Eating Disorders

3 main common eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa Binge eating disorder

Most common in teens and young women

http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm

Link to eating disorder signs http://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/

IsThereaProblem/DoIorsomeoneIKnowHaveanEatingDisorder/tabid/993/Default.aspx

Anorexia Nervosa

“At first, no one addressed my weight loss, making me believe it wasn’t noticeable. I strove to lose more and practically lived on the scale. The scale served as a sanctuary, yet it could also be a tormentor. I felt proud of my motivation and accomplishment when I lost a pound and I punished myself if I didn’t. While I was aware that I had some kind of problem, I didn’t realize the severity and was not ready to seek help.”

Anorexia Nervosa

Typified by an intense fear of weight gain

Fear which leads to

self-starvation and extreme weight loss

Nervosa: illness that has a psychological origin

Characteristics

Tendency to withdraw from social events

Quiet, serious personality View losing weight as a problem

solver

The ability to control weight gives sense of power which they lack in other areas

Characteristics

Extreme concern with shape and weight

Unreasonable expectations

See self as fat (typically underweight)

Begins in adolescence or early 20’s

Characteristics

Usually high achievement oriented people Starts out with diet plan to lose few pounds

Feel pride when people acknowledge loss which leads to wanting to lose more weight

Unaware this is leading to a disorder

Denial is big obstacle in treatment

Behaviors

Often skip meals Eat little or move food on plate Eat in private Take laxatives or diet pills Exercise excessively Wear baggy clothes

Park's Alex DeVinny competes in the 1660 meter run Tuesday afternoon, May 27, 2003, during the WIAA Regional Track Meet at Case High School in Racine, Wis. DeVinny died in March, 2006, of complications from anorexia nervosa.

Physical Health

Normal growth/development slows down

Muscle tissue & body fat disappear Characterized by a 15% loss of weight

Blood pressure and pulse rate decline Body organs begin to shrivel Bone density decreases (osteoporosis) Abnormal heart rhythms and atrophy

of heart muscle Depression, suicide and even death

from starvation

Physical Symptoms

Bumimia Nervosa

“I had a girlfriend who was bulimic. We never talked about it, but that’s truly how I was introduced to the idea. I tried this vomiting business…I thought I could make it whatever I wanted. When I ate something on my “bad” list, I could get rid of it. I had this irrational fear of starting to eat and not being able to stop and just becoming huge. I figured if I reached a certain weight, I would feel secure. Then, I would be able to stop. The strange thing was…the number on the scale was never low enough…”

Bulimia Nervosa

Involves 2 key behaviors: binging and purging

Bingeing: uncontrollable eating of huge amounts of food Followed by an inappropriate behavior to

prevent weight gain

Purging: clearing food from digestive system (vomit, laxatives, diuretics, enemas)

Excessive exercise or fasting

Cycle of Times

Repeat bingeing and purging at least twice a week (sometimes several times a day)

Very difficult to stop cycle once started Highly addictive

Characteristics

Self- criticism or low self- esteem Feel abnormal and out of control

Depression and shame Always thinking about food (like

anorexics) Consume 1000’s of calories at a time

with foods high in fats and carbohydrates Whole cake, donuts, carton of ice cream

Characteristics

Understand behavior is not normal Don’t want people to know of

behavior Binge and purge in secret Those with bulimia usually have a

normal body weight. Since the binging and purging is done in secret it is often hard to tell if someone has this disorder.

Physical Health

Damage to body is not reversible Vomiting causes glands to swell in throat Stomach acids burn the esophagus Destroy tooth enamel Broken blood vessels in the eyes Loss of minerals and water in body leading

to fluid and electrolyte imbalances Heart failure

Irregular heartbeat that can lead to cardiac arrest or death

Physical Health

Binge Eating Disorder

“I have always known that my eating patterns, or eating outbursts (as I call them) were not normal, but I thought that they occurred because I lacked willpower, self- control, and strength. However, after one particularly bad binge episode, I know I could not deny my problem anymore. I needed help!”

