MEDICAL SURFARI: ARE YOU AN EMOTIONAL EATER?

It is understandable that eating may have some emotional content, after all, we have all been nurtured with food, and in many cultures eating symbolizes comfort, love and togetherness. Many of our most important social events involve eating.

Weight problems often represent much more than a matter of eating too much or exercising too little. Many people who are overweight or underweight use eating or lack of eating to help them deal with anger, boredom, insecurity, loneliness, exhaustion, stress and-or frustration.

Substituting food for other needs can have several serious health effects. It may draw your attention off the real problem and prevent you from taking the steps to correct it. And, it may escalate into an eating pattern that gets out of control and may cause permanent physical and-or emotional damage. Eating behaviors that have crossed this line are known as an eating disorder.

Eating disorders may cause a variety of health problems ranging from amenorrhea (no menstruation) to tooth decay, electrolyte imbalances, and may progress to other medical problems that can be fatal.

Although there are many different types of eating disorders, the most widely recognized are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by chronic undereating often resulting in body weight that is reduced to an unhealthy, low level. Bulimia nervosa usually reveals a pattern of intermittent binges (heavy eating) followed by purges (self-induced vomiting and abuse of laxatives and diuretics). Binge eating is similar to bulimia, but without purging. Although eating disorders may be characterized by different behaviors, their roots are often the same. Most eating disorders result from an excessive preoccupation with weight and shape, an obsessive drive for thinness, and a need to sublimate feelings and problems by focusing on food and weight.

If you have an eating disorder, you are not alone. About 7 million women in the United States and as many as 1 million men struggle with these disorders. If you feel that you are exhibiting these types of behaviors, you would be wise to seek help from your physician. Although the precise cause of eating disorders is not completely understood, there are many factors that are well understood, and many people have effectively recovered from eating disorders.

World Wide Web Resources

The following resources provide information on eating disorders and organizations that may be able to help.

The Center for Eating Disorders

http://www.eating-disorders.com/links.htm

This web page by St. Joseph's Medical Center will link you to sites related to various eating disorders which will in turn link you into more web pages on eating disorders. Many of these are comprehensive, well organized sites of interest to patients, families and friends, as well as health care workers.

Eating Disorders

http://www.plainsense.com/Health/Womens/EATDSRDR.htm

You will find in this site the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. It supplies information on treatment and how to get help from the American Anorexia/Bulimia Association at (212)-501-8351.

Signs and Symptoms

http://www.mirror-mirror.org/symptom.htm

This site by Eating Disorders Shared Awareness (EDSA) New York gives comprehensive lists of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and offers specific links to topics for more specific information on eating disorders that may interest you.

Mental Health Study Web

http://www.studyweb.com/mental/

This study web site will provide information on specific eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and offer you links to a wealth of knowledge on the respective subjects.

Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa

http://www.noah.cuny.edu/wellconn/eatdisorders.html

This informative site provides answers to the many questions that arise concerning eating disorders and an extensive list of organizations that can provide help if you have an eating disorder. Their complete addresses, phone numbers and web site addresses are listed for your convenience.

Dr. Scott Gibbs is a neurosurgeon and editor-in-chief of Mosby's Medical Surfari. You may e-mail questions to him at drgibbs@semissourian.com or write in care of the Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.