What is Disordered Eating?

Do you ever find yourself constantly preoccupied with eating? Keeping obsessive track of your daily calorie intake? Weighing yourself every day? Hating yourself for "slipping up" or eating the occasional treat? Are these habits becoming more and more of an obsession?

These seemingly harmless health-conscious acts are often warning signs for the onset of eating disorders, which affect one in five American women. The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, characterized by self starvation and excessive weight loss, and bulimia nervosa, characterized by a cycle of binge eating and subsequent behaviors such as induced vomiting. These disorders are often about much more than food- they arise from physical, social, and emotional issues.

In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are struggling to cope or survive with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, both of which pose life threatening consequences. Millions more are affected by binge eating disorders.

Media messages and social obsession have a strong influence on the development of eating disorders in young girls. It is important to remember that there are a variety of healthy body types that are not often shown on TV and in the movies. Click here to see a range of healthy body sizes and shapes.

Having a positive body image is the first step to being able to maintain a happy and healthy life, free from disordered eating. While it is important to eat healthy and exercise, doing anything compulsively or in excess could lead to negative health consequences.

Check out these tips to develop and strengthen your body image:

1. Eat healthy and exercise regularly, but don’t punish yourself for eating the occasional treat or taking a day off to rest!

2. Don’t compare yourself to others- confidence is everything!

3. Surround yourself with positive people who make you feel good about yourself and who can provide you with support.

4. Write down a list of the things you like and admire about yourself- look at it frequently!

5. Involve yourself in activities that you enjoy- being happy personally and professionally will make you happier with yourself!

For more information on eating disorders check out Sex Etc.org, The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and the National Eating Disorders Association.