Males Are Just As Affected – Eating Disorder Warning Signs

 

December 15. 2004

18 Years Old…

With every bite ED appears. You shouldn’t be eating this. Why are you eating this? This is fatty. This isn’t good. I eat as fast as I can. As if I am trying to run away from those thoughts in my mind. Bite after bite ED comments. You are fat. You are fat. This is so good. This is so good. I look down, my plate is empty. OMG, why did I just eat that!?! I am so fat. I am so fat. I might as well eat more. This had been happening for years. This was just my normal relationship with food. My normal relationship with my body. My normal relationship with myself. ED had taken over and convinced me that this was the only way I could be.

                                                             – pg 166, “Weighing Love” – Written by Paula Galli 

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The truth is, Disordered Eating, Eating Disorders & Emotional Eating affect individuals from all walks of life and is often misdiagnosed, mistreated or overlooked by professionals who are uneducated about what Eating Disorders truly are. 

The all to common stereotype that Eating Disorders only affect extremely thin females is slowly starting to break. I am determined to help shatter that stereotype even more. 

Men, in particular, are a demographic upon which the association of this issue, not only has less awareness, but also has less acceptance around it. This is why this week I wanted to talk about what Eating Disorders are share some warning signs with you. [line]

What Are Eating Disorders?

Here is a brief outline of some of the different types of Eating Disorders according to the DSM.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by self-induced starvation and excessive weight loss. While Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents, eating disorders do not discriminate between age, gender, race or class — no one is immune.

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized as binging (excessive or compulsive consumption of food) and purging.

• Purging type: During the current episode of bulimia nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
• Non purging type: During the current episode of bulimia nervosa, the person has used inappropriate compensatory behavior but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or misused laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized as recurring episodes of eating significantly more food in a short period of time than most people would eat under similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control. This disorder is associated with marked distress and occurs, on average, at least once a week over three months (American Psychiatric Association).

Orthorexia is an eating disorder, coined in 1997 by Steven Bratman, MD, that is defined as an obsession with “healthy or righteous eating.” It often begins with someone’s simple and genuine desire to live a healthy lifestyle. An individual dealing with Orthorexia fixates on defining the “right” foods, foods that can be safely eaten. 
They will spend just as much time and energy thinking about food as someone with Bulimia or Anorexia. They may not think about calories, but they think about the overall “health benefits” and how the food was processed, prepared, etc.  Individuals with Orthorexia tend not to eat out as much because they do not trust the preparation of foods other than what they have prepared.

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       Eating Disorder Warning Signs

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• Significant weight loss
• Distorted body image
• Intense fear/anxiety about gaining weight
• Preoccupation with weight, calories, food, etc.
• Feelings of shame/guilt after eating
• Denial of low weight
• High levels of anxiety &/or depression
• Low self-esteem
• Self-injury
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Excuses for not eating/denial of hunger
• Food rituals
• Intense, dramatic mood swings
• Pale appearance/yellowish skin-tone
• Thin, dull, & dry hair, skin, & nails
• Cold intolerance/hypothermia
• Fatigue/fainting
• Abuse of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics
• Excessive & compulsive exercise
• Eating beyond the point of fullness
• Feeling out of control during a binge
• Sense of lack of control over eating
• Inappropriate compensatory behaviors following a binge

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• Binging & purging
• Secretive eating &/or missing food/hiding food
• Visits to the bathroom after meals
• Preoccupation with food
• Weight gain/fluctuations
• Excessive and compulsive exercise regimes — despite fatigue, illness, or injury
• Abuse of laxatives, diet pills, &/or diuretics
• Swollen parotid glands in cheeks and neck
• Discoloration and/or staining of the teeth
• Broken blood vessels in eyes &/or face
• Calluses on the back of the hands/knuckles from self-induced vomiting
• Sore throat
• Heartburn/reflux
• Self-criticism & low self-esteem
• Eating large quantities of food, without purging behaviors, when not hungry
• Eating until uncomfortably/painfully full
• Self-medicating with food
• Eating alone/secretive eating
• An obsession for healthy foods
• Frequent dieting
• Extreme concern with body weight & shape.

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If you know anyone who (or you, yourself) may be affected by any of these symptoms, I invite you to reach out for support from myself at info@paulagalli.com or with another trained professional in this area. Eating Disorders can be cured with the right support and treatment, though it does take one initial step, to reach out for help.