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PHOENIX, Dec. 13 /Standard Newswire/ -- Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders, the nation's leading eating disorder treatment center, reports that many myths surround eating disorders.  In recent years, numerous Web sites and chat rooms have sprung up on the Internet and in this environment, myths are sometimes offered as fact.

"Myths about eating disorders can sometimes perpetuate the spread of the disease because the misinformation is believed to be true by many people," said Juliet Zuercher, registered dietitian and director of nutrition services at Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders.  "For example, the belief that anorexia is easy to see results in overlooking the illness in those who hide their emaciated body in baggy clothes."

Popular myths about eating disorders include:

• Physicians and other healthcare professionals can be relied on to discover and diagnose anorexia and bulimia.  Not all medical professionals have been thoroughly trained or educated in eating disorders; therefore, they might not recognize the symptoms or even think to inquire about the behaviors.  Additionally, people with eating disorders often don't respond honestly to questions about their behavior. 
  
• Parents are the cause of their child's eating disorder.  They are not.  Many factors contribute to the development of an eating disorder, such as peer pressure, perfectionism, sexual trauma, low self-esteem, and the influence of media in today's culture.  Though parents and family members can play a role in the development of eating disorders, modern advertising and media often play a larger role.
  
• Eating disorders affect only the wealthy and celebrities.  This statement couldn't be further from the truth.  Today, more than 10 million Americans struggle with eating disorders; what's more, anorexia and bulimia are equal opportunity disorders, meaning they are found in every culture, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic group.
  
• Normal and overweight people don't have an eating disorder.  This is also false. For example, individuals with bulimia are often at an average, or even above-average weight.  Therefore, bulimia is difficult to detect, unless you know key warning signs such as swollen cheeks or scrapes and cuts on the knuckles.  
  
• A person who eats regularly does not have an eating disorder. Again, this is inaccurate. Often, those struggling with eating disorders will play with their food, push it around on their plate, hide pieces in a napkin, secretly feed it to the dog, etc., making it appear as though they have eaten a meal. In fact, they may eat at such a slow rate that few calories are consumed. In the case of bulimia, normal meals may be eaten with others, but large amounts of food are later consumed in private.
  
• A "natural" diet pill is a safe diet pill.  Far too often "natural" is equated with "healthy and safe."  Advertisements often distort the truth about the results diet pills or supplements will provide. Considering that the leading predictor of a future eating disorder is dieting, the very practice of dieting itself, with or without diet pills, can lead to an eating disorder, and should be avoided. 
  
• Laxatives prevent the absorption of calories.  Those who abuse laxatives believe that by artificially rushing food through their bodies they can avoid the intake of calories they're eating. This is a medical fallacy. Laxatives work in the colon, where no absorption of calories takes place.  Laxatives deplete the body's store of fluids, so any weight loss experienced is due to dehydration. Not only does this practice fail to produce the desired effect, laxative abuse can permanently damage the body and its ability to function.
  
• Exercise is good and you can never overdo a good thing.  You can overdo a good thing, especially if an eating disorder is part of the equation.  Exercise bulimia and anorexia athletica–conditions in which individuals purge calories through extreme exercise-are common. Excessive exercise can potentially lead to stress fractures of the bone, chronic pain, curvature of the spine, osteopenia or osteoporosis, loss of menstrual cycle, and even sudden death.

"Because there are so many eating disorder myths out there, the best resource for truth is a registered dietitian or medical doctor, preferably one who has worked extensively in the field of eating disorders," adds Zuercher.  "Unfortunately, eating disorders often develop after dabbling with diets.  Beware of the underlying dangers in this cultural phenomenon."

About Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders
Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders offers Christian inpatient and residential treatment for women and girls of all faiths suffering from an eating disorder.  Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist, Psychologist and Registered Nurse. The professional staff equips each patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life.  For more information, call 1-800-445-1900 or visit www.remudaranch.com.