02/16/2003

STATISTICS, from the National Eating Disorders Association:

Up to 10 million girls and women (5 to 10 percent of all females who've attained puberty) and 1 million boys and men suffer eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

90 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance

42 percent of girls in grades 1 to 3 want to be thinner

81 percent of all 10 year olds are afraid of being fat

Most fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women. The average American woman is 5-foot-4 and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5-foot-11 and weighs 117 pounds.

EATING DISORDERS:

The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, or self-starvation, and bulimia, also known as binging and purging with self-induced vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, fasting and or overexercising.

WARNING SIGNS (from a variety of sources)

Dramatic weight loss.

Preoccupation with weight, food, calories fat grams and dieting to the point that it interferes with other aspects of the person's life. May weigh themselves several times a day.

Refusal to eat certain foods, or entire categories of foods (i.e., a person announces she or he wants to be a vegetarian, but does not follow through with a healthy diet to provide adequate proteins, etc.)

Excessive exercise, despite weather, fatigue, illness or injury, including a need to "burn off" calories taken in.

Evidence of purging behaviors such as trips to the bathroom immediately after eating, as well as self-induced vomiting, or use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas and other methods of "purging" food after it's been eaten.

Frequent comments about feeling "fat" or overweight, despite weight loss. Anxiety about gaining weight or being fat.

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES:

Abnormally slow heart rate, irregular heat beat, low blood pressure

Muscle loss and weakness

Severe dehydration that can result in kidney failure

Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness

Dry hair and skin; hair loss

Constipation and digestive problems, including ulcers

Loss or delay of menstrual period

Insomnia

Low self-esteem; depression