© \ t may start on the outside: “That was quite a large helping you took for dinner tonight, dear.” “You’ve gained weight...but it looks all right...really.” “You’re father and I are a little concerned.” “You’re ugly and you’re fat — at least you can do something about the last one!” Then it continues on the inside: “I look at these pictures of my mom when she was in college and wish I was that tiny.” “Just a few more pounds to lose!” “Tl only eat this little bit, then excuse myself for the bathroom.’ Are YO U oo frightened of your SHADOW? Have you ever caught ght of your reflection ina thop window and seen your thickening shadow? Why not take steps mow to ’ “She didn’t go out with me Saturday night because I’m fat!” There are many types of eating disorders. All are detrimental and some- times fatal to the victim. Early interven- tion is a must. Among these disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimarexia, and bulimia nervosa. In the past they have been tagged strictly as a women’s wasting disease, but recent studies show that males are also affected by these eating disorders, though in lower numbers. The way a disorder of this type begins is the person has a hard time accepting her/ his body size and therefore tries numerous ways to reduce overall weight. Oftentimes, the person is not as large as they think, but a mere a): Mot ust a Habit Their perception is distorted and the journey on the rocky road begins. Victims either starve themselves, binge and purge, or try other various methods of ridding themselves of weight, fat, and natural body water. Some have found that drinking lots of fluids aid the purging process, while eating large amounts of chocolate helps to initiate diarrhea. In time, the body is so accustomed to these quick methods of removing substances that it becomes spontaneous, a major warning sign. Also in the beginning satisfying childhood taboo junk food cravings are a way of chewing up leisure hours, but it escalates into bingeing sessions only to be purged later. Other abnormal eating habits, such as a reduction of food intake and secretive bingeing, affect the victims’ appearance, menstrual cycle, and the ability to be comfortable in social settings. Food has nothing to do with eating disorders, but are rather purely psychological. They are problems that stir in the minds of victims and corrodes their bodies in the process, corrosion that can and must be avoided. Eating disorders are not anew medical problem. In medieval Europe, plenty of women fasted because it was thought to be fundamental to feminine holiness. Sanctified women like Catherine of Siena, Mary of Oignes, and Beatrice of Nazareth were classic cases of bulimics and anorexics. Catherine of Siena, from the middle to late 1300’s, ate a handful of herbs everyday and shoved twigs down her throat to bring up other force-fed foods. Other women of her era vomited at the sight of meat and their throats swelled shut as a result of constant vomiting. There were only a few cases of male saints who conducted self-starvation. Fasting to these women meant that they found other food sources: prayer and wine and wafer consumption fulfilled the body with pure holiness, thought to be the only nutrients needed to survive. Some women suffer from the princess syndrome. They ask “why me?” and say “it’s not fair!” There is typically lots of sobbing, pouting, and feeling helpless. rid of CECEEE This also leads to bingeing to forget it far by drinkin a daily glans of hot water 2. Unfortunately, some victims also with a lictle ‘Limestone’ Ph omphate dm 1t# resort to substance abuse. ‘Limestone * Phosphate makes a delightful eflervescent drink that tones up the system and flushes out food forming residue ia eliminated. ae ‘ Limestone ‘ nefuding Purchase Tax) and {3/3 gure your shadow never grows bigger. ie fadey Healthy and Shien with which leads to severe dehydration. *LIM warte so that al! far Start Phosphate to-day Various substances are abused by eating disorder victims. To help lose weight, some people abuse laxatives. The resylt is severe constipation or loss of muscle tone in the anal sphincter. Some women take up to @ fifty laxatives per day. Diuretics, commonly known as water pills, are used to rid the body of excess water, 5 The water pills stimulate urination and oO nM E PH OSP HATE the kidneys lose the salt balance, by Rachel Young alternately leading to sodium and potas- sium deficiency. The use of castor oil leads to intestinal abnormalities and inflammatory bowel disease. The use of syrup of ipecac stimulates the brain stem and irritates the gastrointestinal tract. If taken too much or if no vomiting occurs, this potentially dangerous over-the-counter medicine can cause chest pains, rapid heart beats, and shortness of breath. If the abuse continues to a chronic stage, the results could be stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, convulsions, heart failure, and ultimately, death. Alcohol and drug abuse are also used to numb the pain of vomiting and the depression of the victims life. Aggressive, sadistic, and masochistic behaviour is not uncommon in sufferers of eating disorders. They may provoke lovers to be extremely violent during sexual activity, if there is any activity at all., asa way to replace anger and frustration of themselves and/or others. Some victims reported having violent fantasies of slicing their lover’s eyeballs with razor blades, others want to beat their siblings, and others want to torture and kill small animals. There are many problems the victim may suffer from and there are just as many ways to help and be helped. Various treatments include assertiveness training, letting the victims know that she/he is loved and appreciated, and learning what constitutes a healthy diet in a healthy lifestyle. A witness of a victim must first realize that victims cannot be helped if they do not want to be helped — particu- larly if a person is over 19 years of age, the age in Canada which outsiders are legally helpless. Resource centres and clinics are always willing to help those who want help. Women have been oppressed in the past and society had unruly affixed the image of the ‘perfect woman’ into their minds. Voluptuousness is not a part of this image. The image portrays a small frame, slim waist, not wide hips but certainly not shapeless hips either. All of this with a buxom bust makes up the image of the perfect woman. This image is unrealistic and the affixation is unfair. Women, the gender most affected by these morally unlawful disorders, are beautiful, no matter what size pants they fit into. Women are fully capable of living life to the fullest and they still have the capability of bringing new life into this world and to nurture it to adulthood. Women are beautiful — it’s that simple. They shouldn’t feel as though they need to adjust their bodies to appease someone else. But some do, and it’s not right unless they do it for themselves for fitness sake. Eating Disorders are dangerous grounds to venture into, but life is worth the climb out of the pit.