Facts on Eating Disorders
Eating disorders such as
anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and
behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. There are serious emotional and physical
problems that can have life threatening consequences for females and males with an eating
disorder.
Eating disorder specialists
believe that the chance for recovery increases with earlier symptoms are detected.
Therefore it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of eating disorders.
Symptoms: Anorexia Nervosa
Refusal to maintain body weight
at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain
or being "fat"
Feeling "fat" or
overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight
and shape
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Symptoms: Bulimia Nervosa
Regular intake of large amounts of
food accompanied by a sense of loss of control over eating behavior.
Regular use of inappropriate
compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diurectic abuse,
fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
Extreme concern with body weight and
shape.
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Key Findings: |
2007
Quad City Eating
Disorders Survey
800 Interviews with
Residents of the
Quad Cities Area
Conducted April 24 – 26, 2007
Sponsored by the
Amy Helpenstell Foundation
Survey Conducted
& Designed by
McKeon & Associates, Chicago, Illinois
Analyzed and
Written by
David L. Deopere. Ph.D.
President, Robert Young Center
Key
Findings
For
Survey in its Entirety Click Here
It was determined to survey the general community about its
understanding of eating disorders and the need for an eating disorder program. After
submitting "Requests for Proposal" to several professional surveying prospects,
McKeon & Associates from Chicago, Illinois was selected to engage in the following:
- Design a questionnaire to determine: the
area’s understanding of eating disorders, how widespread of a problem they believe it
to be, availability of treatment and quality care for eating disorder problems in the area
and other questions you or your staff would recommend. Determine demographics for
study; age, income, education, etc.
- Design research model by breaking region into
geographic areas to prioritize local needs.
- Conduct telephone survey with residents of region
using approved questionnaire and research model. An 800-subject interview sample is
recommended for reliable accuracy in survey sub-groupings and regions. The calling
was done by a telephone research firm that conducts research for many of the largest
marketing firms and major news organizations.
Various psychosocial categories typically correlated with Eating Disorders
were identified by Mrs. Betsy Zmuda-Swanson and Dr. David Deopere and edited by the full
committee and Mr. McKeon. The selected areas of study were then configured into
final survey format by Mr. McKeon. The survey was conducted from April 24-26, 2007.
Results
The sample for Eating Disorders Survey included 800 persons who agreed to
participate in a telephone interview about the topic. The subjects were surveyed
during the last week of April 2007. The sample was stratified by population
proportion in Scott, Rock Island and selected western portions of Henry County. The
specific distribution of the sample by county of residence was comprised of 51.5% female
and 48.5% male. Approximately 44% of the sample was from Scott County, 41.3% from
Rock Island and 15% from Henry County. |
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