Dieting: How to Learn What Eating Disorders to Avoid

Ironically, even though eating disorders are among the most discussed issues nowadays, the number of women who suffer from these fatal conditions still continues to rise. In their attempts to follow society's definition of beautiful - which often means having a stick-thin figure - women resort to various ways in achieving "the look" promoted by magazines, television, and movies.

While some adhere to healthy ways of slimming down, others turn to almost instantaneous, but extremely dangerous methods of shedding off pounds. We are all aware of the perils of unhealthy dieting, such as harm to internal organs, brain damage, and even death.

Below are three of the most common eating disorders that we ought to prevent. If a friend or a relative shows the following symptoms, you must act immediately and extend your help.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by excessive dieting, anorexia nervosa causes people to have a distorted image of themselves. Even if they are fit enough, they see themselves as chubby, fat, or overweight. Symptoms include extreme weight loss, cold hands and feet, constant exhaustion, weakness of the muscles, fainting, dizziness, and irregular menstrual period.

While people with this eating disorder surround themselves with food, they will avoid it as much as they can. They will think of any excuse to delay or avoid eating. When they do eat, they tend to cut food into very small pieces.

Because they see themselves as fat, they often wear oversized clothes. This is also to hide the effects of extreme dieting. They tend to weigh themselves daily and are usually people-pleasers, willing to help everyone else.

Those with anorexia nervosa usually deny having a problem, so it can be difficult to treat them. But once they receive proper counseling and nutritional training, they will be able to overcome this disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa