simply by appearance - You can’t. Anorexia may be easier to detect visually, although individuals may wear loose clothing to conceal their body. Bulimia is harder to “see” because individuals often have normal weight or may even be overweight. Some people may have obvious signs, such as sudden weight loss or gain; others may not. People with an eating disorder can become very effective at hiding the signs and symptoms. Thus, eating disorders can be undetected for months, years, or a lifetime.
Eating disorders are about appearance and beauty - Eating disorders are a mental illness and have little to do with food, eating, appearance, or beauty. This is indicated by the continuation of the illness long after a person has reached his or her initial ‘target’ weight. Eating disorders are usually related to emotional issues such as control and low self-esteem and often exist as part of a “dual” diagnosis of major depression, anxiety, or obsessive-
compulsive disorder.
Eating disorders are caused by unhealthy and unrealistic images in the media -While sociocultural factors (such as the ‘thin ideal’) can contribute or trigger development of eating disorders, research has shown that the causes are multifactorial and include biologic, social, and environmental contributors. Not everyone who is exposed to media images of thin “ideal” body images develops an eating disorder. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa have been documented in the medical literature since the 1800s, when social concepts of an ideal body shape for women and men differed significantly from today—long before mass media promoted thin body images for women or lean muscular body images for men.
Only people of high socioeconomic status get eating disorders - People in all socioeconomic levels have eating disorders. The disorders have been identified across all socioeconomic groups, age groups, both sexes, and in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.
Eating disorders are an attempt to seek attention
The causes of eating disorders are complex and typically include socio economic, environmental, cultural, and biologic factors. People who experience eating disorders often go to great lengths to conceal it due to feelings of shame or a desire to persist in behavior perceived to afford the sufferer control in life. Eating disorders are often symptomatic of deeper psychological issues such as low self esteem and the desire to feel in control. The behaviors associated with eating disorders may sometimes be interpreted as ‘attention seeking”; however, they indicate that the affected person has very serious struggles and needs help
Eating Disorders and Teens -During adolescence, young people often experience sudden variations in height and weight. For example, girls can gain an average of 40 pounds (lb.) from age 11 to 14—and that’s normal. A girl or boy who puts on weight before having a growth spurt in height may look plump, while a student who grows taller but not heavier may appear rather thin. The points outlined below are not necessarily definitive signs or symptoms of an eating disorder—only experts can diagnosis. However, be concerned about the teen who appears to be the “perfect” student or who strives for perfection. Be concerned if a student consistently shows one or more of the signs or symptoms listed below.
Emotional
· Change in attitude/performance
· Expresses body image complaints/concerns: being too fat even though normal or thin; unable to accept compliments; mood affected by thoughts about appearance; constantly compares self to others; self-disparaging; refers to self as fat, gross, ugly; overestimates body size; strives to create a “perfect” image; seeks constant outside reassurance about looks
· Talks about dieting; avoids nutritious foods because they are “fattening”
· Is overweight but appears to eat small portions in presence of others
· Appears sad/depressed/anxious/expresses feelings of worthlessness
· Is target of body or weight bullying
· Spends increasing amounts of time alone
· Is obsessed with maintaining low weight to enhance performance in sports, dance, acting, or modeling
· Overvalues self-sufficiency; reluctant to ask for help
Physical
· Sudden weight loss, gain, or fluctuation in short time
· Abdominal pain
· Feeling full or “bloated”
· Feeling faint, cold, or tired
· Dry hair or skin, dehydration, blue hands/feet
· Lanugo hair (fine body hair)
Behavioral
· Diets or chaotic food intake; pretends to eat, then throws away food; skips meals
· Exercises for long periods; exercises excessively every day (can’t miss a day)
· Constantly talks about food
· Makes frequent trips to the bathroom
· Wears very baggy clothes to
– hide a very thin body (anorexia) or weight gain (binge eating disorder); or
– hide “normal” body because of disease about body shape/size
· Is fatigued; gets dizzy
· Avoids cafeteria
· Carries own food in backpack or purse
· Shows some type of compulsive behavior
· Denies difficulty
Myths & Facts About Immigration
The congregation that I served in Janesville is starting a Hispanic Ministry. As preparation for this work they had a workshop on immigration. The following is information from that workshop included in their newsletter. I found it fascinating and I learned a great deal from this article which is why I am sharing it with you.
MYTH: It is a federal crime to be unlawfully present in the U.S.
FACT: Being undocumented in the U.S is a civil crime - the same level crime as getting a speeding ticket.
MYTH: Immigrants are more likely to commit crimes.
FACT: Immigrants are five times LESS likely than the native born to be in prison. Among native born male high school dropouts, 9.8% were behind bars vs. 1.3% of immigrant dropouts. Undocumented immigration is NOT associated with higher crime rates.
MYTH: It is easy to immigrate to the U.S.
FACT: The process is long and complex. Immigrants who came here as infants or young children, cannot legally attend school after high school. Adults living in the U.S. without documentation must leave the country for 10 years before they can even begin the process of applying for citizenship. Most are unwilling to leave their spouse and children behind for ten years in hopes of wading through the years of red tape that begins after ten years are up.
MYTH: Immigrants are a burden to U.S. medical and social services.
- FACT: Non-citizens are much more likely to be uninsured than citizens, but-they-are not the primary-factor driving the nation's uninsured problem. Federal law generally bars undocumented immigrants and recent legal immigrants from receiving Medicaid and SCHIP coverage. Non-citizens receive significant less health care than citizens. (About half) Non-citizens are significantly less likely to use the emergency room than citizens.
MYTH: Immigrants are using up social security benefits.
FACT: Undocumented workers are not (and never have been) eligible to claim social security benefits. Moreover, most undocumented workers will use a false social security number to prove work authorization therefore paying money into a benefit system that they will never be eligible to use. The average immigrant pays a net $80,000 more in taxes than they collect in government services. There is much more that could be said. It is easier to pick up partial truths and misinformation from the papers and media than it is to glean the truth. For more information you can visit:
www.refomimmigrationforamerica.org or www.immigrationpolicy.org
