types of eating disorders

• eating disorders have the highest morbidity rate of any mental illness

• exist on a spectrum

• tool used to cope with surroundings (often with a lack of self esteem); diseases

• obsessions about food, weight, and body image

• US: 8 million with eating disorders (7 million women, 1 million men)

• almost 50% of all Americans know someone with an eating disorder

• major forms: anorexia nervosa (1/200 women), bulimia (2 or 3/100 women), binge eating disorder (compulsive overeating)

anorexia

• renamed anorexia nervosa in the 19th century from the Greek meaning “a nervous lack of appetite”

• majority of cases develop between the ages of 12 and 16

• characteristics

  • self-starvation

  • low self-esteem

  • morbid fear of fatness

  • distorted body image/body dysmorphia

  • cessation menstrual periods in women

  • 10-15% of those who struggle with anorexia are male

  • 50% recovery rate following treatment

• medical complications

  • low tolerance for cold, hypothermia

  • low blood pressure

  • heart irregularities

  • mild anemia

  • brittle hair and nails

  • irregular or cessation of menstrual cycles

  • gastric, kidney, and metabolic damage

  • severe malnutrition

  • impaired judgement

  • electrolyte imbalance

  • rashes and dry skin

  • deterioration of vital organs

  • heart failure

  • muscle spasms

  • death

bulimia

• derived from meaning “ox hunger”

• most people begin in their late teenage years

• characteristics

  • binging and purging of food

  • impulse eating

  • self-induced vomiting

  • abuse of exercise laxatives

  • self-esteem is determined by weight

  • affects people of all sizes

  • 10-15% of those who struggle with bulimia are male

• medical complications

  • swollen salivary gland and facial puffiness

  • increased dental problems

  • gastric problems/excessive gas after eating

  • inflammation in the esophagus

  • injuries to the inside of the mouth

  • electrolyte imbalance

  • laxative abuse → colon damage

  • chronic indigestion

  • sore throat

  • constipation

  • irregular or cessation of menstrual periods

  • fatigue

  • dry skin

  • water retention

  • eye hemorrhaging

  • death

binge eating

• eating mass amounts of foods in one sitting

• characteristics

  • difficult to diagnose

  • consumption of a large amount of quantities in a single sitting

  • rollercoaster dieting

  • out of control around food

• medical complications

  • hypertension (high blood pressure)

  • weight-onset diabetes

  • respiratory distress

  • cardiac distress

  • load-bearing joint pain

other eating disorders

• EDNOS: eating disorders not otherwise defined or specified

  • disordered eating

  • can be difficult to recognize

    • frequent overating

    • eating late at night

    • hiding food

    • certain foods are “safe” or “off-limits”

treating eating disorders

• encourage them to seek professional assistance

  • eg. group therapy, nutritional counseling, individual therapy

• earlier diagnosis of eating disorder = easier recovery process