LAUREL SCHOOL | ONE LYMAN CIRCLE • SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO 44122 • 216.455.3061 • WWW.LAURELSCHOOL.ORG

EATING DISORDERS

What you should know and what you should do

ANOREXIA

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• Involves dieting 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, malnutrition or other complications of the disorder

OTHER FACTS ABOUT ANOREXIA

• Anorexia leads to the loss of the menstrual cycle

• Sustained anorexia can lead to irreversible infertility, even after the woman has returned to a normal weight

• Anorexia usually begins in the teenage years

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

BULIMIA

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• Is a repeated pattern of binging and purging• Bulimia can damage the body and lead to

dehydration, anemia, and menstrual irregularities• The majority of people who suffer from bulimia

ultimately recover but one in twenty-five die from complications associated with the disorder– Bulimia can cause severe imbalances in electrolyte levels

which can lead to lethal heart attacks

LAUREL SCHOOL | ONE LYMAN CIRCLE • SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO 44122 • 216.455.3061 • WWW.LAURELSCHOOL.ORG

IT TAKES SEVERAL STEPS TO DEVELOP AN EATING DISORDER

Common steps toward an eating disorder

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• STEP ONE: HAVING A GENETIC VULNERABILITY– Research suggests that people with anorexia may not sense or be

bothered by hunger. This makes self-starvation possible.• STEP TWO: HAVING AN “ENVIRONMENTAL” STRESSOR

– Something in the person’s life doesn’t feel right and losing weight helps the person feel better.

• STEP THREE: BECOMING “ADDICTED” TO THE EATING DISORDER– Eating disorders, like substance use disorders can be addictive.

People with eating disorders get into the habit of using the eating disorder to help them feel better when upset about anything.

• STEP FOUR: LOSING REASON AND COMMON SENSE– People who are starving cannot think clearly. Once an eating

disorder is underway, the person with the disorder is no longer able to think rationally about her own health.

EARLY INTERVENTION IS CRITICAL

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• Because eating disorders can become addictive, 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.

WHEN TO WORRY

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• You should be concerned about a friend’s eating if– she adopts and sticks to a restricted diet for no medical

reason– she skips meals– often says she has “already eaten”– she says she will “meet you later” if you are meeting 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 after meals– you have a funny feeling

WHAT TO DO

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

• Consider talking directly with your friend about your concerns– Let her know that you are worried– Describe specific actions 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.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

• If you tell an adult at Laurel about a peer’s eating behavior– The school will respond on a case-by-case

basis– Your confidentiality will be protected– We will work with your friend to assess the

situation and make a plan if needed – You don’t have to be sure that your friend is

eating disordered to tell an adult

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

PERSONAL CONCERNS

• If you are concerned about your own eating please let an adult at home or school know

• We can help make sure that you are taking good care of yourself

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS

WRAPPING UP

• We want you to be loyal and kind to each other.• But, a real friend will not keep a friend’s eating

disorder a secret. • If you feel like your friend is having trouble with her

eating, the most loyal thing you can do is to let an adult know.

PUTTING THE WORLD’S BEST RESEARCH TO WORK FOR GIRLS