About 30 million people have an eating disorder at one point in their lives, yet eating disorders are the deadliest form of mental illness. View this informative slideshare to learn more. ** Please note that some images in the Slideshare may be sensitive to some readers.

1. Sovereign Health presents
EATING DISORDERS:
E F F E C T S A N D P O T E N T I A L O R I G I N S

2. 20 MILLION WOMEN. 10 MILLION MEN.
According to the National Eating
Disorders Alliance (NEDA), that’s
the population of American men
and women who will deal with a
“clinically significant” eating
disorder at some point in
their lives.

3. These disorders include anorexia, where patients starve
themselves; bulimia, where patients subject themselves
to periods of bingeing on food and then purging it; and
binge eating disorder, where patients consume vast
amounts of food very quickly.
All of them have terrible effects on health.

4. ANOREXIA NERVOSA’S EFFECTS
NEDA reports anorexia is the
deadliest psychiatric disorder.
Dry hair and skin, along with hair loss
Fainting and weakness
Osteoporosis
A slow heart rate and low blood
pressure – both are risk factors for
heart failure
Kidney failure due to dehydration

5. BULIMIA NERVOSA’S EFFECTS
Repeated, deliberate vomiting can
damage the teeth, gums and mouth
due to stomach acid exposure
Vomiting can cause dehydration as
well as the loss of salts and minerals
like potassium and sodium. In serious
cases, this can lead to heart and kidney
failure, which are fatal
Bingeing can cause gastric ruptures
Abusing laxatives damages the
digestive system

6. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTS
Obesity
High blood pressure and
cholesterol levels
Diseases including cardiovascular
disease, gallbladder disease and
type 2 diabetes

7. WHY?
A good question without a good answer. The fact is, we’re not
sure what causes eating disorders. However, researchers from
NEDA, Mayo Clinic and other organizations think a
combination of factors may contribute to eating disorders.

8. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTSGENETICS
According to Mayo Clinic,
people who have first-degree
relatives (parents and siblings)
with eating disorders may be
more likely to have eating
disorders themselves.

9. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTSMENTAL HEALTH
The American Psychological
Association (APA) reports
certain personality and
psychological traits are linked to
eating disorders. Anorexia is
associated with perfectionism,
for example. Additionally, the
APA warns trauma such as abuse
and rape can trigger
eating disorders.

10. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTSSOCIAL PRESSURES
NEDA warns social
pressures which
glorify thinness or
muscular
bodies as the
“ideal” shape can
make some people
feel less valued.

11. JANET WHITNEY, MFT
Eating Disorder Program Consultant, Sovereign Health
“Underneath the eating disorder is
depression, anxiety, self-hatred, these
feelings of post-traumatic stress ... unless we
can get to those feelings that are underneath
the eating disorder, even if we get patients
eating right, they’re not going to get better.
We need to get to the bottom of those
feelings.”

12. Sovereign Health’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of
high-quality behavioral health treatment services for adults
and adolescents, including support services for family mem-
bers. One factor that differentiates Sovereign from other
treatment providers has been the company’s ability to offer
separate mental health and addiction or dual diagnosis treat-
ment programs at its facilities. For more information, visit
www.sovhealth.com.

13. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTSSOURCES
American Psychological Association
Mayo Clinic
National Eating Disorders Association
National Institutes of Health

14. BINGE EATING’S EFFECTSAUTHOR / DESIGNER
Brian Moore is a writer and designer for Sovereign Health.
A 20-year veteran of the newspaper industry, he writes articles and creates
graphics across Sovereign’s portfolio of marketing and content products.
Brian enjoys music, bicycling and playing the tuba, which he’s done with
varying degrees of success for over 25 years. For more information and other
inquiries about this media, contact the author and designer at
news@sovhealth.com.