Reasons for Concern
Eating disorders are complex, life-threatening illnesses. Cultural influences are significant and reflect our society's strong emphasis on thinness — a bias often intensified by the media.
Many people repeatedly compare themselves to unattainable ideals. This leads to immense body dissatisfaction along with biological and physiological vulnerabilities toward developing an eating disorder.
Some people develop compulsive behaviors, such as intense preoccupation with weight and body image coupled with compulsive or excessive exercising, which may eventually lead to feelings of irritability, loneliness and despair.
An individual’s abnormal eating habits can develop into severe dieting, with a preference for unusual foods, isolation or unusual behaviors at mealtime or secretive bingeing. Common warning signs of an eating disorder include self-induced vomiting, periods of fasting or laxative, and diet pill or diuretic abuse.
Once an eating disorder is full blown, the recovery process can be difficult, with both emotional and physiological implications of prolonged neglect. Medical complications may ultimately affect every organ system of the body, including metabolic, gastrointestinal, cardiac and neurological. These complications can cause serious damage.