This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week–a time to focus on a group of illnesses that currently affects approximately 8 million Americans from all walks of life. Although eating disorders are more prevalent among women, men and children can also suffer from these debilitating illnesses.

Eating disorders relate to eating habits or attitudes about weight and body shape that result in issues such as loss of self-control, obsession with food and/or weight, anxiety, and guilt as well as alienation from others and possible life-threatening physiological imbalances.

Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating, with each being equally devastating to the lives of those affected by the illness.

Those with anorexia nervosa suffer from a distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight. Their daily lives are consumed with managing their food and calorie intake, which often results in drastic weight loss.

Individuals with bulimia nervosa are caught in a self-defeating cycle of bingeing and purging. During binges, they often feel out of control and consume large quantities of food. Afterwards, they begin to feel physical discomfort as well as anxiety about possible weight gain, so they purge the food they have just eaten. Typically, they induce vomiting or use laxatives, although some people also may engage in excessive exercising and fasting.

Compulsive overeaters also go through periods of continuous eating or gorging on food. However, unlike those with bulimia nervosa, they may not purge the food but instead may engage in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting.

Eating disorders may begin as early as 10 years of age or younger; however, more than 75 percent of those suffering from an eating disorder report the onset of the illness between the ages of 11 and 20, and more than half report that their illness lasted from one to 10 years.

To help someone recover from an eating disorder, follow these do’s and don’ts:

• Do encourage him/her to eat properly
• Do express your love and support
• Do take time to listen
• Do emphasize the positive and compliment the person on things she/he does right
• Do help her/him find a support system
• Do realize that other, non-food factors are the true cause of the problem

• Don’t try to force him/her to eat or to stop exercising
• Don’t become angry or punitive
• Don’t be impatient or expect an instant recovery
• Don’t lecture
• Don’t place blame on anyone
• Don’t make her/him feel guilty for having an eating disorder
• Don’t pretend it will all just go away