Eating Disorders

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Eating Disorders
                                     

• Revised for McNabb Middle
• School 2005-2006
• By Rosemary Bodie

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Eating Disorders

• The most common element surrounding ALL Eating
  Disorders is the inherent presence of a low self
  esteem.

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Eating Disorder Statistics

• In the United States, as many as 10 million
  females and 1 million males are fighting a life
  and death battle with an eating disorder such as
  anorexia or bulimia.
• Approximately 25 million more are struggling with
  binge eating disorder.

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The Prevalence of Eating Disorders

• Because of the secretiveness and shame associated
  with eating disorders, many cases are probably
  not reported.
• In addition, many individuals struggle with body
  dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered
  eating attitudes and behaviors.
• For example, it has been shown that 80 of
  American women are dissatisfied with their
  appearance

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The Drive for Thinness in Children

• 42 of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner.
• 81 of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.
• 51 of 9 and 10 year-old girls feel better about
  themselves if they are on a diet.
• 46 of 9-11 year-olds are "sometimes" or "very
  often" on diets, and 82 of their families are
  "sometimes" or "very often" on diets.

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The Drive for Thinness in Women

• The average American woman is 54" tall and
  weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is
  511" tall and weighs 117 pounds.
• Most fashion models are thinner than 98 of
  American women
• 91 of women recently surveyed on a college
  campus had attempted to control their weight
  through dieting, 22 dieted "often" or "always"
• 95 of all dieters will regain their lost weight
  in 1-5 years

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The Drive for Thinness in Women cont.

• 35 of "normal dieters" progress to pathological
  dieting. Of those, 20-25 progress to partial or
  full-syndrome eating disorders
• 25 of American men and 45 of American women are
  on a diet on any given day
• Americans spend over 40 billion on dieting and
  diet-related products each year

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What are Eating Disorders?

• Generally, eating disorders involve
  self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings
  about appearance and food, and eating behavior
  that harms normal body composition and
  functioning.
• Eating disorders often are long-term illnesses
  that may require long-term treatment.
• In addition, eating disorders frequently occur
  with other mental disorders such as depression,
  substance abuse, and anxiety disorders.
• The earlier these disorders are diagnosed and
  treated, the better the chances are for full
  recovery.

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Anorexia Nervosa

• Anorexia is characterized by a significant weight
  loss resulting from excessive dieting.
• Most women and an increasing number of men are
  motivated by the strong desire to be thin and a
  fear of becoming obese.
• Anorexics consider themselves to be fat, no
  matter what their actual weight is.

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Anorexia Nervosa cont.

• Some also feel that they do not deserve pleasure
  out of life, and will deprive themselves of
  situations offering pleasure (including eating).
• The person suffering with Anorexia may be
  abnormally sensitive about being perceived as fat
  or have a massive fear of becoming fat -- though
  not all people living with Anorexia have this
  fear.
• They may be afraid of losing control over the
  amount of food they eat, accompanied by the
  desire to control their emotions and reactions to
  their emotions.

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Anorexia Nervosa signs symptoms

• Dramatic weight loss in a relatively short period
  of time.
• Wearing big or baggy clothes or dressing in
  layers to hide body shape and/or weight loss.
• Obsession with weight and complaining of weight
  problems (even if "average" weight or thin).
• Obsession with calories and fat content of foods.
  
• Obsession with continuous exercise.

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Anorexia Nervosa signs symptoms cont.

• Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately
  following meals (sometimes accompanied with water
  running in the bathroom for a long period of time
  to hide the sound of vomiting).
• Visible food restriction and self-starvation.
• Visible bingeing and/or purging.
• Use or hiding use of diet pills, laxatives,
  ipecac syrup (can cause immediate death!) or
  enemas.
• Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
  

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Anorexia Nervosa health consequences

• Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood
  pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is
  changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the
  heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower
  and lower.
• Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which
  results in dry, brittle bones.

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Anorexia Nervosa Health consequences cont.

