HEALTH AND WELLNESS

  Sometimes when I sit down to eat, I get nervous and start to shake. I’m afraid that I’ll gain weight. I tell myself, ‘I have to lose [two more kilograms].’” –Kate. “I want to be attractive, and I’m terrified of getting fat. But I don’t want anyone to know that I throw up my food after I eat. It’s very embarrassing.” –Emmy. “I tell myself: ‘… Today, I’m going to do better…’ And then later in the day at some inevitable point, I binge. Guilt follows, and I want to die.”-Tina.     You want to look good, and that’s normal. You want to be comforted when you’re anxious or depressed. There’s nothing wrong with that either. But if you’re like any of the girls quoted here, you could have a problem. If you do, you’re not alone. The fact is, millions of youths –most of them girls –have an eating disorder. Let’s take a closer look at ANOREXIA, BULIMIA, and BINGE EATING. Each of these disorders has distinct symptoms, but all of them involve an abnormal attitude toward food. If you see yourself in

             Tim: “I put down my fork and started to feel uneasy. I had an itchy sensation in my mouth, and my tongue was swelling. I started to feel light-headed and was having trouble breathing. Hives were breaking out on my arms and neck. I tried to stifle panic but knew I had to get to a hospital –and quickly!” For most people, eating is a pleasant experience. There are some, however, who are compelled to treat certain foods as “enemies.” Like Tim, quoted earlier, they suffer from food allergies. Tim’s severe allergic response is called ANAPHYLAXIS, a very dangerous condition. Thankfully, most food allergies are not as serious. In recent years, there has been a rise in reported food allergies and intolerances. Some studies, however, suggest that only a small portion of those who think they have a food allergy have been definitely diagnosed.                                                    WHAT IS A FOOD ALLERGY? “Food allergy has no universally accepte