Serene Karplus, Nederland. Last week, we highlighted anorexia nervosa, a common eating disorder. Its many symptoms may be a challenge to interpret in others, but it is important to recognize them and seek help, as all eating disorders can be fatal.

A quick refresher on anorexia is that it involves a severe restriction of calories and the imposition of strict rules about eating. It can lower heart rate, cause bone loss, starve organ systems and diminish both kidney and brain function. A few of the many signs we might observe include a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, use of diet pills, laxatives and/or enemas, isolation and fear of eating with others, food rituals and secretive eating patterns, dizziness and headaches, low self-esteem, feeling cold, low blood pressure and heart rate, irregular menstrual periods, constipation, stomach pain, perfectionist personality, mood swings, depression, anxiety and/or fatigue and trouble sleeping.

This week, we discuss another two common eating disorders and ways we can recognize them.

Bulimia nervosa can involve the same fears and restrictions as anorexia, but also involves a lack of control while binge eating followed by purging (vomiting), using laxatives or exercising excessively. Vomiting and laxative abuse can lead to swollen glands, vitamin and mineral imbalance and wearing down of tooth enamel, as well as long-lasting problems with digestion and the heart.

Common signs of bulimia include many of the same as anorexia, and also may include bruised or callused knuckles, bloodshot eyes, light bruising under eyes, sore throat and/or swollen glands, binging and/or purging, fear of not being able to control eating, trips to the bathroom following meals and sometimes using running water to hide the sound of vomiting. Bulimia may be hard to recognize because weight loss doesn’t always occur, and it can actually cause weight gain.

Binge eating disorder causes people to eat large amounts of food in a short amount of time without attention to hunger or fullness and is not purged afterwards. It can cause an increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease, arthritis, bone loss and stroke.

In addition to the signs listed for anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating also may include chronic dieting with or without weight loss; eating in private, eating very quickly, eating until uncomfortably full, feeling depressed or ashamed about eating habits, high blood pressure and/or cholesterol and weight gain.

A person with an eating disorder may display one symptom or many, and a person’s appearance may not always display the amount of physical or emotional danger they are in or experiencing. It is critical to seek help even if someone appears to be at a healthy weight.

Depending on the severity and longevity of an eating disorder, medical intervention may be necessary to save a life and psychiatric help may be required to help with recovery. For milder cases, consultation with a nutritionist can help improve our understanding of dietary choices.

Our Boulder County Area Agency on Aging offers mountain residents age 60+ a free one-hour private nutrition consultation with a registered dietitian, Patricia Murphy. Patti visits Nederland regularly to present nutrition information at our lunches and is available to meet individually. Please call 303-441-4710 for an appointment.

All ages of adults are welcome at all events. Sign up for all meals and events at 303-258-0799. Meals are served at the Nederland Community Center. Please call two days ahead for lunch reservations (more for dinners and breakfasts if possible). Missed the deadline? Call anyway. Please note that all age 60+ are welcome at meals regardless of ability to contribute financially.