EATING DISORDERS. What you should know and what you should do

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1 EATING DISORDERS What you should know and what you should do LAUREL SCHOOL ONE LYMAN CIRCLE SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO

2 ANOREXIA Involves diesng to the point of being dangerously thin Is one of the most chronic psychological disorders Only one third of people suffering from anorexia ever fully recover Is the single most lethal psychological disorder One in ten people suffering from anorexia die from heart failure, organ failure, malnutrison or other complicasons of the disorder

3 OTHER FACTS ABOUT ANOREXIA Anorexia leads to the loss of the menstrual cycle Sustained anorexia can lead to irreversible infer6lity, even a]er the woman has returned to a normal weight Anorexia usually begins in the teenage years

4 BULIMIA Is a repeated pa^ern of binging and purging Bulimia can damage the body and lead to dehydrason, anemia, and menstrual irregularises The majority of people who suffer from bulimia ulsmately recover but one in twenty- five die from complicasons associated with the disorder Bulimia can cause severe imbalances in electrolyte levels which can lead to lethal heart a;acks

5 IT TAKES SEVERAL STEPS TO DEVELOP AN EATING DISORDER LAUREL SCHOOL ONE LYMAN CIRCLE SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO

6 Common steps toward an easng disorder STEP ONE: HAVING A GENETIC VULNERABILITY Research suggests that people with anorexia may not sense or be bothered by hunger. This makes self- starvason possible. STEP TWO: HAVING AN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSOR Something in the person s life doesn t feel right and losing weight helps the person feel be;er. STEP THREE: BECOMING ADDICTED TO THE EATING DISORDER Ea6ng disorders, like substance use disorders can be addic6ve. People with easng disorders get into the habit of using the easng disorder to help them feel be^er when upset about anything. STEP FOUR: LOSING REASON AND COMMON SENSE People who are starving cannot think clearly. Once an easng disorder is underway, the person with the disorder is no longer able to think rasonally about her own health.

7 EARLY INTERVENTION IS CRITICAL Because easng disorders can become addicsve, the sooner the person gets help, the more likely they are to recover. The person with the disorder does not feel that she has a problem. External help is necessary. Research shows that the people most likely to recover are under the age of 18 and have suffered from the disorder for less than 3 years. REMEMBER: You know long before adults know when a peer is in trouble.

8 WHEN TO WORRY You should be concerned about a friend s easng if she adopts and s6cks to a restricted diet for no medical reason she skips meals o]en says she has already eaten she says she will meet you later if you are meesng over a meal she leaves early if a meal is about to happen she takes food but pushes it around on her plate she becomes too thin consistently excuses herself a]er meals you have a funny feeling

9 WHAT TO DO Consider talking directly with your friend about your concerns Let her know that you are worried Describe specific acsons that have caused your worry (e.g., skipping meals) Ask your friend to tell and an adult and have the adult confirm with you that s/he has been told If your friend is upset, let her know that you care more about her health than about having her not be mad at you If you don t want to talk directly with your friend, or if talking with your friend doesn t work, tell an adult at Laurel about your concern.

10 WHAT HAPPENS NEXT If you tell an adult at Laurel about a peer s easng behavior The school will respond on a case- by- case basis Your confidensality will be protected We will work with your friend to assess the situason and make a plan if needed You don t have to be sure that your friend is easng disordered to tell an adult

11 PERSONAL CONCERNS If you are concerned about your own easng please let an adult at home or school know We can help make sure that you are taking good care of yourself

12 WRAPPING UP We want you to be loyal and kind to each other. But, a real friend will not keep a friend s easng disorder a secret. If you feel like your friend is having trouble with her easng, the most loyal thing you can do is to let an adult know.