Types of eating disorders
Regardless of type, eating disorders can cause serious mental and physical problems, and at their most severe, if not properly treated can even be life-threatening. Most people with eating disorders are females, but males can also have eating disorders. An exception is binge-eating disorder, which appears to affect almost as many men as women.
The major types of eating disorders
Anorexia
An eating disorder in which people intentionally starve themselves. It causes extreme weight loss, which the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), defines as at least 15 percent below the individual’s normal body weight
Signs and Symptoms:
Underweight, perhaps dramatically Obsession with calories fat grams and nutrition Intense fear of gaining weight Distorted view of body and/or weight Pretending to eat or lying about eating (“I had a huge lunch.”) Harshly critical of appearance Intense need or desire to control feelings, surroundings, eating patterns Excessive use diet pills, May vomit after eating Compulsive exercising
Risk Factors:
Body dissatisfaction Low self-esteem Perfectionism and/or being an over-achiever
Childhood sexual abuse Family history of eating disorders
Bulimia
Bulimia is characterized by restraining of food intake for a period of time followed by an over intake or binging period that results in feelings of guilt and low self-esteem Sufferers attempt to overcome these feelings in a number of ways.
The most common form is defensive vomiting, sometimes called purging; fasting, the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and over exercising are also common.
Bulimics are much more likely than non-bulimics to have an affective disorder, such as depression or general anxiety disorder
Signs and Symptoms:
Above average weight Key component is the recurring binge and purge cycle, episodes of rapid food consumption followed by guilt and purging
Other compensatory may occur in place of purging (vomiting, laxatives), such as compulsive exercise or fasting the day
after a binge.The episodes occur at least twice a week. Persistent concern with body image
Risk Factors:
Poor body image Low self-esteem, critical home environment
Childhood sexual abuse Appearance oriented activities (dancers, models, runners, gymnasts)
Strict dieting patterns often trigger binge and purge cycles,
Binge Eating
It is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating (or bingeing). It differs from bulimia, however, because its suffere rso not purge their bodies of the excess food, via vomiting, laxative abuse, or diuretic abuse.
Signs and Symptoms:
Above average weight or overweight Consuming large amount of food in a short period of time (i.e. two hours), until uncomfortably full
Binges occur at least twice a week for a period of six months
Feeling out of control during a binge Hiding and hording food Eating alone out of embarrassment
Risk Factors:
Feelings of emptiness Desire to hide from emotions
Difficulty coping with stress Feeling unworthy of love, affection
Low self-esteem uses bingeing as self-punishment
Compulsive Over-Eating
Signs and Symptoms
Overweight, difficulty in losing weight Often seen as an addiction to or a compulsive relationship to food
Feels out of control while eating In addition to bingeing, also grazes throughout the day and night
Depression or mood swings Withdrawal from activities due to embarrassment about weight
Eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight Hides behind physical appearance to isolate or protect self
Risk Factors:
Feels guilty and ashamed Personality type may be people pleasing, easily influenced by the opinions of others
Believes self to be undeserving because of behavior and/or weight
Low self esteem Constant need for love and validation
Obesity
Obesity is classified as a general medical condition and not as an eating disorder (a psychiatric condition) because it is not consistently associated with psychological or behavioral problems.
Other abnormal eating disorders include: Rumination Syndrome, Diabulimia, Food Maintenance Syndrome, Female Athlete Triad, EDNOS, Pica, Orthorexia, Night Eating Syndrome, Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder and Hyperphagia.
Customize your Escape Create your own custom spa itinerary with any of our therapeutic packages. our beautiful facility and trained staff are waiting to serve ...
Costa Rica has opened up to most major airlines in the US and Canada, with over 40 daily direct flights from major cities. Flight time is on ...
Special Prices for the Summer Located in 300 acres of Costa Rica's tropical mountains, Costa Rica New Hope has assembled an experienced team of doctors in different specialties and psychologists ...
Please Visit our Sister Site
Our Counselors are trained in stress relief techniques and we have licensed psychologists to help with the psychology of stress relief and the mental requirements ...
