life

When Kerr was 13, she became depressed after a falling out with friends and the death of her grandfather. "My life just felt out of control. And one of the things I could control was the way I looked." For many sufferers, loneliness, low self-esteem and a lack of control in their lives can lead to dieting and high-risk eating behaviors like starvation, binge eating and purging.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), 80% of American women feel dissatisfied with their appearance. "I felt unhappy with my body and it made me almost proud of myself when I could just not eat. I would start to lose weight, then all of a sudden I started feeling better and better about myself," said Kerr of her experience with restricting food. "I was under 120 pounds, then it was under 110, then under 100."

Kerr hid her anorexia from her family and the boys she dated in high school, but when her illness became more apparent, her parents helped her find a therapist. At 15, Kerr began binge eating and purging afterward. But when she went to college, she couldn't hide her behavior from her new found friends since they shared a bathroom.

Concerned for Kerr's health, her friends alerted the school. "I was a medical liability," added Kerr. "The school didn't want to be held responsible if I had a stroke or anything like that." Heart attack, stroke, hair loss, osteoporosis, loss of teeth, low blood pressure and peptic ulcers are just several of the health problems associated with eating disorders.

Thankfully, Kerr found the Renfrew Center with the school's help and luckily, the clinic took her health insurance. "By that time I was so sick of living in the cycle," explained Kerr. "I thought, 'I just can't live like this anymore, I want to feel good about myself.'"

Between 5% and 20% of young women diagnosed with anorexia die, NEDA reports. And for many women, other associated health problems and disorders arise. For tweens and teens, the consequences can be even worse. "Your body is still developing, your brain is still forming and your limbs are growing. The starvation process can take hold more quickly," explained Dr. Jennifer Nardozzi a psychologist at Renfrew, "making the effects more quick and more dangerous."

Many patients require different types of treatment depending on the type and duration of their disorder. "The earlier you can detect the problem and the sooner you can get help, the better."