When Being Thin Goes Wrong
As my readers know, I am always talking about the importance of eating healthy and exercising or just moving more - just trying to stay healthy for life, a lifestyle change. Last week I had a lot of posts about the importance of this & also how what we do, say and yes, eat, effects not only our own lives but the people around us & the children around us. They see, they listen and yes, they make choices based on what we do. So, it is always a hard balance for adults out there & yes, especially moms who are a larger percentage of the time, the caregivers. Not to say that men are not, but statistics show that women tend to be around the children more than men.So, a different type of post for me, I want to talk about also not going too far to the other side of the spectrum. I know I have some readers that are recovering from eating disorders. Most may be people that just eat too much.
BUT, lets look at the other end of this & those that may restrict too much. I always want to promote health & fitness but I know there is a line that can be crossed for those that get too obsessed with losing weight until it becomes a detriment to them & even life threatening.
I actually got close to this mindset when I first lost my weight. I had pics, now lost somewhere, but if I ever find them, I will post. Those pics showed me too thin.. not anorexic thin but getting too thin. I might have weighted about 95-100 pounds then but even at 5'1", for my body type, it was too thin. We can get crazed when we first lose weight. For some, like me, it was an obsession to get even smaller. It did not last but the mindset was there. For those out there that recognize this feeling, please pay attention! There is a healthy balance & that is what you should strive for - the mirror can be our enemy at times. We may see things that actually are not there & or don't see what is really there. Heed the signs below which are for men but most also apply to women along with the fact that women also stop menstruating. Also, a good article off WebMD on this.
Symptoms Of Anorexia In Men
Anorexia Nervosa in Males: Anorexia is a life-threatening disorder that is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.1. Food rituals
2. Compulsive exercise and/or preoccupation with body mass, muscles, etc.
3. Preoccupation with food
4. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age, height, body type, and activity level
5. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
6. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced
7. Undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of current low body weight
8. Lying about eating or difficulty eating around others
9. Depression, isolation, loneliness
10. Unrealistic and perfectionistic standards
11. Difficulty expressing feelings
12. Low self-esteem
13. Need for control
14. Possible sexual orientation and gender identity issues
15. Decreased interest in sex, anxiety surrounding sexual activity
16. Fatigue and muscle weakness
17. Low blood pressure and body temperature
18. Thinning hair or hair loss, lanugo
19. Heart arrhythmia and electrolyte disturbances
Did any of you see the Dr. Oz show with Bryan? Bryan is a 40 year old anorexic MAN. He has been fighting this disease for 20 years & is basically one step from death. His stats are & you can read a post about this at Dr. Oz: Anorexia Signs & Symptoms- Anorexia in Men- Bryan, 76 lbs:
Weight: 76 pounds (his lowest weight has been 75 pounds)
Body Fat: Under 4% (Dr. Oz’s machine only can measure 4% body fat, but Bryan’s is underneath that level)
Triglycerides: 20 (should be in the 100 range)
Blood Sugar: 32 (Dr. Oz said this is the level where people pass out on the floor)
White Blood Cell Count: 1.4 (normally your white blood cell count is in the 6-8 range).
"Dr. Oz said that basically Bryan is walking in a fog because there is not enough fat for his brain’s needs and the risk for infection is very high due to such a low white blood cell count. Dr. Oz listened to Bryan’s heart and said it was very faint and slow. The heart has a pacemaker cell that needs certain salts and nutrients to make an electrical signal to cause your heart to beat. Bryan’s heart is not doing this because he does not have the salts and nutrients in his diet that the pacemaker cell needs – so his heart is more or less just quivering." In a healthy person, the mind and the body work together dynamically. But what happens when your brain turns against your body? As any victim of anorexia nervosa can attest, the consequences are both tragic and severe. In this illness, psychological and social factors create a disturbing self-image that results in a mental and physical deterioration. Although traditionally associated with women, anorexia can also occur in men – in fact, one recent Harvard study reported that men represented around 25% of anorexic and bulimic patients.
VERY SCARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is more from the Dr. Oz site on this show: Hope for Eating Disorder Victims & you can see a video clip here:
On today’s show (Thursday, April 8, 2010), our guest Bryan struggles with the crippling hand of this devastating disease. Now 40 years old, Bryan has struggled with anorexia since high school. He currently weighs just 76 pounds and his body fat is less than 4%. A normal range for Bryan’s age is around 11% - 21.9%.
Without adequate fat intake, your body cannot make sufficient amounts of many basic hormones your brain needs to function properly. Brain cells begin to die as your blood sugar plummets. The victim is at risk for depression, infections, and severe heart problems because of a lack of electrolytes. If malnutrition becomes severe enough, every organ system in the body is at risk for irreparable damage.
Treatment for anorexia is complicated. It often is very difficult for a victim to identify their eating habits as the primary problem. Instead, they view their habits as a solution to other underlying issues, and never appreciate the actual disorder at work. Both nutritional restoration and emotional treatment are essential to achieving long-term recovery. If your partner or someone you know struggles with low weight and food restrictions, obsessions and compulsions, they could be at risk for an eating disorder.
