Facts About Eating Disorders

EATING DISORDERS

Information and Helpful Web Sites

Disclaimer: Online information found here is made available so that individuals may find out whether consultation with a counselor or doctor may be helpful. This is a help site and is not intended to provide treatment, diagnosis, or consultation. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

What are eating disorders?*

There are 3 types of eating disorders.

--Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

--Bulimia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.

--Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating.

While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are most often about much more than food.

Eating disorders arise from a variety of physical, emotional, social, and familial issues, all of which need to be addressed for effective prevention and treatment.

*Information from www.NationalEatingDisorders.org

Warning Signs and Other Information for Teens

--Go to:

www.kidshealth.org/teen/exercise/problems/eat_disorder.html

Warning Signs and Other Information for Parents

--Go to: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/information-resources/general-information.php

Under NEDA TOOLKITS click on the “NEDA Parent Toolkit” for helpful information on warning signs and other eating disorder topics.

HELP NUMBERS

For help or more information contact any of the following individuals, groups, or agencies:

--Guidance Counselors—

High School	Katie Fistler	421-4426 (Mason City Alternative School)
	Dave Jacobson	421-4432 (Mason City High School)
	Dusty Rhodes	421-4432 (Mason City High School)
	Karla Wymore	421-4432 (Mason City High School)
Middle School	Sara Bucknam	421-4423 (Roosevelt Middle School)
	Gina Friederich	421-4420 (John Adams Middle Schoo)
Elementary	Sarah Despenas	421-4406 (Harding) or 421-4411 (Jefferson)
	Kay Erland	421-4408 (Hoover) or 421-4415 (Roosevelt)

--Family physician or local/area clinic

--Mental Health Center of North Iowa— 641-424-2075, 1-800-700-4692

--Family services, social agencies, or clergy

--Check the phone book under “mental health”, “health”, “social services”, “hotlines” or “physicians” for phone numbers and addresses.

An emergency room doctor also can provide temporary help and can tell you where and how to get further help.

FOR AFTER HOURS HELP CALL:

24 Hours Daily—Confidential--Free

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Teen Help Line: 1-800-443-8336

Teen Help Line is not a crisis or “hotline”. The line provides health information & referral services for Iowa teens.

If you are thinking of harming yourself or know someone who is, tell someone who can help immediately.

--Call your doctor.

--Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.

--Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline number for the

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

--Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.