‘Secrets make you sick’: Fighting eating disorders in the younger generation

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Every minute, someone dies from an eating disorder in the United States. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, it’s the most widespread killer of any mental illness, second only to opiate addiction.

Despite this, it remains a taboo topic.

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Barbara Duplechain was 17 when she first started worrying about food.

“I just wanted to be pretty, and I could not be any thinner,” Duplechain said.

That mindset led to Barbara only eating one egg white a day. Eventually, she was hospitalized for her anorexia and bulimia.

“I got to the point where throwing up was an everyday thing,” Duplechain said. “My stomach would ache terribly, and by the first year, I went from 114 pounds to only 74 pounds.”

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Nearly 30 million Americans just like Barbara will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Many of them are still kids.

According to the National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, more than 60 percent of girls are trying to lose weight before they finish middle school.

“Some environmental factors play a role,” eating disorder specialist Anna Key says. “But if it doesn’t happen within the home, it’s probably gonna happen in school or just observing other peers talking about their own bodies or other people’s bodies.”

Key knows this firsthand. She struggled with an eating disorder in college. Now, Key’s goal is to help others find recovery.

“It has been such a blessing to come to work every day and honestly be inspired by the people that I see,” Key said.

Eating disorders affect everyone, and Key says men and women of all body types struggle. It can have serious consequences on their health.

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“We can have lack of menstrual cycle, which affects fertility and bone density later in life,” Key said. “There are different lab values that can become out of range, thyroid and liver values, even cholesterol, decreased blood pressure, decreased heart rate. It is a very systemic illness.”

Sara Nielsen has been a psychotherapist in North Alabama for 20 years. She says eating disorders are often about more than just food.

“It’s much deeper than that,” Nielsen said. “It’s trauma, it’s anxiety, it’s depression, it’s OCD, it’s all kinds of co-occurring things that can be going on.”

Additionally, shame can keep many from getting help.

“Secrets make you sick,” Nielsen said. “That’s why it’s so important to tell it and get it out there. Because you’re not gonna recover, and you’re not gonna drop that shame unless you’re able to share your story with someone you trust.”

Key said that recovering is a long process and will be hard work. However, she said it is the most rewarding freedom anyone will ever get.

“If you just take that first step, it will be more than worth it,” Key said.

Duplechain did just that. With a bit of help from her family, she got better. While Duplechain says recovery is an everyday struggle, she also says it’s worth it.

“I just want everyone to know that there is help out there for you,” Duplechain said. “Just talk to a loved one. It will get better. Trust me.”

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be struggling with disordered eating, here are some signs that Nielsen and Key say you should look for help:

• A fixation on weight, food, tracking calories

• Changes in eating patterns

• Dramatic weight loss or weight gain

• Eating in private or hiding food

• Mirror checking

• Going to the bathroom frequently after meals

Recovery is possible, and reaching out for help is the most important step.

You can visit the National Eating Disorder Association for a full list of resources and a screening. You can also call the National Eating Disorder Hotline for help from a team of professionals at (800) 931-2237.

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