Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of

food and the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Any
actual gain or even perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear by
the Anorexic. Not only is there a true feeling of fear, but also once in the
grasp of the disorder, Anorexics experience body image distortions.
Those areas of the body usually representing maturity or sexuality
including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized by the
Anorexic as being fat. For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe
there is a loss of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics
participate in restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and
diuretic abuse. If Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.

Eating disorders are characterized by

severe disturbances in eating behavior.
The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as
an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating,
purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying issues
that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression,
feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, identity concerns, family
communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of
an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered
individual has found no other way of expressing. Eating disorders are usually
divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive
Overeating.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is a disorder where the main characteristic is the restriction of food and
the refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight. Any actual gain or even
perceived gain of weight is met with intense fear by the Anorexic. Not only is there
a true feeling of fear, but also once in the grasp of the disorder, Anorexics
experience body image distortions. Those areas of the body usually representing
maturity or sexuality including the buttocks, hips, thighs and breast are visualized
by the Anorexic as being fat. For some Anorexics, weight loss is so severe there is
a loss of menses. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, Anorexics participate in
restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. If
Anorexia Nervosa is left untreated, it can be fatal.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle. The
Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced vomiting, use of
laxatives, diuretics, strict diets, fasts, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory
behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binges usually consist of the consumption of
large amounts of food in a short period of time. Binge eating usually occurs in
secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved with their body
shape and weight. The medical complications of the binge-purge cycle can be
severe and like Anorexia can be fatal.
Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive Overeaters are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating and
depression. They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings.
Binge eating temporarily relieves the stress of these feelings, but is unfortunately
followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and depression. Binge eating, like
Bulimia, often occurs in secret. It is not uncommon for Compulsive Overeaters to
eat normally or restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less by
bingeing in secret. For other Compulsive Overeaters, binges consist of "grazing"
on foods all day long. Like the other eating disorders, Compulsive Overeaters are
constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. It is not uncommon for the
number on the scale to determine how they feel about themselves. Medical
complications can also be severe and even life-threatening for Compulsive
Overeaters.

Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle.

The Bulimic eats compulsively and then purges through self-induced
vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, strict diets, fasts, vigorous exercise,
or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binges usually
consist of the consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of
time. Binge eating usually occurs in secret. Bulimics, like Anorexics, are
also obsessively involved with their body shape and weight. The
medical complications of the binge purge cycle can be severe and like
Anorexia can be fatal.

The Cycle of
Compulsive
Overeating
Compulsive overeaters binge to relieve
depression and begin a destructive cycle.
Binge eating episodes are followed by
resolutions to stop bingeing and adhere to
diets. These resolutions are eventually broken,
filling the Compulsive Overeater with guilt and
depression, leading them back to binge eating
again. The devastating cycle is as follows:
Depression

Br ok en
Resolu ti ons
Binge ea ting
to stop binge
to
ea ting
reli eve st res s
and st ar t
die ti ng

Gui lt and
depr ess ion
over
binge
ea ting
Rader Programs has designed a unique
approach that addresses both Depression and
Compulsive Overeating, effectively ending the
devastating cycle.

Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders

Individuals suffering from an eating disorder may be unaware that they have a
disease or may have difficulty asking for help. Below are some "danger signs" to
help determine if you or a loved one could be at risk. If three or more of the
following symptoms apply to you or a loved one please contact us. You or your
loved one may be at risk of having an eating disorder.
 Thoughts about "feeling fat"
 Fear of gaining weight
 Feelings of loss of control when eating
 Weight determines self-esteem
 Body image obsession
 Guilt or shame after eating
 Repeated attempts at dieting
 Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time
 Self-consciousness or embarrassment about eating
 Sneaking food
 Lying about eating habits
 Strict dieting
 Fasting
 Restrictive eating
 Self-induced vomiting
 Laxative abuse
 Diuretic abuse
 Compulsive exercise
 Eating to relieve stress or depression
 Eating when not hungry
 Eating sensibly in front of others and then making up for it when alone
 Depression
 Low body weight
 Menstrual irregularities
 Gastrointestinal complaints
 Embarrassment about body weight
If three or more of the above symptoms apply to you or a loved one,
please contact us.
You or your loved one may be at risk of having an eating disorder.
 The Role of Family and Friends
At Rader Programs we understand that eating disorders not only affect the disordered individual but also the
person's relationships with others. Those who care the most, are often those most affected. Oftentimes,
relationships with family members and friends are severely damaged as a result of the eating disorder.
Communication within the family is often strained and sometimes non-existent. Feelings of anger, fear,
sadness, shame, guilt and abandonment run rampant in the affected family. Family and friends are often
concerned but do not know what to do. The following is a partial guideline for families and friends to assist in
the recovery from an eating disorder.
It's Not Your Fault. Eating disorders are diseases and are not caused by family, friends or even the
eating disordered individual themselves. There is no simple cause of eating disorders nor is there a simple
cure. It is not possible to force an Anorexic to eat, prevent a Bulimic from purging, or stop a Compulsive
Overeater from bingeing. Family and friends often feel they must take on responsibility for the eating
disorder, which is something they truly have no control over. The guilt associated with this misplaced
responsibility can become paralyzing at times. Once you, as a family member or friend, have accepted that
the eating disorder is not anyone's fault, you can be freed to take action that is honest and not clouded by
what you "should" or "could" have done.
Being There. Eating disorders can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Even though it may be difficult to
understand, the practice of an eating disorder may give the effected individual a feeling of security. Just as an
alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal
with their problems. Some of the underlying intra-personal issues that attribute to an eating disorder include
low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feeling worthless, identity concerns, and inability to
cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating
disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. For many the practice of an eating disorder is
their cry for help. You may be the one who has to initiate the conversation as often the eating disordered
person feels afraid, unsafe or even that they do not deserve the help. As a family member or friend, you can
help them by empathetically listening and finding out their perspective of the situation. To empathize with
someone you need not agree with their perspective, but you must listen to them in a nonjudgmental way. You
can listen empathetically by attempting to understand the other person's feelings through relating similar
feelings you have had through related experiences. Practice active listening. In active listening, the receiver
tries to understand what the sender is trying to portray. The receiver then puts what they understand the
sender has said into their own words and reiterates the message back to the sender. It will be healing and
comforting for the person to share her or his own perspective without feeling judged. Eating disordered
individuals often feel that if they were truthful about their disease, family members and friends would
abandon them. Acknowledgement, acceptance and understanding can go a long way.

