The Laxative Myth

Many individuals abuse laxatives in the hopes of controlling or losing weight.  This is actually not an effective means for weight loss as laxatives stimulate the large intestine to release its contents, however, food passes first through the stomach and into the small intestine, where most of the calories are absorbed.  Hence, the laxative induced bowel movement contains little actual food, fat, or calories.  The percieved weight loss is actually the loss of water, minerals, electrolytes, indigestible fiber, and wastes from the colon.  As soon as the individual re-hydrates, he/she regains this water weight. 

Health consequences of laxative abuse include:

Disturbance in electrolyte and minerals (improper functioing of vital organs, seizures)

Severe Dehydration (tremors, weakness, blurry vision, fainting, kidney damage, death)

Laxative dependency

Internal organ damage

Cathartic Colon Syndrome  (anatomic and physiological changes in the colon that occurs with chronic use of stimulant laxatives. Signs and symptoms of cathartic colon include bloating, a feeling of fullness, abdominal pain, and incomplete fecal evacuation)

Metabolism and Your Eating Disorder

What is Metabolism and How Does it Affect My Eating Disorder?

Metabolism, in its simplest sense, is the rate at which your body burns calories.  In a broader sense it is complex network of hormones and enzymes responsible for converting food into fuel, while also determining how efficiently you burn that fuel.  Many people think of metabolism as how easily they lose or gain weight.

Surprising to many is that the largest component of your metabolism, approximately 70%, is your basal metabolic rate (BMR).  Your BMR determines how many calories are needed just to keep you alive and functioning.  It is the energy used by your body to perform basic functions, such as breathing, brain health, keeping the heart beating and maintaining body temperature.   For example, your brain requires approximately 109 calories per pound and weighs approximately three pounds.  This means that 309 calories per day are required to maintain your brain.  Other examples include your heart and kidneys, which require 200 calories per pound (approximate weight of an adult human heart is 5/8 of a pound; approximate weight of kidneys is ¼ of a pound).  Your BMR decreases as you age and differs from person to person.  Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is often used interchangeably with basal metabolic rate (BMR), though they are slightly different.

What influences my BMR?
Age – metabolism decreases five percent per decade after age 40
Amount of lean muscle – Muscle burns more calories than fat. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even at rest. (For every pound of muscle you burn approximately 6 calories versus a pound of fat, which burns approximately 2 calories).
Gender – Males generally have a 10 to 15% faster BMR than females, as the male body has a larger percentage of lean muscle tissue.
Heredity – metabolic rate can be inherited from previous generations
Thyroid disorder – hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) can slow down or speed up metabolism (these conditions occur in only 3 and .3 percent of the population)

How do I calculate my RMR?
To calculate your RMR, use the Mifflin-St Jeor equation (may be more reliable than the Harris-Benedict equation)

RMR = 9.99w + 6.25s – 4.92a + 166g-161
w = weight in kilograms; if you know your weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms
s = height in centimeters (1 foot = 30.48 centimeters, 1 inch =  2.54 centimeters);
a = age in years
g = gender = 1 for males, 0 for females
       For example, the equation for a 30 year old, 120 lb, 5’4 woman would be as follows:
       9.99(54.54) + 6.25(162.5) – 4.92(30)+ 166(0)-161 = 1251.80

This means that this woman requires approximately 1251.8 calories to maintain  her body at rest.

The Eating Disorder Connection: Bringing it all Together
Often people with eating disorders, such as Anorexia Nervosa, restrict their caloric intake to below 1000 calories or even 500 calories per day.  As illusrated in the example above, this is not even enough calories to maintain their basic body functions.  Over time, if this calorie deficit continues, one’s body will begin shutting down.

Also, our bodies are very intelligent and if a continued calorie deficit is percieved, our metabolism will slow down to compensate for this deficit, meaning we are burning less calories than prior to the restriction.  This starts a vicious cycle for someone with disordered eating behavior, as the result is that one usually has to restrict even more.  There is hope though, after resuming a balanced diet sufficient to meet one’s caloric needs, one’s metabolism will also adjust once the threat of starvation is no longer present and your body begins to trust that it is getting the necessary nutrients.