Binge Eating Disorder

More individuals battle with this eating disorder than any others

Repeatedly eating large amounts of food, even when not hungry

Overeat until uncomfortably FULL No follow up behavior to stop gain

Blech writes an open and honest account about her life as a morbidly

obese person, touching on taboo topics like eating binges

Characteristics

Feel guilty about overeating Exhibit an abnormally low self-

esteem Move from one diet to the next Causes weight regain quickly

Physical Health

Obesity Diabetes High blood pressure and cholesterol Suicidal thoughts and attempts Certain types of cancers Death

Probable Causes of Eating Disorders

Complex and intertwined

Single factor may not lead to problem

Several factors together lead to disorder

http://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/Causes/WhyDoPeopleDevelopEatingDisorders/tabid/992/Default.aspx

Social Causes

Pressure from media Models and stars in

movies, magazines Must be thin to be

attractive & successful Measures self worth

by body weight

Family Patterns Over involvement Abandonment issues Mourning period Body conscious

household Ridiculed about weight

Genetic Causes

Currently studying possibility of genetic link among people with eating disorders

Chemicals in brain may prompt people to overeat sweets and high fat foods

Psycho developmental Causes Body changes Life transitions Sexuality issues Presence of other psychological

problems Depression Post traumatic stress Anxiety OCD

Eating Disorders in Men

Diagnosed with eating disorders in greater numbers each day

Most men don’t seek treatment Develop eating disorders later in life

than women Typically overweight before

Reverse anorexia

Risk Factors Specific to Men Being overweight as a child Being teased or abused as a child Being involved in sports that require

thinness Different professions such as

modeling or acting

Men are more likely to exercise to excess as a significant part of anorexia and bulimia. They have body image distortions, believing themselves to be fat when, in fact they are thin

Treatment for men is less available than for womenhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://briancuban.com/wp-content/

uploads/2008/05/eatingdisorders.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.briancuban.com/eat-puke-eat-puke-eat-puke-you-get-the-idea/&usg=__C6pT8yd56rwN7ek5l6_FcBH4Clc=&h=480&w=722&sz=79&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=h5AeQ9Gp0lubIM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=140&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deating%2Bdisorders%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Risks Among Athletes

Coaches focus on body weight during training

Wrestler to compete in weight class Gymnast helps with balance

Trying to achieve and maintain unrealistic weight goals lead to disorders

Female Athletes

93% of eating disorders among athletes involve women's sports

Female Athlete Triad Eating disorders Amenorrhea Osteoporosis

Female Problems

Trains hard and eats little to maintain weight goal Low intake and high output causes secretion of

reproductive hormones Leads to amenorrhea Hormonal imbalance->loss of bone mass and risks

of performance fractures (osteoporosis) Lack of nutrients and minerals slows healing

process Performance decreases leading to low self-esteem If the cycle of health problems continues the

young woman is at risk of death

What Help is Available

Need professional help No care causes long-term health

problems or even death Treatment programs differ Recovery rate is good if start early Must recognize it is a

problem

Treatment for Anorexia

Neither quick nor simple Several treatment programs

Only client is treated Family gets involved Admit to hospital or eating disorders

facility

Treatment for Anorexia

Attend to physical health problems 1st

Psychological help next Nutrition counseling Positive attitudes of food, weight, body Develop exercise programs Build control into life: stress

management Family support is key Improve self-esteem

Treatment for Bulimia

Similar to anorexia programs Some use outpatient treatment Antidepressants: alter nervous

system and relieve depression Drugs don’t cure mental issues

Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder

Emotional issue treatment How beliefs affect actions Take control of actions Teach weight management facts

Professional Help

Medical doctor Therapist Nutritionist Dentist Trainer

Client must feel comfortable with help Must want treatment to make it work

Helping a Friend

Increase your knowledge Don’t give up on friend Tell them you care and are

concerned Encourage your friend to seek help

Tell parents Show approval no matter what

weight for their well-being and health Encourage, support, and accepthttp://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/

GettingHelp/HowtoApproachaLovedOne/tabid/994/Default.aspx