More young women die from eating disorders than from any other psychiatric illness.
That is a very sobering statement, and a much darker one than is usually discussed in this column. But such an important issue deserves as much exposure as it can get. For too long our society has misunderstood this disease and often treated it as little more than sitcom material, and that's not what it's about.
There are basically four types of eating disorders; anorexia (restricting food), bulimia (binging and purging), binge eating disorder (compulsive overeating), and eating disorders NOS (a combination of symptoms).
This sounds very simple and cut and dried. However, eating disorders are anything but simple. They are complex and sinister and dangerous creatures that take on a life of their own. They're nearly impossible to comprehend and torture to live with. There's no way to do this topic justice in one column. And I won't claim to try.
But my daughter Kelly Rienzo does cover this topic eloquently in her own Examiner columns. Kelly is the Phoenix Eating Disorder Examiner and writes about this problem from the inside out, because she struggled with her own anorexia. She's been in the trenches of this disease and thankfully is in recovery now, but it's been a long hard road to get there. In her columns, Kelly tries to help others by explaining in simple heartfelt language how the disorder begins, what it's like to be in it, and how to crawl your way out.
And because we know firsthand how difficult this illness is not only on those who suffer from it, but on their parents, families and friends, Kelly recently interviewed me to provide more tips on how to cope from a parent's points of view. To read this interview, click here.
And I'd like to use this column to talk about some tools and local resources that we have found very helpful in this journey.
There are not many statistics on how common or prevalent eating disorders are east versus west, but if you look at a list of treatment centers, you'll see there are many more on the west coast, especially in California, Colorado and Arizona. In California alone, there are over 40. In New York there are 6.
Does that say those on the west coast are more prone to eating disorders? I don't know. I do know that some professionals here feel it's easier for someone to fall deeper into their disorder without it being as noticeable, because people in this area are generally thinner than those on the east coast. But eating disorders aren't about food. They are about unhealthy coping mechanisms. Perhaps in certain geographic areas it's simply easier to use this mechanism over others.
If you suspect or know that your daughter or son (yes, boys get eating disorders too) is struggling with disordered eating, don't wait. It's imperative to at least begin the conversation now. It's also important that the doctors you are dealing with are educated about eating disorders. Not all of them are. If you have a concern, make sure you enlist the help of those who have experience in this area, such as the physician listed below who is very knowledgeable about what signs to look for.
Whether you've recently moved to this area or you've lived here forever, here are some places and people that can save your life or the life of your loved one:
Outpatient:
Healthy Futures (Scottsdale, AZ)
A New Beginning (Scottsdale, AZ)
Inpatient:
Eating Recovery Center (Denver, CO)
Remuda Ranch (Wickenburg, AZ)
Rosewood (Wickenburg, AZ)
Mirasol (Tucson, AZ)
Nutrition counseling:
Debra Landau-West, MS RD (Scottsdale, AZ)
Physician:
Kim Olson Gibbs, MD (Scottsdale, AZ)
There is help and support out there. If your child is fighting an eating disorder, don't give up. Give hope. Be strong. And God bless you.
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