Show Eating disorders are more common cornman than you think Jennifer Kimball Contributing Writer A to Wasatch Canyon Hospitals' Hospitals A ACCORDING eating disorders unit anorexia is a self in starvation About American women suffer from anorexia or some other form of eating disorder Mary Brady an RN has been working at t the eating disorders unit at Tuh c r. r H TJ or- or ori i V asa UI anyon tal for five years Brady explains Starvation n is the only way that an person can feel in cont control ol of her life An has an intense intense intense in in- tense fear of becoming obese Someone suffering from anorexia will have a very low self esteem This may come from the family family family ly said Brady A television commercial showing a very thin model can make an more self conscious Anorexia can cause a person to see distorted images of herself in the mir mir- It is a psychological cal problem Many sym symptoms of anorexia can occur Of course The organs fail to work When there is not fat left in the body the body will begin to use the muscles of the organs as a food source said Brady An person is always cold and begins to grow fine hair all over the body to keep the body warm Anorexia usually begins in the early teenage years and can last a few months to many years Psychological P di disorders A few symptoms can be observed in detecting detecting detect detect- in ing an eating disorder Abnormal weight loss Refusal to eat except tiny portions Excessive exercise 4 2 hours a day Depression Distorted body image Finding an excuse to skip meals Perfectionism Unusual concern about appearance baggy clothes Preoccupation with calories nutrition and cooking there is loss which is 15 below normal body weight said aid Brady Menstruation may stop and if starvation goes on for years the menstrual cycle will J 0 such as depression 50 of patients experience experience experience ex ex- depression helplessness and traumatic life e events can bring about abou t anorexia Anorexia or any other eating disorder disorder disorder der cannot disappear by itself Various counseling counseling counseling coun coun- therapies are used in treating eating disorders Individual therapy can help a patient increase self es esteem esteem esteem es- es teem and regain physical physical physical cal health Group therapy can help a patient feel less alone Family therapy will establish establish establish es es- es- es a bond of communication communication communication com com- between the family Intermountain Health HealthCare HealthCare HealthCare Care has special programs for anorexia and other eating disorders Wasatch Canyon Hospital McKay-Dee McKay Hospital and Utah Valley Valley Valley Val Val- ley Regional Medical Medial Center all have programs to help |