By Nila Harris
When singer Karen Carpenter died of an eating disorder, it was hard to fathom how such a beautiful, talented, person could suffer that way.
In 1983, little was known about the eating disorder that claimed the 32-year-old’s life.
Fortunately, now more information is available about eating disorders, what they are, how devastating they can be, and how those suffering can be treated and restored.
Feb. 26 to March 3 is National Eating Disorders Week — “an annual campaign to educate the public about eating disorders and to engage in efforts to provide hope and to engage support for individuals and families affected by eating disorders,” according to nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Although there are several types of eating disorders, the most common are anorexia nervosa (the kind that killed Carpenter), bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED).
Anorexia involves self-starvation as the person stresses over weight loss. The individual may binge, purge and exercise to the point of exhaustion to control their weight.
This disorder can cause cardiovascular and gastrological problems such as low/irregular heart rhythm, low blood pressure, constipation and abdominal pain.
People living with bulimia feel out of control after binging and will incorporate forced vomiting, often using medications, laxatives and/or excessive exercising to combat the effects of binging.
People suffering from bulimia often experience mouth and teeth disorders and acid reflux caused by frequent vomiting.
The excessive purging can lead to dehydration, heart irregularities and even death.
A person with BED eats a large amount of food in a short amount of time, even when they are not hungry or are uncomfortably full. This leads to embarrassment, shame, anger, depression and guilt.
People living with eating disorders can exhibit different symptoms, be of different body types and may look healthy yet be very ill.
Warning signs include preoccupation with weight and exercise, body image, dieting and food rituals.
The person might experience social withdrawal, extreme mood swings, gastrointestinal complaints, difficulty concentrating and sleeping and issues with dental, hair, nails, and skin.
A screening disorder tool is available at NEDA’s website: nationaleatingdisorders.org. The website includes a map of treatment centers nearby, with places in Lexington, Union, Florence and Cincinnati.
The NEDA website reminds caregivers to learn as much as you can about the eating disorder; be honest, vocal, caring, yet firm; be a good role model; and encourage the individual to seek professional help.
NEDA encourages us not to place shame, blame or guilt on our loved ones, not to make rules or promises that we cannot or will not uphold, not to give simple solutions nor advice on weight, exercise or appearance. Do not invalidate their experience or ignore the situation until it is too late.
When talking to someone experiencing this, be prepared for a negative reaction, yet remember that it’s important to get the person in for a medical checkup.
Be mindful that the first step to recovery can be challenging but reinforce why they want to get well.