Do you know anyone with a eating disorder?

I think eating disorders are very under-rated diseases that are very often fobbed off as a silly phase people (usually young women) are going through. In my opinion an eating disorder mostly has to with self-esteem and a need for control. People with eating disorders (again, in my experience) are perfectionsits and strive for everything in their lives to be perfect and when there is imperfection they tend to gain control over their lives by controlling what they do or dont eat. It then becomes an obessession that escalates into a serious problem. People often talk about the 'voices' in their head telling them that they are fat or to feel guilty about having eaten etc but they need to realise that those voices are actually their own thoughts and minds and that they need to learn to control them and not let the voices control their behaviour and feed their obsession. Its a really difficult viscious circle but one that can have a happy ending.

I notice that anorexia is the most common in teenage girls because of society or home problems that family members dont seem to realize. Sometimes they have so much going on in life they feel like their weight is the only thing they can control. Pay more attention to them. You cant force an anorexic to eat because it can make them bulimic! Focus on how they`re doing in school and out of school.

Yes,I have an eating disorder...Or so I have been told...I don't think I do...But people say I do all of the time...

My sister became extremely overweight after she got married. When she came back to visit we all thought she was expecting a child but she wasn't.....she said that buying food was so expensive so they ate out all the time...which is not true because it's cheaper to make your food than to eat out all the time! WEll she said she would rather starve herself then to eat healthy because she hates vegetables and stuff....I think starving yourself or eating 1 small meal a day is bad...It's bad for your whole body....I don't think it can be prevented! Women have different thoughts of what their bodies should look like! No 2 women are the same! It all starts with themselves and maybe watching what you eat and excersize regularly...

Iv never had one...nor do i know anyone who has!

I think someone touched upon this also, but to reiterate, we must not forget that eating disorders have many extremes, but we often only associate the emaciated white, middle-class teenaged female as the "norm" for all. Eating disorders and those afflicted can be represented by the "ultra-thin", average "looking", and overweight person. And eating disorders are not necessarily linked only to body image. Of course, it may be part of the disease, but rarely is it the "only" aspect. Many people eat or don't eat as a means of control, or lack of control. Food is about the only thing that society can't control inside of the home (mind you, they're doing their best to take over even this area of life) and sometimes people turn to food (or turn away) as a coping mechanism to deal with everyday stresses, or hidden traumas. Once actively engaged in the ED way of life/thinking, it almost becomes automatic-every thought and action centres around the disorder, and more we starve or feed the disorder, the more likely the basic chemistry of our brains is to be altered. No one "adopts" an ED with a rational mind, but the longer the disorder is present, the more the irrational behaviours and thoughts become "normal" for the individual. It's a sad and vicious cycle. (I could go on and on...but I'll stop here! :)

I had an eating disorder in my early teens, thank god it was just a phase.

I think it is a very serious and a very real disorder but I think it is a cultural thing as well. I haven't heard of anyone in the country I am in having this disorder. The only disorder many of them have is not having enough money to feed themselves or their families. I think these people probably couldn't even relate to that kind of a disorder.

I myself, is experiencing eating disorder.. It all started when I lost a lot of weight during my 1st few years in College and then regain it on my 3rd year. From 83 lbs to 110 lbs.. and then people start commenting on the weight I gained... and that's how I became conscious of my body and my looks.. There are times when I feel guilty of eating.. My thoughts are always on how to lose weight... I kept on searching ways of losing weight... sometimes I succeed but the battle is hard.. I want to get out of this situation because it makes me upset.. but i don't know how..