Myths about eating disorders
- Once anorexic, always anorexic. Like alcoholism, eating disorders are not curable.
- Anorexics are easy to identify. They are noticeably skinny and don't eat.
- Once an anorexic has achieved a normal weight, she is recovered.
- An eating disorder is about eating too little or too much.
- Parents are the cause of their child's eating disorder.
- Eating disorders affect only adolescent girls.
- People lose weight using laxatives and diuretics.
- Physicians can be counted on to discover and diagnose an eating disorder.
Source: http://www.empoweredparents.com/1eatingdisorders/myths.htm
People have many misconceptions about anorexia. Due to poor understanding of the phenomenon or due to various popular myths surrounding eating disorders, most people assimilate denatured ideas regarding anorexia and the persons it affects.
Probably the most common misconception describes anorexia as an incurable, terrifying disease. Although anorexia can cause both physical and psychological harm, this type of eating disorder can be successfully treated and its undesirable effects can be overcome in time. In fact, through the means of an appropriate therapeutic program, the great majority of patients diagnosed with anorexia can be completely recovered from the disorder in a relatively short period of time.
Statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of people that have been confronted with anorexia at a certain point of their lives have been completely recovered with the means of psychological counselling and the help and encouragement of their families. Furthermore, most of the people affected by anorexia in the past have been able to achieve emotional balance, regaining full control over their lives. However, the truth is that anorexia needs to be timely discovered and prompt intervention is required when dealing with this type of disorder, as the affected persons can inflict themselves a lot of physical and emotional damage.
Another popular myth surrounding this type of eating disorder suggests the idea that anorexics do not eat. This idea is completely exaggerated and unfunded! Although anorexics are very restrictive with food and they indeed keep drastic diets, they are human beings after all and therefore they need to eat! In order to achieve their goal of having a slim body, anorexics usually avoid foods that are rich in calories and therefore they commonly follow vegetarian diets. Every once in a while, anorexics may also engage in binge-purge behaviours, eating exaggerated amounts of food at once, only to dispose of it right after, by vomiting or by using laxatives and diuretics. However, this behaviour is more common among bulimics.
People also commonly confuse anorexia with bulimia. Although anorexia may resemble bulimia and people generally experience difficulties in separating between them, each of these two common types of eating disorders has various distinctive features. However, people with eating disorders can have oscillatory behaviours and anorexics can easily become bulimics, or vice versa.
First of all, from a physical point of view, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics is body weight. While most anorexics are underweight, bulimics often have an average or, above average body weight. Therefore, unlike the case of anorexics, it is even more difficult to identify a person who suffers from bulimia.
From a behavioural point of view, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics involves their eating habits. While anorexics commonly keep drastic diets and restrict their intake of calories, bulimics predominantly engage in binge-purge acts.
From a psychological perspective, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics is that people with anorexia have a stronger will and ambition than bulimics. While both these categories have a low self esteem and a distorted self-image, bulimics are often more likely to suffer from depression. Their contradictory, ambivalent behaviours that fluctuate between binging and purging food render them very vulnerable to developing feelings of guilt and confusion.
If you want to find great information on different anorexia subjects check out this links. You can find great content regarding signs of anorexia, anorexia tips and many more.
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Common-Myths-and-Misconceptions-about-Anorexia&id=220173
Reality: Many eating disorders do begin in the teenage years, but children, men, older women and just about anyone can fall victim to this terrible disorder.
Myth: You can never fully recover from an eating disorder.
Reality: Recovery takes a long time, but with hard work and the proper treatment, you can fully recover from your eating disorder.
Myth: Men with eating disorders are always gay.
Reality: Someone's sexual preference has nothing to do with them developing an eating disorder.
Myth: Eating disorders are solely a problem with food.
Reality: With all eating disorders, weight is the focus of life. By focusing on food, weight and calories, a person is able to block out or numb painful feelings and emotions. Some use food as a way to comfort themselves. Eating disorders are NOT a problem with food. They are in fact only a symptom of underlying problems.
Myth: Bulimics always purge by vomiting.
Reality: Not all bulimics try to rid themselves of the calories they have consumed by vomiting. Purging can take the form of laxatives, diuretics, exercising, or fasting.
