For more serious cases of eating disorders, however, severe bodily damage may occur. The truth is, an eating disorder can take a toll on the young body, causing health problems that almost never occur in normal, healthy youth. Some cases may be more serious than others, but one thing is for sure: the dangers of an eating disorder are well documented.

Here are 5 physicial effects of eating disorders:

1. Malnutrition

The most obvious danger of eating disorders is malnutrition, or deficiency for energy, protein, and micronutrients such as vitamins, iodine, or iron. Malnutrition is caused by a lack of calories and corrent nutrient in the daily diet, usually a result of improper eating, or intentional starving. When all the nutrients in your body are used up, malnutrition is reached. Malnutrition can lead to the exhaustion of other bodily nutrients — leading to damaged hair or weakened bones.

2. Heart Attack

Youth suffering from eating disorders may in fact have a heart attack! Eating disorders can cause electrolytic imbalances, triggering hypercalcemia or hyperkalemia, the main causes of heart attacks. The electrolytic imbalances can cause abnormalities that lead to serious side effects – heart disease included.

3. Dehydration

Dehydration is caused by the depletion or lack of fluid intake in the body. Vomiting or laxative abuse can cause dehydration, and can cause dizziness and weakness. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure, heart failure, brain damage, and even death.

4. Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is the loss of menstrual cycle, or periods, in women. A low body mass index and low body fat levels disable the body’s ability to menstrual. Amenorrhea can cause a loss of calcium from the bones, loss of bone density and the loss of the ability to have children.

5. Hyponatremia

Hyponatremia is the deficiency of sodium in the blood. If one drinks too much water (and not electrolytes), especially if someone is already malnourished or dehydrated, can cause fluid in the lungs, nausea, vomiting, and even death.

As you can see, the negative health effects of eating disorders can be very severe and even fatal. In addition to the 5 listed above, there are many other negative health effects, including diabetes, insomnia, and anemia. The list goes on and one. For many suffering from eating disorders, the scope of physical damage is lost in their obsession with their weight and appearance. If you know somebody suffering from an eating disorder, or suspect that he or she may be suffering from an eating disorder, do something about it. Showing you care may make a bigger impact on their health than you could ever imagine.

For many of those 24 million Americans, finding an eating disorder treatment is at the bottom of their priorities list. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia attack the self-esteem and confidence of their victims, leaving them in a world where body image and weight control reign supreme over family, friends, and health.

While victims may deny the need for an eating disorder treatment, eating disorders can be extremely hazardous to one’s health. For example, failing to ingest the proper vitamins and nutrients can lead to weakened muscles, bones, and immune system as well as cause heart complications and suicidal thoughts. As such, finding treatment for such a dangerous illness should, in fact, be at the top of their priorities.

Eating disorder treatment usually involves some sort of psychotherapy or counseling, as this has been found to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment available. Here are 3 common treatments for eating disorders:

1. Nutritional counseling

As bad eating habits are synonymous with eating disorders, working with a dietitian or nutritionist can help a victim develop a healthier lifestyle. A dietitian can assist in creating a healthy meal plan, set goals, and strive for healthy weight. A nutritionist can assist in educating about basic nutrition and health consequences of eating disorders.

2. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy can be broken into two distinct forms: individual and group therapy. In individual therapy, a victim will have the opportunity to mentally explore the reasons for their eating disorder, whether is it stemming from family issues, peer pressure, or any other reason. Doing so can improve self-esteem and self-awareness, as well as learn how to deal with stress and emotions in a healthy manner. Group therapy allows an individual to share experiences and problems with others struggling with the same issues.

3. Medical Treatment

While medical eating disorder treatment in a hospital or other health system may not solve the deep-rooted issues of eating disorders, it may be required when severe physical or behavioral issues are affecting the individual’s health and well-being. As such, medical treatment is not a long-term treatment option.

Support groups can also be very beneficial as an eating disorder treatment by purging feelings of loneliness and shame. Each of these treatments are meant to work with each other, as not one thing can cover all of the problems of an eating disorder. A steady combination of a good diet, psychotherapy, and proper care can save many lives. Awareness on the issue may bring more people to step up and advocate for a loved one struggling with an eating disorder.

In addition to requiring your support, your loved one’s eating disorder recovery may take an extended period of time. This fact may cause discouragement and skepticism to your loved one and, therefore, it is important to continue to exercise patience. Do not set impossible or overambitious goals. Here are few tips to remember when support a loved one through their eating disorder recovery:

1. Remain Positive

If you are supporting a loved one through their recovery, staying positive is the most important thing to remember. As previously mentioned, eating disorder recovery is not a short process. It is likely going to be a roller coaster ride, with many highs and lows. Remain a positive role model and encouraging advocate for healthier living. Always remember to avoid making negative statements about weight and body image, especially your own.

2. Listen Intently

Your loved one is likely experiencing a whirlwind of emotions and feelings. As his or her support, make it your priority to listen and not give your own advice. You may discourage them by “offering advice” when, to them, you are unable to understand what they are going through. Listening with an open attitude will let your loved one know that you care, and are sticking with them until the end.

3. Educate Yourself

Educating yourself can help you become the advocate that your loved one needs. If you are better educated about the particular eating disorder your loved one is suffering from, as well as other eating disorders, you can be better equipped to assist them through their recovery. Look into the different treatments of eating disorders as well.

