Eating Disorder Facts

    What is an eating disorder? An eating disorder is an obsession with food and weight that harms a person's well-being. Although we all worry about our weight sometimes, people with an eating disorder go to extremes to keep from gaining weight. There are two main eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

    What causes eating disorders? We don't know exactly. Possible causes include feeling stressed out or upset about something in your life, or feeling like you need to be "in control." Society also puts a lot of pressure on people to be thin. This pressure can contribute too.

    What is anorexia? People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They don't want to eat, and they are afraid of gaining weight. They may constantly worry about how many calories they take in or how much fat is in their food. They may take diet pills, laxatives or water pills to lose weight. They may exercise too much. Anorexics usually think they're fat even though they're very thin. People with anorexia may get so thin that they look like they're sick.

    What is bulimia? Bulimia is eating a lot of food at once (called bingeing), and then throwing up or using laxatives to remove the food from the body (called purging). After a binge, some bulimics fast (don't eat) or over-exercise to keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia may also use water pills, laxatives or diet pills to "control" their weight. People with bulimia often try to hide their bingeing and purging. They may hide food for binges. Bulimics are usually close to normal weight, but their weight may go up and down.

    What's wrong with trying to be thin? It's healthy to watch what you eat and to exercise. What isn't healthy is worrying all the time about your weight and what you eat. People with eating disorders do harmful things to their bodies because of their obsession about their weight. If it isn't treated, anorexia can cause the following health problems:

    • Stomach problems
    • Heart problems
    • Irregular periods or no periods
    • Fine hair all over the body, including the face
    • Dry, scaly skin

    If it isn't treated, bulimia can cause the following health problems:

    • Stomach problems
    • Heart problems
    • Kidney problems
    • Dental problems (from throwing up stomach acid)
    • Dehydration (not enough water in the body)

    Can eating disorders be treated? Yes. For anorexics, the first step is getting back to a normal weight. If you're malnourished or very thin, you may be put in the hospital. Your doctor will probably want you to see a dietitian to learn how to pick healthy foods and eat at regular times. For both anorexics and bulimics, family and individual counseling (talking about your feelings about your weight and problems in your life) is helpful.

    What are the warning signs?
    The following are possible warning signs of anorexia and bulimia:

    • Unnatural concern about body weight (even if the person is not overweight)
    • Obsession with calories, fat grams and food
    • Use of any medicines to keep from gaining weight (diet pills, laxatives, water pills)

    More serious warning signs may be harder to notice because people who have an eating disorder try to keep it secret. Watch for these signs:

    • Throwing up after meals
    • Refusing to eat or lying about how much was eaten
    • Fainting
    • Over-exercising
    • Not having periods
    • Increased anxiety about weight
    • Calluses or scars on the knuckle (from forced throwing up)
    • Denying that there is anything wrong

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    Facts on Teen Suicide

    Thoughts about suicide can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time in life -- not just those who may currently suffer from a mental illness. Teens can be especially at risk.

    • One in every eight teens experiences major depressive episodes that go untreated.
    • One in every five teens has thoughts of suicide.
    • Nearly 6,000 teenagers commit suicide each year.
    • Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-24.
    • The ratio of male to female suicides is four to one; however, young women attempt suicide four times more frequently.
    • Reports of suicide clusters, in which one suicide triggers several others within a school or community, have increased.

    Suicide In Colorado

    • Every year, Colorado records roughly 800 suicide deaths and an estimated 9,600 suicide attempts.
    • Often those who contemplate suicide may also suffer from depression, other forms of mental illness and substance abuse.
    • At least half of those at risk for suicide are not seeking any type of professional services for the problem. This is particularly true for young people.
    • The Rocky Mountain region has the highest suicide rate in the country.
    • In 2002, the suicide death rate in Colorado was more than 16 people per 100,000, making it the 8th highest in the country and considerably higher than the national average.
    • An estimated 9,600 Coloradans seriously contemplate suicide each year and approximately one-half to two-thirds of these individuals are not being treated for their suicidal symptoms.

    What are the Signs that Someone is Considering Suicide?

    • Giving away prized possessions
    • Feelings of hopelessness or rejection
    • Depression, in the form of loss of appetite, weight loss, change in sleeping habits, or change in personality
    • Low self-esteem
    • Withdraws from regular activities with family or Friends Hospital
    • Slipping in school performance
    • Talk of suicide, death, or earlier attempts at suicide
    • Abuse of alcohol or drugs

    What Can You Do?

