Eating Disorders

"I am above/on the high end of my healthy weight range... I cannot possibly have an Eating Disorder..."
A person with an eating disorder can be of any weight. For most victims weight will continuously be going up and down. The weight of a person's body does not indicate their overall health, nor does it change the danger each victim may be in! There are significant dangers in the disordered eating patterns themselves and the dangerous weight loss methods used, regardless of the actual weight.

"I cannot be Anorexic because I do eat when I have to..."
Restriction of food and calories does not mean complete restriction for every victim. For some, this means restricting certain types of foods (each victim sticking with what they perceive as "safe foods") and limiting calories to below normal on a daily basis. For others this means fasting for a certain number of days and then eating "normally" for the next number of days, and repeating the cycle continuously.

"I eat a lot of candy, and can't possibly be Anorexic..."
Many Anorexics and Bulimics are junk-food addicts. There is little nutritional value to junk food but they can provide a false sense of energy. They also appease extreme cravings... for example, a victim's system may be depleted of Sodium so there may be a strong craving for something salty. A bag of chips would seem to satisfy this craving. It is not uncommon to find a victim of Anorexia or Bulimia who lives solely on candy (or junk-food). Other common "replacements" are drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea and/or cigarettes.

"I eat three meals a day (or I eat a lot during the course of a day) and never purge. How can I have an Eating Disorder?..."
Disordered eating doesn't always mean restricting, binging and/or purging. Victims sometimes eat 3 meals a day, or eat continuously throughout the day and fool themselves into thinking that all is fine. If these eating patterns or meals consist of only lettuce, salad or yogurt (or other comparably low calorie, low fat food), and the calorie intake overall is far below what is needed to maintain good health, you are at risking your health.

"I don't make myself vomit or use laxatives, I cannot be Bulimic..."
There are other methods of "purging" following a binge. In addition to using laxatives or inducing vomiting, purging can also be done by compulsive exercise or complete fasting. This is one of the attributes that can be present in a person suffering both Anorexia (restriction and purging without binging) and Bulimia (binging and purging).

"My family member/friend eats normally around me. He/she can't possibly have an Eating Disorder..."
It is not uncommon for victims of Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Eating to eat "normally" around others. The victim may use their time alone to "make up" for the time they've spent eating with others.

"I take vitamin/mineral supplements so I know I will stay healthy..."
Vitamin supplements will not protect victims from the harm an Eating Disorder will expose the body to. Vitamins and minerals are absorbed into the body much more efficiently through their source food, and work in harmony with one another to ensure the highest level of effectiveness and absorption. While taking vitamins and minerals may help to provide a sense of security, or even prolong certain aspects of health (like warding off infection), they will not protect you from the dangers associated with having an Eating Disorder, such as: the bowel or kidneys shutting down, dehydration, diabetes, tears in the esophagus, ulcers, joint pain and arthritis, digestive and absorption problems, acid reflux disorders, low or high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, loss of menstrual cycle, infertility, dilation of the intestines, or depression and suicide.

"I can't die from this..."
Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating kill their victims. Eating Disorders have the highest rate of death out of any other psychological illness. Up to 30% of the victims of Eating Disorders (and maybe higher) will die as a result of a complication caused by the illness.