How does disordered eating affect your thinking?
Impaired concentration
Poor judgement and decision making
Impaired comprehension
Increased rigidity and obsessional thinking
Reduced alertness
How do eating disorders affect your body?
Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
Feeling cold all the time
Dizziness and blackouts
Loss of strength, high fatigue
Hair loss, dry skin
Decreased hormone levels
Heart muscle mass reduced by 25%
Heart rate and blood pressure decreased
Irregular heartbeat
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
C R I S I S ?
If you need help, don’t wait. Talk to a safe adult or call 988.
Fast Facts About Disordered Eating
How does disordered eating affect my emotions & relationships?
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability
Loss of interest in life
Withdrawal and isolation
Loss of sense of humor
Feelings insecure in social situations
Neglect of personal hygiene
Strained relationships
What are common Eating Disorders?
Anorexia nervosa: Avoiding food or severely restricting food.
Bulimia nervosa: Binging and purging but without limiting what and how much a person eats.
Binge eating disorder is when people binge eats but don't purge or restrict. This is the most common eating disorder in the United States.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): The person limits the amount or type of food they eat, but not because they are worried about their weight.
Healthy ways to cope
Grounding
Practice naming:
5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 think you can taste
Friends and Family
Spend time with people you love and let them know you care about them
Do something kind for someone else
Mindfulness
Try mindful eating. Pay attention to the taste, smell, and feel of food as you eat. You can even try the grounding practice 54321 with your food! Look up mindfulness practices on YouTube Allow your breathing to slow and notice where you’re holding tension in your body.
Gratitude
Keep a gratitude journal
Look for 3 things to be grateful for every day Notice what you are grateful for about your body (laughing, hugs, texting, naps, dancing). Spread gratitude around... let others know you’re grateful for them!
Creativity
Draw, build, paint, craft Sing, act, dance, make a video
Myth Busting
Myth: You are only affecting your muscle and body fat by not eating.
Myth: It is uncommon for a child to have other mental health illnesses besides their eating disorder.
Myth: You can’t die from an eating disorder.
Myth: Eating disorders only occur in females.
Fact: Eating disorders lead to severe malnutrition that affects nearly every organ in the body.
Fact: It is very common for people with eating disorders to have depression, anxiety, OCD, & more.
Fact: Eating disorders have the highest rate of death of any psychiatric illness if it is not treated.
Fact: Although eating disorders are more common in females, they can affect anyone!
If you need help, don’t wait. Talk to a safe adult or call 988.
