Because of the increasing pressure of being thinner and thinner numerous models end up with sick and many of them had already died from eating disorders.
The average woman model weighs up to 25% less than the typical woman and maintains a weight at about 15 to 20 percent below what is considered healthy for her age and height.
Eating disorders include a range of different conditions where people have an abnormal attitude towards food, altered appetite control and unhealthy eating habits that affect their health and ability to function normally.
The two most common types are:
• anorexia nervosa - starving the body to an unhealthily low weight.
• bulimia nervosa bingeing then vomiting after eating or taking laxatives (pills that make you poo more) to try to lose weight.
How do I know if I have Anorexia Nervosa?
It’s important to know that everyone will not have the same symptoms. Some people will have a mix of symptoms and you do not need to have all these symptoms to have an eating disorder.
‘Anorexia nervosa’ means ‘loss of appetite for nervous reasons’ but this is misleading because in reality you have lost the ability to allow yourself to satisfy your appetite. You probably restrict the amount you eat and drink, sometimes to a dangerous level. You may exercise to burn off what you perceive to be excess calories. You focus on food in an attempt to cope with life, not to starve yourself to death. It is a way of demonstrating that you are in control of your body weight and shape.
The effects of anorexia on your body
• In adults, extreme weight loss; in children and teenagers, poor or inadequate weight gain in relation to their growth or substantial weight loss.
• Constipation and abdominal pains
• Dizzy spells and feeling faint
• Bloated stomach, puffy face and ankles
• Downy hair on the body; occasionally loss of hair on the head when recovering
• Poor blood circulation and feeling cold
• Dry, rough, or discoloured skin
• Loss of ‘periods’, loss of interest in sex
• Loss of bone mass and eventually osteoporosis (brittle bones)
How do I know if I have Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia is more difficult for others to notice as you tend not to lose weight so dramatically, or your weight will fluctuate. Even people close to you at home or work may not recognise the illness, so it can persist for many years undetected. People with bulimia may have demanding jobs that require them to be out-going and self-assured even when they feel inadequate inside. As with anorexia, people who develop bulimia become reliant on the control of food and eating as a way of coping with emotional difficulties in their life. You may also find you become obsessed with maintaining your weight.
The effects of bulimia on your body
• Frequent weight changes
• Sore throat, tooth decay and bad breath caused by excessive vomiting
• Swollen salivary glands making the face rounder
• Poor skin condition and possible hair loss
• Irregular ‘periods’ or loss of interest in sex
• Lethargy and tiredness
• Increased risk of heart problems and problems with other internal organs
I think I've got an eating disorder...
Talk to someone you trust and see your GP. Don’t waste any time. The sooner people start getting proper help, the better their chances of beating it.
For more information about eating disorders and help click here
top ...
|