For years, Bryan’s family has tried to understand the challenges he faces. As Bryan enters treatment, they remain optimistic and hopeful that he can significantly improve his quality of life. In the face of such a destructive and consuming illness, perhaps the greatest hope is for Bryan to make sense of the world around him by rebuilding a healthy relationship between body and mind.
Yes, I know, a very tough subject matter but after watching this show, I felt compelled to write about it. I certainly don't want to deter anyone from eating healthy & moving more. BUT, there are always some that feel more is better. Yes, I exercise a lot BUT as you can see, I am certainly not wasting away! I found the balance that was good for me. WE MUST FIND THAT BALANCE, the balance that is right for you & nobody else but you!
Categories: Health Issues, Wellness, Life Experiences, Dieting, Food illness
Tags: food illness Dr. Oz Weight Loss control Health Issues eating Wellness addictions challenges
that show must have been very startling. we have seen anorexic women, but rarely men.
i'm currently at my lowest adult weight. my m-i-l and her friends (who are in their 70's) think i'm too thin because my arms are toned and you can see my veins. they ask her if i'm sick. but i feel strong and healthy. i wouldn't be able to work out and keep up with two kids if i was ill. their generation does not know from working out.
however, i do have to say that i know i should not lose anymore weight, i seek to just maintain. i'd like to think that after staying this weight for 18 months, that i have found the proper balance.
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I think you know yourself & would know the "wrong signs". I have lots of veins too from my lower body fat BUT I am not "thin looking" by any means!
I am not sure if you got my updated version of this post. My service provider keeps sending out these notifications early.. started yesterday BUT they having been screwing up a ton of stuff lately. I had this scheduled for 12:01AM & off it went. At least it is not on the actual site yet.. stupid GoDaddy! They are my blog provider.
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Great post! You always think that this disorder is for woman only but it is not...it almost seems like it is such a disease just like over eating...they need some serious help!
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Sian, it is a disease & a life threatening one too! Yes, people associate with women but men are a part of it too. Very scary!
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Very thought-provoking post! I am definitely not worried about going too far, but for some reason a couple of (older) people in my life have worriedly asked how much further I will go with my weight loss. When I told them what I weigh now they seemed very relieved as they were under the impression that I was 20 to 30 pounds less! It's hard for our self-image to catch up when dropping the pounds and I think that is a big part of where this very scary disease comes from!
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266, you are so right. It is hard for our self-image to catch up & I am still fighting that at times. BUT no going to the too little food.. I like to eat too much, even my healthy food! You have done such a great job!
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This is very powerful article, thanks for sharing Jody.
I was obsessed to get my weight off, but thankfully was fine once I got to my goal. Now I just do my best to maintain.
I think wanting to lose weight and obsessing on a particular number is okay, but to keep losing into dangerous lows, not good.
Be careful, and remember the goal is to be healthy and fit!
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Sheri, yes, the goal is healthy & fit!!!
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Good reminder Jody. I too got a little obsessed after I had my first child. I heard so many negative things about my weight gain during the pregnancy that it pushed me to work really hard afterward to get the weight off. Unfortunately, I kept going rather than maintaining when I got back to my original size.
I will admit that the compliments that I was receiving when I lost the weight was a great motivator to continue. Sadly, I let it go too far and ended up becoming infertile for several years because of such low body fat. Being thin is not worth that kind of sacrifice.
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Karen, like you, those compliments start to enter your mind so much that you think more is better. It is not in this case! And not in your case either. I am so glad you got past it!!!!
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For all the people who joke about anorexia (in male or female), it is such a sad disorder. I'm glad that you pointed out that it is not exclusively female. I once had a psychologist tell me that the reason me are far less likely to seek treatment, is not for shame of the disease, but for shame of it being a woman's disease.
One of your better posts Jody!!!
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Roy, thx so much! Your insight is on why men don't seek help is very interesting but makes sense!
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It's one of the less fair things in life that we can store fat calories but we can't store excess exercise calories. There is very little leeway on the skinny side of fit. Self induced cachexia is a very serious and destructive condition, and I'm glad you are pointing this out, Jody.
My plan, if I ever cross that line, is to see Roy and have him rehab me. I'm serious. Not only is he a great personal trainer, but he knows what good pizza is and where to find it!
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Dr. J, I am with you.. off to Roy we go! And I like eating too much.. all my healthy foods are fun for me to eat too!
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It seems to me that overeating and anorexia are opposite ends of addiction. I have never gotten to a point of getting too thin. I guess my food addiction kept winning all the time. In either case, too fat and too thin the consequence is death. I hope scientists learn soon how to fight addictions, any kind. We still know so little.
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Ewa, so true & death ain't worth it! Unfortunately in this disease, like Bryan, he knows he is 1 step from death but can't stop this destructive behavior...
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I think it just a problem with our culture that we feel such a pressing need to have a perfect body image. No wonder we are all so messed up!
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Lori, what a statement.. so true!
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Wow! Normally we only assume anorexia happens in girls. Not true! It is such a scary thing.. I think that the media now days has to do a lot with it. I wish that people would start promoting muscle, not weight!
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