Why do we need fat in our diets? What’s wrong with eliminating carbohydrates?

WHY WE NEED FAT TO SURVIVE
Fat, often erroneously, is mistaken as the “enemy” and many try to avoid eating it at all costs.  We all need fat in our diets, however, it should comprise no more than 25-30% of our daily caloric intake. 

FAT IS NECESSARY FOR:
 Normal growth and development
Energy (fat is the most concentrated source of energy)
Absorption of certain vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K, and carotenoids)
Maintaining cell membranes
Providing taste, consistency, and stability to foods
Fat helps food stay in the stomach longer, helping one to feel satiated and to prevent hunger soon after meals
Fat may help your body produce endorphins (natural substances in the brain that are responsible for feelings of pleasure)
Diets too low in fat may trigger cravings
Provides back up energy if one has to go 4-6 hours without food
Provides insulation under the skin from the cold and the heat
Protects organs and bones
Fat surrounds and insulates nerve fibers to help transmit nerve impulses (nerve impulses are necessary for thoughts, emotions, behaviors, movements, etc.)
Fat is used by the body to make other building blocks needed for hormones and immune functioning

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FAT IN MY DIET
Dry, scaly skin
Hair loss
Low body weight
Cold intolerance
Bruising
Poor growth
Lower resistance to infection
Poor wound healing
Loss of menstruation

 
DON’T ELIMINATE CARBOHYDRATES!
Carbohydrates have become almost as evil, in some people’s minds, as fat, making it “in vogue” to eliminate them from one’s diet.  This is unfortunate, as this  macronutrient should comprise approximately 45-65% of our daily caloric intake.  This pecentage is necessary for the following reasons:

Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel
Carbohydrates are easily used as energy by the body
Integral to the healthy functioning of the central nervous system, the kidneys, the brain, and the muscles
Important in intestinal health and waste elimination
Carbohydrates replace glycogen stores (necessary for muscle contraction) in the muscle and liver.  Without carbohydrates to replace glycogen, fatigue and less than optimal functioning occurs.

Starvation is the Quickest Way to Slow Down Your Metabolism

Learn what you really lose when you starve yourself.  How it can actually make you gain weight.

In an attempt to lose weight, people often think that by severely restricting their caloric intake they will achieve their goal. Initially, there is some weight loss, but eventually a plateau occurs and even worse, people actually gain the weight back and then some when they go back to their normal eating pattern. Simply put, significantly restricting caloric intake or starving yourself triggers the body to go into “starvation mode” as a means of survival. This means that your metabolism decreases to conserve energy (ie. your body burns less calories).

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder is characterized as recurrent episodes of binge eating that, on average, occur at least 2 days a week for 6 months. Persons with binge eating disorder feel the compulsion to eat large amounts of food and often feel out of control to stop.  Even when very full, these individuals will continue to eat till to the point of nausea and extreme gastrointestinal distress.

Most people with this eating disorder are overweight and a great number of them are obese, as the compensatory behaviors seen in bulimia (i.e. laxative abuse, vomiting, etc.) are not present in binge eating disorder.  Similar to other eating disorders, shame, isolation, and depression often plague the individual. Read more

Bulimia Nervosa

Individuals suffering from bulimia find themselves caught in the devastating and addictive binge-purge cycle.  Bulimia is characterized by binge eating followed by harmful compensatory behaviors in an effort to prevent weight gain.  A binge episode is defined as the intake of an inordinately large amount of food, in a discrete amount of time (usually less than two hours), in which the individual experiences a sense of a lack of control over eating.  Inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain includes self-induced vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, and/or medications.  Similar to anorexia, the individual is overly concerned with body shape and weight and experiences a distorted body image.

Some medical complications may include:
• Acid Reflux
• Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle)
• Bone density problems (Osteoporosis)
• Bruising of the skin
• Cardiovascular problems
• Dehydration
• Dental problems
• Digestive difficulties
• Dry skin, hair, and nails and hair loss
• Edema (Swelling of soft tissues resulting from excess water accumulation from laxative or diuretic abuse)
• Electrolyte Imbalances
• Gastrointestinal complaints (cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence)
• Hypo- and Hyperglycemia (low/high blood sugar)
• Hyponatremia (low sodium)
• Infertility
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Ketoacidosis (high level of acids build up when the bosy burns fat instead of sugar/carbs)
• Kidney infection and failure
• Lanugo (soft downy hair on face, back, and arms)
• Liver failure
• Low blood pressure or hypotension
• Low body temperature
• Low platelet count
• Malnutrition
• Muscle Atrophy
• Pancreatitis
• Parotid gland swelling
• Seizures
• Sleep problems
• Tearing of esophagus
• Weakness and fatigue

Eating Disorders: Overview

Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior.  Statistics show that 80% of individuals who develop an eating disorder began their dysfunctional relationship with food through dieting.   For many individuals, there first attempts at weight loss were positively reinforced by compliments and comments from others.   The onset for anorexia and bulimia is usually during late adolescence or young adulthood.  77% usually struggle with their eating disorder between 1-15 years.
Eating disorders are often a conscious or unconscious coping mechanism, however, they have an addicitive quality that quickly becomes a severe problem in its own right.  Low self-esteem, shame, feelings of unworthiness, lack of control, depression, and anxiety are just a few of the underlying issues that are associated with eating disorders.  Eating disorders fall into the following diagnostic categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Eating Disorder NOS.  There are other forms of disordered eating, such as Orthorexia and Muscle Dysmorphia, however, they have not been included in the DSM-IV and therefore, do not have a diagnostic code.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, severe restriction of caloric intake, and the refusal to maintain a minimum normal body weight.  People suffering from anorexia experience a severe distortion in their body image.  Obsessive thoughts and behaviors are present, such as food rituals, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse.  There are two types of anorexia, purging and non-purging type.  Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric diagnosis.

Some medical complications may include:
• Acid Reflux
• Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle)
• Bone density problems (Osteoporosis)
• Bruising of the skin
• Cardiovascular problems
• Dehydration
• Dental problems
• Digestive difficulties
• Dry skin, hair, and nails and hair loss
• Edema (Swelling of soft tissues resulting from excess water accumulation from laxative or diuretic abuse)
• Electrolyte Imbalances
• Gastrointestinal complaints (cramps, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, incontinence)
• Hypo- and Hyperglycemia (low/high blood sugar)
• Hyponatremia (low sodium)
• Infertility
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Ketoacidosis (high level of acids build up when the bosy burns fat instead of sugar/carbs)
• Kidney infection and failure
• Lanugo (soft downy hair on face, back, and arms)
• Liver failure
• Low blood pressure or hypotension
• Low body temperature
• Low platelet count
• Malnutrition
• Muscle Atrophy
• Pancreatitis
• Parotid gland swelling
• Seizures
• Sleep problems
• Tearing of esophagus
• Weakness and fatigue

Bigorexia/Muscle Dysmorphia

Bigorexia/Muscle Dysmorphia

Related Blogs

Orthorexia

Orthorexia Nervosa

 
Orthorexia Nervosa is not as well known or discussed as Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa, nor is it a recognized medical diagnosis, meaning that, to date, insurance companies will not reimburse for the treatment of orthorexia.  This disorder has things in common with other eating disorders, but differs in important ways.  Persons suffering from orthorexia find themselves compulsively obsessed with eating pure and healthy food. This might include organic or other foods sold in health stores. This obsession is frequently so intense that when rules are broken, individuals feel compelled to punish themselves, often by maintaining an even stricter diet or by fasting.

Individuals struggling with orthorexia obsess over what is eaten, how much of it is eaten and how it was prepared. This obsession with food takes over a person’s life, often disabling them to live any type of ordinary life, as their life becomes secondary to the obsession with food.  Social relationships are compromised, occupational difficulties can ensue, and depression and anxiety are common. These individuals often need the help of a psychologist or the assistance of an eating disorder treatment center to recover.