4 common myths about eating disorders: Part One

There are many different types of eating disorders. In the U.S. alone 30 million men and women suffer from some type of significant eating disorder. These include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or EDNOS (i.e., eating disorder not otherwise specified). EDNOS is one that does not meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

If you know someone who is suffering from a type of eating disorder, it's important to understand what condition they have before helping them.

1. It's all about the food

Sufferers of eating disorders can't will themselves to eat more or less. It's not simply about the food. Often there are underlying mental, psychological or emotional pain that is causing them to seek relief by eating or restricting their intake of food. When trying to help someone with a disorder, don't push them to eat more or less. Instead, obtain help from a qualified professional who can take you through the proper treatment steps.

2. You can tell if someone has an eating disorder

Often the media defines sufferers of eating disorders as those who have been diagnosed with anorexia or binge eating. In many situations, those with eating disorders actually don't appear to be drastically under or overweight. For them, it's a mental issue. They may be the perfect weight for their body type, but every time they eat a meal they're overly worried how it'll affect their weight and health. They may also become depressed.

If you know someone who is suffering from an eating disorder, consider Fairwinds Treatment Center. Dr. M.K. (Khal) El-Yousef, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders by using a Dual Diagnosis approach. In using this tactic, Dr. El-Yousef and his staff of full-time psychiatrists, nursing professionals and licensed therapists work to first diagnosis the underlying reason behind a person's disorder. Upon understanding the cause, they can then treat the condition and its symptoms.