Eating disorders, please help?

why do you think eating disorders are so prevalent in our society?if you have a good friend showing signs of an eating disorder. what are some of the symptoms and how would i seek help for them? what is the most difficult obstacles in tryin to help

I think television and magazines has something to do with why people have eating disorders. The symptoms depend on which eating disorder. A person might be throwing up after eating and eating a lot the whole day as if he/she is never full. Or they might not eat at all and talk a lot about being skinny or fat also mention diets. They work out a lot, don't like to eat in public, and show some disgust for food with a lot of fat in them. The best help is to get them to seek profesional help and that's the hardest thing to do. Some of them belive there's nothing wrong with them.

Many times, people with eating disorders become very tired and fatigue, and they may use the bathroom alot because mal nutrition will cause the runs. if eating disorder continues to prevail, they will get rounded cheek bones and droopy eyes. the consequences are seriouse, and if you have a loved one with an eating disorder, its best to confront them immediatley.

check out this website www.kidshealth.org/teen/. It gives you lots of info on the signs and general information.

most difficult obstacles would be trying to convince the person they have a problem. afterall it comes down to them to seek the help unless you get their parents/family involved to help. i think eating disorders are so prevalent for many reasons. its hard to go in to them all. it can be because of media responses to 'fat' or 'skinny' people. it can be peoples ideals on what is beautiful. it can be the fast food we now eat instead of the old fashioned meat and vegies the older generation lived on. it can be genetics such as hormones, diabetes etc.
as for symptoms it depends how obvious they are. if they are picking at food or refuse to eat when you've spent alot of time with them and you are eating a meal then its obvious they arent eating. it may be stress and they dont feel like eating or it could be an eating disorder. same goes with vomiting, and eating alot. or eating alot and weight gain (depression?) or significant weight loss. obsession with their body and saying they are fat all the time and weighing themselves and eating less for fear of getting fat. theres lots of symptoms to look out for. if they are really obvious then you need to speak to the person about it and their family also before it gets out of hand.

hope this info was useful!

Too much processed, high fat, high sugar, low fibre, and fast foods, and sedentary lifestyles, when we evolved from hunter, gatherers, always on the move. See http://emotionalhealth.ivillage.com/... and http://www.foodaddiction.org and http://www.oa.org/index.htm and http://www.webhealth.com/wiki/eating_dis... and http://www.edreferral.com and http://www.fatloss4idiots.com Call EDAP on 1-800-931-2237. Check these out, and print/copy the ones which are relevant to your friend's problem. For anorexia/bulimia, see pages 39, and 44, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris

I really dont know why people get them. There is a lot of reasons. there is several different eating disorders but Im going to think you are talking about anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervorsa.
Some signs for anorexia nervosa are:
Weigh much less than is healthy or normal.
very afraid of gaining weight.
Refuse to stay at a normal weight.
Think they are overweight even when they are very thin.
Obsess about food, weight, and dieting.
Strictly limit their food intake.
Exercise a lot, even when they are sick.
Vomit or use laxatives or water pills (diuretics) to avoid weight gain.
Develop odd habits about food
Become secretive
Feel weak, tired, or faint.
Have thinning hair, dry skin, and brittle nails.
Stop menstrating
Feeling very hot or very cold never comfortable
low blood pressure and a slow heartbeat.
purplish skin color on their arms and legs from poor blood flow.
swollen feet and hands.
Grow a layer of baby-fine hair all over their body.
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge on a regular basis.
Purge to get rid of the food and avoid weight gain.
Base how they feel about themselves on how much they weigh and how they look.
Goes to the bathroom right after meals.
Overeats but does not gain weight.
Is secretive about eating, hides food, or will not eat around other people.
Exercises a lot, no matter how the person feels
Often talks about dieting, weight, and body shape.
Uses laxatives or diuretics often.
Has teeth marks or calluses on the back of the persons hands or swollen cheeks or jaws.

Talk to the person you think has an eating disorder
Urge the person to talk to someone who can help, like a doctor or counselor. Offer to go with the person with an eating disorder.
Tell someone who can make a difference-like a parent, teacher, counselor, or doctor. A person with an eating disosorder may insist the person doesnt need help but the person does. The sooner the person gets treatment, the sooner the person will be healthy again.

Remember if you cant help your friend its not your fault. Your friend may be an adult and there isnt much you can make your friend do to help themselves. Try to be there for your friend even if your friend doesnt want any help.