Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders Jacob Walker, Colin Rasnick, and Dustin Lentz

Eating Disorders… • Definition: Preoccupation with weight that results in severe disturbances in eating behavior. • Mixture of social, psychological, and physical problems.

Common Characteristics in People with Eating Disorders • It seems to be common that sexual and/or physical and emotional abuse is related to eating disorders (not all people living with eating disorders are survivors of abuse). • Direct connection in some people to clinical depression • Low self-esteem and unhappy with their body image

Indications of an Eating Disorder • Not wanting to eat meals with the family • Frequent, lengthy visits to the bathroom during or just after meals especially if running water is used to obscure the sound of induced vomiting • Skipping meals • Excessive exercise or preoccupation with weight, shape and body image • Wanting to be alone • Weight loss

Types of Eating Disorders • Anorexia Nervosa • Bulimia Nervosa • Binge-Eating Disorder

Anorexia Nervosa • People with Anorexia Nervosa: • Have a distorted body image and view themselves as fat even when they’re underweight • Go to great lengths to keep a low body weight • Eat very little (sometimes to the point of starvation) • Some compulsively exercise • Some might even be perfectionists • Feelings of stress, anxiety, unhappiness and feeling like life is out of control (Anorexia is a negative way to cope with these emotions)

Continued… • Known to eat junk food, particularly candy • Drink a lot of coffee or tea • To smoke • May deny hunger, make excuses to avoid eating, will often hide food they claim to have eaten • Use diet pills to control appetite, or attempt to purge the food away with self-induced vomiting, or by taking laxatives • Are 90% teenage girls and young women

Signs and Symptoms • Resistance to maintaining a healthy body weight • An irrational fear of gaining weight • An unrealistic view of body shape and size • Among women, infrequent menstrual periods or cessation of menstruation

Treatment • Psychotherapy • learn to exchange unhealthy habits for healthy ones • learn how to monitor your eating and your moods • develop problem-solving skills • explore healthy ways to cope with stressful situations. • cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used in eating disorder treatment. • Nutrition education • Dietitians and other health care providers can offer information about a healthy diet and help design an eating plan to achieve a healthy weight and healthy-eating habits. • Hospitalization • If it becomes a serious health problem or if the person refuses to eat or gain weight, your doctor may recommend hospitalization • Medications • May help manage excessive preoccupations with food and diet • Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may also help with symptoms of depression or anxiety

Bulimia An eating disorder when a person fears gaining weight after binge eating and feels the need to undo what they did by throwing up, exercising a lot, or taking laxatives.

Signs of bulimia Going to the bathroom immediately after a meal. Swollen cheeks or jaw area Broken blood vessels in eyes Teeth look clear Rough skin on knuckles (if using fingers to make throw up)

What causes bulimia Culture- people in the U.S., especially young females, are under constant pressure to be very thin. Families- if one person in a family has an eating disorder then it is likely that another family has an eating disorder. Stressful events- being made of because of body size. Psychology- low self-esteem or difficulty expressing anger or other feeling can lead to bulimia. Biology- genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain may be factors in becoming bulimic.

What should you do if you know somebody who’s bulimic Set a time to talk Tell your friend about your concern Ask your friend to talk to a professional Avoid conflicts regarding the situation Let your friend know that you’re there to help

Binge Eating • What is Binge Eating? - Binge eating is defined as a pattern of disordered eating which consists of episodes of uncontrollable overeating • This basically states that a binge eater is someone who eats large amounts and can’t control it.

Binge Eating • How does someone know if they are a binge eater? • Eating until uncontrollably full. • Eating large amounts even when not hungry. • Eating alone because the embarrassment of the quantity of food you have. • Eating more rapidly then frequently.

Binge Eating • Is binge eating common and who is at risk? • Most binge eaters are obese. 2% of all adults suffer from binge eating. • Women are more likely to suffer from binge eating. Three women to every two men. • African Americans are also more at risk then Whites.

Binge Eating • Binge Eating can have serious health impacts such as: • Depression • Obesity • High Blood Pressure • Type 2 Diabetes • Stroke

Binge Eating • Binge Eating is a serious health problem in America • Need to watch what and how much you eat • Exercise regularly

Celebrities that have/had an Eating Disorder

References • Mayo Clinic Family Health Book • http://www.edreferral.com/anorexia_nervosa.htm • http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/anorexia.php • http://www.womenshealth.gov

Eating Disorders