    • If someone you know brings up the subject of suicide, take them seriously.
    • Reassure them that they have someone to turn to, a friend to help them.
    • Don’t lecture about the reasons a person has to live, listen to them.
    • If someone tells you they are suicidal and they make you promise not to tell anyone, it is important that you tell someone else immediately. It's more important to have your friend alive, than dead. They can forgive you later.
    • Contact someone for help. Depressive disorders respond well to psychotherapy treatments or the appropriate medication.

    Places Where You Can Go for Help

    • In a medical emergency, call 911.
    • If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call 1-800-SUICIDE and talk to someone anonymously.
    • Call your family physician.
    • Talk with a teacher, principal or any other trusted adult or call your local crisis intervention center immediately. You may be feeling hurt, tired, alone, depressed, scared, angry, hopeless, or unloved, and it may seem that things will never get better. However, no matter how overwhelming your problems seem, confidential help really is available.

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    Suicide Prevention Resources

    Hotline
    Call the Suicide Hotline at: 1-800-SUICIDE, if you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis.

    Suicide Prevention Networks/Support Groups

    Colorado Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
    P.O. Box 200188
    Denver, CO 80220
    Phone: 303-572-0302
    Fax: 303-572-0304
    Email: thefederation@uswest.net
    Website: www.coloradofederation.org

    Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention
    Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
    4300 Cherry Creek Drive South PSD-A4
    Denver, CO 80246-1530
    Phone: 303-692-2539
    Fax: 303-691-7901
    Email: cdphe.psdrequests@state.co.us
    Website: www.coloradofederation.org

    The Colorado Trust’s Suicide Prevention Initiative
    1600 Sherman Street
    Denver, Colorado 80203
    Phone: 303-837-1200
    Toll-free: 888-847-9140
    Website: www.coloradotrust.org

    Community Reach Center
    8931 Huron Street
    Thornton, CO 80260
    Phone: 303-853-3500
    Fax: 303-426-9340
    Website: www.communityreachcenter.com

    Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance / Aurora
    Contact: Carol Stowell
    Phone: 303-329-9894
    Contact Don Robertson
    Phone: 303-617-0057

    Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance / Denver
    Contact Patrick Barry
    Phone: 303-369-8514, ext. 1219
    Email: patbarry@copper.net

    Heartbeat Suicide Grief Support
    Mission Hills Church
    5859 S. University Boulevard
    Greenwood Village, CO 80121
    Phone: 303-794-3564
    Phone: 303-770-1859
    Website: www.heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org

    Jefferson Center for Mental Health
    9485 W. Colfax Avenue
    Lakewood, CO 80215
    Phone: 303-432-5503
    Website: www.jeffersonmentalhealth.org
    Website: www.endteensuicide.org

    Mental Health Association of Colorado
    1385 S. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 610
    Denver, CO 80222
    Direct Line: 720-208-2220
    Toll-free: 800-456-3249
    Fax: 720-208-2250
    Email: mentalhealth@mhacolorado.org
    Website: www.mhacolorado.org

    MindZone: A Mental Health Site for Teens
    Coordinated by the Annenberg Foundation Trust
    Website: www.copecaredeal.org

    Second Wind Fund
    Jefferson Foundation
    Jeff Lamontagne
    809 Quail Street, #1
    Lakewood, CO 80215
    Phone: 720-963-0773
    Website: www.thesecondwindfund.org

    The Shaka Franklin Foundation for Youth
    8101 E. Dartmouth Ave., Number 11
    Denver, CO 80231
    Phone: 303-337-2515
    Website: www.shaka.org

    Suicide Prevention Intervention Network (SPIN)
    5859 S. University Blvd.
    Greenwood Village, Colorado 80121
    Phone: 303-770-1859
    Fax: 303-770-1859

    Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention
    International Suicide Prevention Program
    P.O. Box 644
    Westminster, CO 80036-0644
    Email: Ask4help@yellowribbon.org
    Phone: 303-429-3530
    Website: www.yellowribbon.org

    Speakers and Presentation Resources

    Speakers for schools, youth groups, community groups, and faith-based organizations

    Bryce Mackie, Survivor/Filmmaker ("Eternal High")
    Phone: 269-579-3150

    Suicide Prevention Partnership
    Speaker’s Bureau
    Phone: 719-573-7447
    Email: prevent@sppppr.org
    Website: www.dbsacoloradosprings.org

    DVD copies of the MetroBeat TV Special, "Student Voices: Teen Suicide"

    MetroBeat TV Steve Hansen Phone: 720 236-9779 Email: Mcbunsen@msn.com Website: http://www.metrobeat.tv

    Information courtesy of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention, August 2006.

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