It’s Not About the Food

Randie O’Neil, MA, CADC

Student Assistance Counselor

TRUE OR FALSE

T F Eating disorders occur in people who lack the will

power to eat healthy T F Eating Disorder are similar

to drug addictions T F Eating disorders usually

start after college

Examine your attitude towards physical appearance

Are looks a main factor in influencing how you feel about other people? Y N

Does your weight or shape influence how you value yourself? Y N

Do you think your life would change significantly if you could change something about your body? Y N

Do you think negative things about heavy people based on their appearance? Y F

Do you often compare yourself to other people and find that they ‘come up short’? Y N

Do you think that if a women is thin and a man is muscular, that person will be more respected? Y N

Warning Signs of Eating Disorder

Preoccupation with weight and body image

Excessive focus on food Compulsive exercise Wearing baggy clothes Mood swings Abnormal eating habits

Server dieting, preference for strange

food Ritual behavior or

binging

Excess growth of fine body hair

Hair skin and nails problems Feelings of isolation Impaired personal relations Depression, irritability or

anxiety Sensitivity to cold Absent or irregular periods Swollen glands Broken blood vessels in eyes Self induced vomiting,

laxatives diet pills or diuretics

DANGER-GET HELP

BLACKOUTS EXHAUSTION EXTREME TEMPERATURE SENSITIVTY CHEST PAINS TINGLING IN HANDS OR FEEL EXTREME STOMACH PAINS INCONTINENCE UNCONTROLABLE DIARRHEA OR VOMITING BLOOD IN STOOLS OR VOMIT

TYPES OF DISORDER

Anorexia NervosaBulimia NervosaCompulsive OvereatingBinge Eating DisorderBody Dysmorphic Disorder

IT’S NOT ABOUT FOOD!

Correcting eating habits will not make the problem disappear.

The problem is internal not external.

It’s about emotions and control.

Why do some people develop eating disorders?

Are eating disorder more prevalent in with athletes, males or females?

What factors contribute to the incidence of eating disorders?

What is the common denominator with all eating disorders?

Most don’t recover alone1. See a Physician

2. Eating disorder program

3. Relearning with a dietician

Eating Disorder Checklist

I often skip meals I’m afraid of being fat I believe I’d be popular if I were thinner I am frequently on a diet I use diet pills and laxatives I eat when I’m unhappy or angry I hide food