• Muscle loss and weakness.
• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney
  failure.
• Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
• Dry hair and skin hair loss is common.
• Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all
  over the body, including the face, in an effort
  to keep the body warm.

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Statistics about Anorexia Nervosa

• Approximately 90-95 of anorexia nervosa
  sufferers are girls and women (American
  Psychiatric Association, 1994).
• Between 0.5-1 of American women suffer from
  anorexia nervosa.
• Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common
  psychiatric diagnoses in young women (Hsu, 1996).
  
• Between 5-20 of individuals struggling with
  anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of
  death increases within that range depending on
  the length of the condition (Zerbe, 1995).
• Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death
  rates of any mental health condition.
• Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to
  mid-adolescence.

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Bulimia Nervosa

• Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder in
  which people develop a secret pattern of binge
  eating (eating large amounts of food at one
  time), followed by purging.
• Purging is the process of getting rid of the food
  and calories by self-induced vomiting or taking
  laxatives and/or diuretics.

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Bulimia Nervosa cont.

• The person may also fast or exercise vigorously,
  only to binge again. Bulimia nervosa is
  considered a mental illness, and is usually
  accompanied by symptoms of depression and
  obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Bulimia Nervosa signs symptoms

• Perceived lack of control over eating behavior.
• Recurrent episodes of binge eating.
• Regular purging behavior (self-induced vomiting,
  use of laxatives or diuretics, strict dieting or
  fasting, or vigorous exercise) to prevent weight
  gain.
• Persistent preoccupation with body shape, weight
  and food.
• Excessive food consumption with no apparent
  weight gain.
• Physical complications light-headedness, pains
  or pressure in chest, shortness of breath, gland
  enlargement, dehydration, muscle weakness and
  cramps and menstrual disturbance.

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Bulimia Nervosa health consequences

• Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular
  heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death.
  Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration
  and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as
  a result of purging behaviors.
• Inflammation and possible rupture of the
  esophagus from frequent vomiting.
• Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids
  released during frequent vomiting.
• Chronic irregular bowel movements and
  constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
• Gastric rupture is an uncommon but possible side
  effect of binge eating.

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Statistics about Bulimia Nervosa

• Bulimia nervosa affects 1-2 of adolescent and
  young adult women.
• Approximately 80 of bulimia nervosa patients are
  female (Gidwani, 1997).
• People struggling with bulimia nervosa will often
  appear to be of average body weight.
• Many people struggling with bulimia nervosa
  recognize that their behaviors are unusual and
  perhaps dangerous to their health.
• Bulimia nervosa is frequently associated with
  symptoms of depression and changes in social
  adjustment.

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Binge Eating

• Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating
  disorder not otherwise specified and is
  characterized by recurrent binge eating without
  the regular use of compensatory measures to
  counter the binge eating.

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Binge Eating

• It is characterized by
• Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of
  food in short periods of time.
• Feeling out of control over eating behavior.
• Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the behavior.
• There are also several behavioral indicators of
  BED including eating when not hungry and eating
  in secret.

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Binge Eating health consequences

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Heart disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Gallbladder disease

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About Binge Eating Disorder

• The prevalence of BED is estimated to be
  approximately 1-5 of the general population.
• Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more
  often than men--estimates indicate that about 60
  of people struggling with binge eating disorder
  are female, 40 are male (NIH, 1993).
• People who struggle with binge eating disorder
  can be of normal or heavier than average weight.
• BED is often associated with symptoms of
  depression.
• People struggling with BED often express
  distress, shame, and guilt over their eating
  behaviors.

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Compulsive Overeating

• Compulsive overeating is characterized by
  uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain.
  Compulsive overeaters use food as a way to cope
  with stress, emotional conflicts and daily
  problems. The food can block out feelings and
  emotions. Compulsive overeaters usually feel out
  of control and are aware their eating patterns
  are abnormal. Like bulimics, compulsive
  overeaters do recognize they have a problem.

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Compulsive Overeating Signs Symptoms

• Binge eating
• Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
  
• Depression
• Self-deprecating thoughts following binges
• Withdrawing from activities because of
  embarrassment about weight
• Going on many different diets

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Compulsive Overeating Signs Symptoms cont.

