Suicide & Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders

Severe disturbances in eating behaviors and body image that impair health and functioning.

Prevalence of Eating Disorders

Affect approximately 9% of the U.S. population and have the highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders.

Cultural Influence on Eating Disorders

Media, social pressures, and idealized body standards contribute to risk.

Anorexia Nervosa

Characterized by food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, and distorted body image.

Anorexia Nervosa—Restricting Type

Weight loss through dieting, fasting, or excessive exercise

Anorexia Nervosa—Binge/Purge Type

Restriction accompanied by bingeing or purging

Physical Complications of Anorexia

Irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, brittle nails, dry skin, electrolyte imbalance, and potential death.

Anorexia Nervosa Prevalence

4% lifetime prevalence in women, 0.3% in men.

Comorbidities of Anorexia

Depression, OCD, phobias, panic disorder, substance abuse, and personality disorders.

Treatment of Anorexia

Includes inpatient nutritional rehabilitation, CBT, and family therapy to address beliefs about food and control.

Bulimia Nervosa

Involves recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise.

Binge Eating

Consuming an excessive amount of food in a short time with a loss of control.

Compensatory Behaviors

Actions intended to prevent weight gain after bingeing (purging, fasting, exercise, laxatives).

Bulimia Nervosa Prevalence

Affects 2–3% of the population, primarily women

Physical Complications of Bulimia

Dental erosion, heart problems, menstrual irregularities, and electrolyte imbalance.

Treatment of Bulimia

Focuses on normalizing eating, reducing binge triggers, and addressing body image concerns through CBT and SSRIs.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Characterized by recurrent binge eating without compensatory behaviors, often leading to overweight or obesity.

Diagnostic Criteria for BED

Bingeing includes at least three symptoms such as rapid eating, eating until uncomfortably full, or feeling guilt afterward.

Physical Complications of BED

Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint pain, and gastrointestinal problems.

Risk Factors for BED

Childhood obesity, low self-esteem, depression, trauma, and weight-based teasing.

Treatment for BED

CBT to identify triggers, regulate emotions, and improve body acceptance

Biological Factors in Eating Disorders

Genetic vulnerability (50–70%), hormonal changes, and altered reward pathways.

Psychological Factors in Eating Disorders

Perfectionism, rigidity, emotion regulation issues, and low self-esteem.

Sociocultural Factors in Eating Disorders

Body ideals, media exposure, family attitudes, and internalization of thin or fit ideals.

Objectification Theory

The idea that societal focus on appearance leads to self-objectification and body dissatisfaction.

‘Fitspiration’ Culture

Social media trends promoting restrictive “clean eating” and excessive exercise disguised as health.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

A diagnostic category for individuals who exhibit significant eating disorder symptoms but do not meet full criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder. It includes serious and impairing behaviors such as atypical anorexia, purging disorder, or night-eating syndrome.

Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (OSFED subtype)

All diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa are met except that, despite significant weight loss, the individual's weight remains within or above the normal range.

Purging Disorder (OSFED subtype)

Recurrent purging behavior (vomiting, laxative use, etc.) to influence weight or shape without binge eating episodes.

Night-Eating Syndrome (OSFED subtype)

Recurrent episodes of eating after awakening from sleep or excessive food intake after the evening meal, often associated with distress and insomnia.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Persistent failure to meet nutritional or energy needs due to lack of interest in food, sensory sensitivity, or fear of aversive consequences (e.g., choking), resulting in significant weight loss or nutritional deficiency without body-image concerns.

Pica

Persistent eating of non-nutritive, non-food substances (e.g., dirt, chalk, paper) for at least one month, inappropriate to the individual’s developmental level and not culturally supported.

Rumination Disorder

Repeated regurgitation of food over at least one month, which may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out, not due to a medical condition and not occurring exclusively during another eating disorder.