Eating Disorders

Nutrition and anorexia/bulimia nervosa

• Disorders associated with excessive preoccupation with weight control (fear of gaining weight) and body image (body dissatisfaction) causing abnormal eating patterns.

• Among the contextual factors, parental attitudes and images in the media and social networks are of great importance.

• Prevalence studies indicate wide differences according to age group and gender, being much higher in adolescent and young women. However, it also occurs in men and at other ages.

Anorexia (self-starvation)

• Eating disorder characterised by the cessation of eating.

• Intense fear of gaining weight.

• Distorted body image → belief of being too obese.

• Body weight and body build are the only or the main referents that condition self-assessment.

• Significant risk of chronicity, presenting situations of high psychiatric and somatic severity, possibly leading to death.

• It has one of the highest suicide rates among psychiatric disorders.

Bulimia nervosa

Recurrent episodes of binge eating with a sense of lack of control.

• Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviours to avoid weight gain: induction of vomiting, inappropriate use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting or excessive exercise.

• Self-assessment is unduly influenced by body build and weight.

• Distinguish from binge eating disorder: there is binge eating without compensatory behaviours. In contrast to bulimia,

they are usually overweight.

Physical and Mental health

Common health problems in young people → headaches, and stomachaches; anxiety and feelings of tiredness,

loneliness or depression.

Socio-economic resources relate to health:

• In many countries, adolescents from poorer families have poorer health and more frequent symptoms. Better-off families eat healthier and are more physically active.

Many health problems can be prevented → as a result of lifestyle.

• Adolescents are generally healthy: they will feel the effects later in life.

• The lifestyle is largely consolidated in adolescence.

Adolescent health problems are related to:

Physical variables: physical condition, sleep needs, inadequate nutrition etc.

Psychosocial variables: Feelings of loneliness, rejection, not belonging to a group etc.

Nutrition and overweight/obesity

Overweight and obesity in Spanish adolescents and young adults (16-30 years), Spanish Obesity Society (SEEDO, May 2021) survey:

• 1 in 4 (24.7%) are overweight or obese.

• 61.1% consume processed food on a daily basis, just over 15% do sport every day and nearly 40% admit to spending more than 6 hours/day in front of a screen.

• Attempts to lose weight are most often made without professional guidance and on the basis of unscientific products and advice.

Causes of obesity in adolescence

• Biological factors: genetics, inefficient regulation of metabolism.

• Emotional factors: depressive symptoms, anxiety, etc.

• Environmental factors: sedentary lifestyle, imbalanced calorie intake/expenditure, family behaviours.