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