Eating DisordersAnorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, Binge-eating

What is an eating disorder? Mental disorder in which a person has a need to starve, binge, or to

binge and purge Binge – eating a large amount of food over a short period of time Purge – rid the body of food by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics 10 million females and 1 million males in the United States Considered an addiction

Person has a psychological or physical need to engage in a behavior Eating Disorder Addiction is fueled to control weight

Examples: starvation, eat to excess, vomit, use laxatives/diuretics, or exercise to extremes

Factors Contributing to Eating Disorders Being female - Teenage girls and young women are more likely than teenage boys and

young men to have anorexia or bulimia. More than half of US teen age girls report they are trying to loose weight

Age - Although eating disorders can occur across a broad age range, they are much more common during the teens and early 20s.

Family history - Eating disorders are significantly more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder. Influences from family environment.

Mental health disorders - People with depression, anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder are more likely to have an eating disorder.

Dieting - People who lose weight are often reinforced by positive comments from others and by their changing appearance. This may cause some people to take dieting too far, leading to an eating disorder.

Stress – School, family issues, peers, relationships, feeling insecure/not in control Sports, work and artistic activities. Athletes, actors, dancers and models may be at

higher risk of eating disorders. Coaches and parents may unwittingly contribute to eating disorders by encouraging young athletes to lose weight.

Pop Culture – Trends/Fads glorify people who are skinny as attractive and glamorous

Types of Eating Disorders -Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa – eating disorder in which a person is obsessed with weight, body shape and food intake to the point of self-imposed starvation.

Characteristics: Obsessed with exercising to extremes, vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics Obsession with being thin, fail to see when they have become dangerously

thin Lanugo Hair – Fine hair all over the body. Body’s adaption to keep itself

warm due to low weight and loss of body fat, “Survival Mode” Studies show most cases are contributed to high expectations set from

family to do well in either school, sports, extracurricular activities Results in feeling inadequate and controlled – One thing they can control

is whether they eat or not, gain control by starving themselves Usually deny they are starving themselves

Lanugo Hair Example

Types of Eating Disorders - Bulimia Bulimia – eating disorder in which a person binges and purges Binging involves eating large amounts of food in a short period of time Purging involves ridding the body of food eaten (vomit, laxatives,

diuretics) Bulimic Binge-Purge Cycle

Eat Guilt Purge Eat Goal for individuals is to loose weight, obsessed with body shape and

size Risk Factors:

Raised in families with alcoholism or abuse Feelings of insecurity and depression

Unlike Anorexia, people with bulimia know they have a problem Guilty and ashamed, but unable to change behavior

Types of Eating Disorders – Binge-eating Binge-eating – person cannot control eating and eats excessive

amounts, obsessed with eating food Person binges two or more times per week, more common in females

than males Cannot resist the urge to eat when they see food, eat too much too

often Characteristics:

Have difficulties expressing emotions and coping – turn to food to help cope Overweight or obese Over eat in private while pretending to diet around peers

Need to be treated in order to help control weight and diet

TreatmentTreatment plans often are tailored to individual needs and may include one or more of the following: Individual, group, or family psychotherapy. Medical care and monitoring. Nutritional counseling Medications (for example, antidepressants).Treatment is provided by multidisciplinary team:

psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nutritionist, and/or primary care physician

National Eating Disorder Hotline 630-577-1330