Myth: You can always tell someone is anorexic by their appearance.
Reality: Not all anorexics look like the extreme cases shown on talk shows, etc. Some anorexics may be anywhere from 5 to 15 lbs. underweight. They look thin, but they do not have what society considers to be the "anorexic" look. Just because someone does not look emaciated, does not mean they are not anorexic or that their health is not in danger.
Myth: Anorexics do not eat candy, chocolate, etc.
Reality: Many anorexics do avoid such foods, but some do eat them on a regular basis. If an anorexic decides to only allow him/herself 300 calories a day, they may very well choose to eat a chocolate bar, candy, etc.
Myth: Anorexics do not binge or purge.
Reality: Many anorexics will go on occasional binges and purge. Some anorexics can become so fearful of any food or drink that they will purge whatever they put into their system, including water.
Myth: You cannot die from bulimia.
Reality: Bulimics are at a high risk for dying, especially if they are purging, using laxatives and doing excessive exercise. Many bulimics have died from cardiac arrest which is usually caused by low potassium or an electrolyte imbalance. Others have dies from a ruptured oesophagus.
Myth: People with eating disorders do this to hurt their family and friends.
Reality: People with eating disorders are doing this to themselves. They are usually very upset when they know the people around them are worried or hurt by their eating disorder.
Myth: Compulsive eating is not an eating disorder.
Reality: It is very much an eating disorder and is just as serious as anorexia and bulimia.
Myth: Compulsive eaters are just lazy people.
Reality: Compulsive eating is a way to cope just like anorexia and bulimia are. A person uses food as a way to comfort or numb themselves, block out feelings and emotions, etc. They are not lazy! They are people in emotional pain trying to cope using the only way they know how. Like anorexia and bulimia, they need proper treatment to overcome it. They do not need to be sent to health spas and diet clinics.
Myth: People cannot have more than one eating disorder.
Reality: Many people have more than one eating disorder. It is very common for someone to suffer with more than one eating disorder. That just proves that the eating behaviours are only the symptoms, NOT THE PROBLEM!
Source: http://www.geocities.com/edpetition/ED_CENTER/EDMYTHS.html
Now, the Most Commonly Heard Myths.
Myth A: "Anorexics are easily recognizable: They are thin and don’t eat."
~OH YEAH? Says who?~ Eating disordered individuals are typically of normal weight and appear physically fit. They do eat, though in idiosyncratic ways and not in response to hunger. Eating disordered victims are typically "good kids," high achievers, and are motived to please - hardly the profile of a child in trouble.
Myth B: "Fat-free eating is healthy eating."
We all need some fat in our diet to synthesize vitamins. Women need it to support oestrogen so they are capable of carrying on the species. Moderate, balanced eating is healthy eating. When eaten in moderation, there are no bad foods. Dieting and food restriction are the least effective way to lose weight; 95% of dieters regain their weight lost within 3-5 years.
Myth C: "Adolescents are naturally non communicative, rude, moody, and withdrawn. These qualities facilitate the normal process of separation from the family."
If such dysfunctional attitudes and behaviours in a child are accepted as the norm or a rite of passage, parents run the risk of missing important and telling warning signs of eating disorders in their children’s’ actions. Detecting early warning signs is the key to prevention and a timely recovery.
Myth D: "Once anorexic, always anorexic."
In fact, recovery statistics are highly optimistic. In approximately 80% of cases, with knowledge and the proper treatment, eating disorders can either be totally cured or controlled. What is more important, with knowledge, parents can prevent disease, virtually "eating disorder proofing" their child.
Myth E: "Parental involvement in a teenager’s life is intrusive and violates privacy and independence."
Eating disordered youngsters with malnourished brains are incapable of rational, non distorted perceptions and good judgment to be used in self-care and effective problem solving. Feeling out of control of their lives, they need someone else to step in and take charge (if not control), until they are capable of assuming control of themselves. When parents become involved in a child’s disorder, the child typically feels relieved that his secret is out in the open so that he can get help. Research has proven that family therapy is more effective than individual treatment for children living at home who have been anorexic for less than 3 years.