ANOREXIA Y BULIMIA
Anorexia and Bulimia are diseases that are characterized by obsessive fear of gaining weight and distortion in physical perception, both with a higher prevalence among adolescents. According to the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (Semfyc, in Spanish), the person with Anorexia eats little and selectively, exercises and uses diuretics to lose weight; while Bulimia leads to large binge eating food that, after a feeling of guilt, it is possible to induce vomiting, ingesting laxatives or excessive physical activity.
And how to detect these bad eating behaviors at home? «It is complicated because some signs such as changes in character may simply be due to the crisis itself during adolescence,» explains Semfyc. In their opinion, they warn of paying special attention to suddechanges at the time of eating: the predilection for certain foods and the suppression of others.
In addition, for the detection of these problems it should be noted if the child has the following behaviors:
- You are very nervous at lunchtime.
- Fraction of food or always leave it on the plate.
- Excessively controls the calories of each product.
- Avoid eating with the family or in public places.
- Store food in your room or bag.
- Go to the bathroom immediately after eating.
- Change your mood by looking more sad and irritated.
- Develop an excessive interest in fashion and physical appearance.
- Distance from family and friends
From Semfyc recommend talking openly with the teenager, explaining that they suspects that he/she is suffering from an eating disorder and, if the minor does not admit it, seek help from a medical professional. On the contrary, it is not advisable to force, fight or try to trap him/her with the objective of discovering the problem.
«Parents need training and truthful information about what are risky eating behaviors because there are false believes that are consolidated with what they can read on the Internet.»
On the other hand, if it is the teenager himself who realizes his behavioral changes; they should ask their family, friends or teachers for help without feeling ashamed or afraid of what their environment might think.
How to prevent Anorexia and Bulimia?
For Semfyc, training and education are essential: «Training programs in schools on what is and is not healthy eating should be done.»
In their opinion, educational institutions play a fundamental role both in imparting knowledge to both parents and minors. «There are habits and social pressure related to beauty and thinness that are nothing more than a reflection of society,» They say. In his opinion, all this makes the patients have more and more complexes that lead them to this type of behavior.
For more information, visit your doctor; not self-medicate; or write us.