• Eating little in public, while maintaining a high
  weight
• Believing they will be a better person when thin
• Feelings about self based on weight
• Social and professional failures attributed to
  weight
• Feeling tormented by eating habits
• Weight is focus of life

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Compulsive Overeating Medical Complications

• Weight gain
• Hypertension or fatigue
• Heart ailments
• Mobility problems
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Sciatica

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Compulsive Overeating Medical Complications

• Varicose veins
• Hiatal hernia
• Embolism
• Sleep depravation
• Toxemia during pregnancy
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• High Cholesterol levels
• Cardiac arrest and death

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Dangerous Methods of Losing Weight

• Ipecac Syrup-Many people with eating disorders
  abuse a syrup called Ipecac to help induce
  vomiting. Ipecac should only be used in cases of
  accidental poisoning. Repeated use can cause the
  heart muscle to weaken.
• Laxatives-Stimulant laxatives such as Ex-Lax and
  Correctol are the most common laxatives used by
  someone with an eating disorder. Laxatives have
  little or no effect on reducing weight because by
  the time they work, the calories have already
  been absorbed.

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Dangerous Methods of Losing Weight cont.

• Diuretics-Diuretics are much like laxatives in
  the sense that they give the person a feeling of
  weight loss. When taken, a person will only lose
  vital fluids and electrolytes. Within a day or
  two the body will react and start to retain
  water, which is usually what causes a person to
  use them repeatedly. Using this method also
  causes dehydration.
• Diet Pills-The sale of diet pills continue to be
  on the rise in North America. Many people are
  lead to believe that they are a safe and
  effective way to lose weight. Most diet pills on
  the market are not safe, can cause serious side
  effects and have resulted in death.

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Eating Disorders in Children

• In today's society we are now seeing more
  children under the age of twelve developing
  eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and compulsive
  eating are the most common among such young
  children, but there are cases of bulimia being
  reported. It is estimated that 40 of nine year
  olds have already dieted and we are beginning to
  see four and five year olds expressing the need
  to diet.

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Why Children are obsessed with dieting

• They are constantly being exposed to the message
  society gives about the importance of being thin.
  
• Family Environment-Children raised in a
  dysfunctional family are at a higher risk for
  developing an eating disorder. In a home where
  physical or sexual abuse is taking place, the
  child may turn to an eating disorder to gain a
  sense of control.
• Children may also develop eating disorders as a
  way of dealing with the many emotions that they
  feel, especially if they are raised in a home
  that does not allow feelings to be expressed.

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Why Children are obsessed with dieting cont.

• Children are at a risk for developing an eating
  disorder if the parents themselves are to
  preoccupied with appearance and weight.
• Society and the media also send the message that
  being thin is important and necessary.
• being overly involved in a child's life and not
  allowing them privacy could lead a child to
  become anorexic as a way to gain a sense of
  control over their life.

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Factors that you should look for if you suspect
that your child has an eating disorder

• recent weight loss
• a fear of gaining weight or of being overweight
• purging behaviors (vomiting or using diuretics
  (water pills) or laxatives to lose weight)
• having a distorted image of their body's size or
  shape (for example, believing that she is
  overweight even though she is at a healthy
  weight)
• a preoccupation with thoughts of food, calories
  and their weight

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Factors that you should look for if you suspect
that your child has an eating disorder

• restrictive eating patterns, which can lead to a
  failure to gain weight or to being underweight
  and can include skipping meals, fasting, or
  eliminating entire food groups
• preference for eating alone
• amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycles) or
  delayed onset of puberty and menarche
• being underweight, with a body mass index that is
  below normal.
• exercising compulsively
• an extreme denial that there she may have an
  eating disorder
• withdrawal from friends and family
• wearing bulky clothing to hide weight loss
• has had a recent or past event in their life that
  was very stressful

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References

• www.mirror-mirror.org
• www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eatingdisorders.html
• www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
• www.geocities.com/edpetition
• www.moorecenterclinic.com/SignsandSymptoms.html