What is an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders are extreme expression of a range of weight and food issues experienced by both men and women. They include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. All are serious emotional problems that can have life-threatening consequences.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized primarily by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
-Refusal to maintain weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height and age
-Intense fear of weight gain
-Distorted body image
-Loss of three consecutive menstrual periods
-Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized primarily by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
Symptoms include:
BINGE EATING DISORDER is characterized primarily by periods of impulsive gorging or continuous eating. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
What Causes an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders arise from a combination of long-standing psychological, interpersonal, and social conditions. Feelings of inadequacy, depression, anxiety, and loneliness, as well as troubled family and personal relationships, may contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Our culture, with its relentless idealization of thinness and the "perfect body," is often a contributing factor.
Once started, eating disorders may become self-perpetuating. Dieting, bingeing, and purging are methods for some people to cope with painful emotions and to feel as if they are in control of their lives. Yet, at the same time, these behaviors undermine physical health, self-esteem, competence, and control.
What are the Warning Signs?
-A marked increase or decrease in weight not related to a medical condition
What Does Treatment Involve?
Clinical eating disorders, and some borderline conditions, require the care of a trained medical professional, preferable with expertise in the treatment of eating disorders. The most effective and long-lasting treatment for an eating disorder is some form of psychotherapy, coupled with careful attention to medical and nutritional needs. Ideally, this treatment should be tailored to the individual and will vary according to both the severity of the disorder and the patient's particular problems, needs, and strengths.
Psychotherapy must address both the eating disordered symptoms and the underlying psychological interpersonal, and cultural forces. Exclusive attention to either symptoms or underlying causes may prolong the recovery process.
Treatment is typically on an outpatient basis and includes individual, group, or family therapy. Psychiatric medication, support groups, or nutritional counseling are useful adjuncts for some individuals.
Hospitalization is recommended when an eating disorder has led to physical problems that my be life-threatening, or when the eating disorder is associated with sever psychological or behavioral dysfunction. A specialized eating disorders inpatient unit or day hospital may be the best choice when hospitalization is indicated.
Treatment can be a long and costly struggle. Sometimes, in spite of the best efforts, treatment is not successful. In such cases, individuals remain chronically symptomatic, or more tragically, death occurs as a result of the physical or psychological damage incurred. Therefore, the very best treatment for eating disorders involves preventing them before they develop.
What is Eating Disorders Prevention?
The primary prevention of eating disorders involves preventing their occurrence altogether. In other words, enabling healthy, non-eating disordered people to remain healthy. Secondary prevention means promoting the early detection and prompt treatment of eating disorders, thereby increasing the chances for a quick and complete recovery.
What Can You Do to Help Prevent Eating Disorders?
-Learn all you can about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Genuine awareness undermines judgmental or mistaken attitudes about food, body shape, and eating disorders.
-Discourage the idea that a particular diet, weight, or body size will automatically lead to happiness and fulfillment.
-If you think someone has an eating disorder, express your concerns in a forthright, caring manner. Gently but firmly encourage the person to seek trained professional help.
-Support local and national nonprofit eating disorders organizations - like EDAP - by volunteering your time or giving a tax-deductible donation.
Source: EDAP Brochure, Copyright 2000
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
-Feeling out of control during a binge
-Purging after a binge (vomiting, use of laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
-Frequent dieting
-The development of abnormal eating habits such as sever dieting, preference for strange foods, withdrawn or ritualized behavior at mealtime, or secretive bingeing
-An intense preoccupation with weight and body image
-Compulsive or excessive exercising
-Self-induced vomiting, periods of fasting, or laxative, diet pill, or diuretic abuse
-Feelings of isolation, depression, or irritability