4. Don’t Forget Yourself

At times, you may feel like are too overburdened with helping your friend. For you to be the best advocate for your loved one, you have to be positive and stable. Always remember to have your own avenue of releasing feelings and emotions. Helping a loved one through his or her eating disorder recovery can be an uplifting experience, but getting bottled up into somebody else’s troubles can only cause more troubles for yourself.

Eating disorder recovery is a long process that requires treatment, discipline, and support for the recovering individual. If a loved one is struggling through this tough time, remember these tips to be an advocate who will support, encourage, and push him or her toward a healthier lifestyle.

However, many of the resources only have general information. Here are 10 things that you probably did not know about eating disorders:

1. The average bulimic binges approximately 3,400 calories in just over one hour.

In fact, bulimics consume up to 20,000 calories in binges that can last up to 8 hours. The average teenager eats about 2,000 to 3,000 total calories per day.

2. Biochemical or biological factors can contribute to eating disorders.

Recent research has found that inherited biological and genetic factors can contribute to over 50% of the risk in developing an eating disorder. Studies have found that abnormalities in the hypothalamus, a brain structure that regulates eating behaviors, can contribute to eating disorders.

3. Family influence can contribute greatly to eating disorders.

Though biological factors can contribute to eating disorders, family and environmental issues play a large part in the onset and retention of eating disorders. Pressures from the family can overstep healthy emotional boundaries and cause unhealthy behavior in teenagers or, in this case, eating disorders.

4. Apart from anorexia and bulimia, there are many other eating disorders.

One thing that most people do not know about eating disorders is that there are dozens of different types ranging from pica (where the individual eats non-food items) to night-eating.

5. While the average women is 5′4″ and weighs 140 pounds, the average model is 5′11″ and weights 117 pounds.

Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women. It comes as no surprise then that young girls are pressured to be thin.

6. Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents.

7. Bulimia is more common in athletes than non-athletes.

Bulimia especially affects gymnasts, wrestlers, dancers, football players, and other athletes who are pressured to stay fit.

8. Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment.

This interesting fact about eating disorders shows the shame that many sufferers feel, and the difficulty of treatment and recovery.

9. 74% of American Indian girls have reported dieting and purging with diet pills.

While rates of minorities with eating disorders are similar to those of white women, it affects certain minorities more than others. For example, eating disorders are unsually common in young women from Japan.

10. The diet industry is a 50 billion dollar a year business.

The diet industry preys on fear and self-esteem, making it tough to stay positive about body image. The bombardment of what the society considers to be “beautiful” in diet advertisements is continually displayed on the Internet and billboards around the Nation.
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* The first step of treatment is generally some sort of therapy. Whether it is through individual counseling or group counseling, one has to be able to accept themselves after they have come to terms with defeating the eating disorder. Those that have won their battles with eating disorders need to be secure enough with themselves to know they will not succumb to this lifestyle ever again. You will find that many people are, at first, ashamed of their bulimia eating disorder. Therapy allows a person to be able to open up themselves fully without holding back in fear of judgment. Therapy can also be invaluable in helping a person gain the faith and courage needed to make it through the journey.

* The second step that many take during the treatment process is meeting with a specialist in order to develop good eating habits. The goal is to develop healthy eating habits that will stay with a person throughout a lifetime. Many of the cases of bulimia resurface without this change of lifestyle taking effect. Eating disorders will often arise once again if proper dietary habits are not established, then practiced to perfection.

* The third step that people experience as part of their eating disorder treatment is tackling their negative emotions and thoughts. Eating disorders have been known to stem from misconceptions about dieting. People go to the extreme to obtain results that they are often not happy with. People usually go on to develop eating disorders because they have not identified this problem. These flawed beliefs should be confronted and an effort should be made to change them. Doing so works to overcome these eating disorders by combining and reinforcing steps one and two effectively and successfully.

People often do not want their eating disorder to be fully exposed in front of those close to them. In addition to their embarrassment, they will feel a constant reminder that they opened up not only about their eating disorder, but all their imperfections as well. The weakness and inferiority that can potentially be felt is counterproductive to building up self-esteem, which is essential to maintaining a positive body image.

Fortunately, there are resources that are available that help people to be able to overcome their eating disorders in private. There are resources where you can even gain the support from others that suffer from the same eating disorder. You can get the help that you want and need for your eating disorders. There are eating disorder support groups that do just that, while offering you the counseling that you need to help you free yourself of your eating disorder.

THERAPY

In order to overcome eating disorders, many people consider joining a support group. In an eating disorder support group, an individual will find others struggling with similar issues. Furthermore, efforts made during these group meetings are extremely beneficial in overcoming eating disorders. For example, support groups often offer one-on-one sessions in effort to support individual issues and group testimonials to share issues with the group. Doing so ensures that one uses multiple strategies to overcome an eating disorder.

TEACHING

Eating Disorder support groups will also give you the opportunity to learn. The teachings will stretch far beyond the signs and symptoms of eating disorders. At a disorder support group, the teaching is focused on the individual. As stated before, self-esteem plays a large part in the development and retention of an eating disorder. In these support groups, one can learn to gain self-esteem. Developing the strength to overcome an eating disorder is a tall task. Fortunately, with eating disorder support groups commonly available around the nation, an individual does not have to deal with the disorder on their own.