that can have a lot to do with the pressure in society for people to look good, slim, muscly and tanned. They do this to get that way despite the fact that most bulimics don’t even lose weight that much weight they just fluctuate slightly.”
and dehydration at their level can be extremely dangerous.
A third eating disorder which is not commonly known is EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).
Ruth said: “Bulimics are harder to spot but anyone with an eating disorder will do their best to hide it and will be in denial for some time. When they decide they want it however we are always here to help.
This means that when a person shows some of the signs of a specific eating disorder but not all of them they are recognised as having a problem but perhaps not enitirely one or the other. It may be that a suspected Anorexic may not have missed her last three periods without being pregnant or a suspected Bulimic is not purging but is binging. Next year it is expected that binging, without purging, will be instated as its own recognised eating disorder but for now it comes under the EDNOS umbrella. Ruth said: “There isn’t a whole lot of research but aside from the mental health and control issues there is the body image problem. In 2009 there was a Youth Mental Health study done and the number one issue, according to young people, is body image. That’s media-driven and that’s what people cling onto. It can cause a lot of problems.”
When recognising the signs of bulimics callouses on the knuckles are an indicator as well as binging without putting weight up.
“Whether it’s advice, a support network or information. The first step is to talk, get to the root of the problem and go from there.” On February 26th the Youth panel, overseen by the Bodywhys Youth Development Officer, who visits schools regularly to talk about eating disorders, will host a ‘Body Positive,’ walk in the Phoenix Park as part of National Eating Disorder Week. Ruth said: “The walk will be carnivalthemed and will give participants the opportunity to express themselves and their personalities in a positive way – because that’s the way it should always be.”
Problems which can prove long-term if a disorder is let run for any prolonged length of time. Anorexics can experience muscle and heart problems with heart attacks being the main cause of death for sufferers. They may also have issues with Osteoporosis, severe lack of concentration and infertility. Bulimics purging can have a negative impact on the electrodes in the body 17