Share Your Feelings. Be honest with the person and let them know how the
eating disorder is effecting your life. Try speaking from your own experience and using "I" statements.
Rather than stating "you're too thin" or "you're killing yourself" tell the person how you feel. "I'm scared
and I feel like I'm losing you" or " I heard you throwing up in the bathroom and I'm afraid" are statements
that share the feelings that you are experiencing. Avoid assigning blame, remember eating disorders are
diseases and not a matter of willpower. In addition to feelings of concern, you may be experiencing feelings of
anger and resentment. These are natural and can be expressed without making the eating disordered person
feel abandoned. "Sometimes I get so angry and frustrated seeing you slowly kill yourself, because I'm
concerned and I don't know what to do" is an example of such a statement.
More Than Their Weight. When someone you care about is losing or gaining large amounts of
weight or participating in dangerous purging activities it is difficult to not focus solely on these issues. Eating
disorders do have serious and potentially fatal medical consequences that should not be ignored. But
concentrating only on these physical issues can leave the eating disordered individual feeling misunderstood
and ignored when it comes to their emotional pain. Often, they are already obsessed with their weight,
appearance and food. Any comments regarding these issues will usually be heard as negative or may possibly
cause the person to feel guilt. Eating disordered individuals need to be related to in areas other then their
weight and eating. Make yourself available for these intimate conversations. Concern regarding the emotional
well-being of a person with an eating disorder will be paramount in their eventual recovery.
Don't Give Up. Denial of the disorder and downplaying the seriousness of their behaviors is common
with eating disordered individuals. Be prepared for strong reactions from the eating disordered person.
Anger, embarrassment, withdrawal and betrayal are all emotions that the eating disordered person may use
to hide their true feeling of terror of losing their perceived sense of control, that the eating disorder affords
them. Although, it may seem that the effort and concern you are imparting is falling on deaf ears, do not
resign yourself to the eating disorder. Possibly, the eating disordered individual is just not ready to hear the
message at that time but the next time they just might be ready. Also, the cumulative effect of hearing similar
things from different people can help get the message through.
Find Education and Support. Do not try and handle the eating disorder on your own. Eating
disorders are serious diseases that if left untreated can be deadly. Ten percent of all eating disorders lead to
death. For this reason professional support is often warranted. Make an appointment to see a counselor and
offer to accompany the person to the appointment. You can also recommend books and educational materials
on eating disorders. Many communities offer support groups for eating disorders. Overeaters' Anonymous
(OA) and the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) can be found in
the phonebook or as links on our website. You may also want to consider getting support for yourself. Find a
counselor, friend or support group where you can receive support for what you are going through. The eating
disorder did not develop overnight nor will recovery take hold overnight. So remember to be patient,
recovery takes time.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex diseases and not just a condition that can be treated
with willpower. They meet the definition of a disease because like other diseases
they have a particular destructive process for an individual, with a specific cause
(that cause can be either known or unknown), and display characteristic symptoms.
All eating disorders are primary diseases and not the secondary result of some
other disorder. They are chronic conditions with an identifiable progression and
predictable symptoms. Eating disorders arise out of the combination of genetic,
sociological, and psychological factors.
Genetic
Many researchers believe that there is an inherited predisposition to having an
eating disorder. Studies have shown that the co-occurrence of eating disorders
among identical twins is greater than the co-occurrence among fraternal twins.
Since identical twins are genetically more similar than fraternal twins, this would
support an inherited component. Other research on the genetic component of eating
disorders has focused on neurochemistry. Researchers have found that the
neurotransmitters serotonin and neuroepinephrine are significantly decreased in
acutely ill patients suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. These
neurotransmitters also function abnormally in individuals afflicted with depression.
This leads some researchers to believe there may a link between these two
disorders. Besides creating a sense of physical and emotional satisfaction, the
neurotransmitter serotonin also produces the effect of feeling full and having had
enough food.
Other brain chemicals have also been explored for their possible role in eating
disorders. Individuals with eating disorders have been shown to have a higher than
normal level of the hormones vasopressin and cortisol. Both these hormones are
normally released in response to physical and possible emotional stress, and may
contribute to some of the dysfunction seen in eating disordered individuals. Other
research has found high levels of the neuropeptide-Y and peptide-YY to be
elevated in individuals suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia. These chemicals
have been shown to stimulate eating behavior in laboratory animals. The hormone
cholecystokinin (CCK) has been found to be low in women with Bulimia and has
caused laboratory animals to feel full and stop eating.
Sociological
Environmental conditions reinforce the practice of an eating disorder. We live in a
society that reinforces the idea to be happy and successful we must be thin. Today,
you cannot read a magazine or newspaper, turn on the television, listen to the radio,
or shop at the mall without being assaulted with the message that fat is bad. During
adolescence, a particularly vulnerable time to the development of an eating
disorder, the influence of peers becomes important. Self monitoring and comparing
ourselves to others becomes central to our psyche. Peer teasing and pressures to
conform to the norm are common in the background of eating disorder individuals.
As our bodies developed and changed, how others and we reacted to these changes
influenced our eventual body acceptance. Other societal issues include
dysfunctional families, sexual abuse, physical abuse, domineering coaches and
controlling relationships.
Psychological
The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as
an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating,
purging or restricting to deal with feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem
overwhelming. Through the practice of the eating disorder, the individual may feel
a sense of partial control over their seemingly uncontrollable life. Some of the
underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-
esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthless, identity
concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions.
The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the
eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing.