By: Victoria Igual
What is an eating disorder?
An eating disorder is a fatal and disturbing mental illness, it is not a lifestyle choice, nor simply a “fad diet”. It controls the victim inside out – how they eat, the time they eat, how they dress, where they go, and even the people they surround themselves with. In other words, eating disorders alter thoughts and emotions and leave them with an intense preoccupation with calories, body weight, and body shape. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder
Other mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, can either trigger an eating disorder or an eating disorder can trigger other mental illnesses.
Most Common Types of eating disorders
1. Anorexia Nervosa
What is it?
Characterized by extreme restriction of food intake, significantly low body weight, and distorted body image. People with anorexia typically have an intense fear of calories and weight gain. Compulsively purge either through exercise, vomiting, or the use of laxatives.
Anorexia nervosa can affect all ages, genders, and all races. Some affected will either look severely emaciated or some will look “normal” – this is what makes it a mental illness – you can not diagnose by looking at the person.
Signs and Symptoms
Emotional and behavioral
The preoccupation with “types” of food and their nutritional values
Constant feeling of feeling “fat” or “overweight”
Strict food rituals (such as eating at specific times and cooking food in a specific way)
Having the need to exercise or vomit after eating
Withdrawal from friends and family to avoid situations involving food
Tends to be very emotional, agitated, and defensive
Physical
Gastrointestinal complaints (such as abdominal cramps, constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
Mental and physical fatigue
Amenorrhea (abnormal loss of menstruation)
Thinning and loss of hair
Dental problems (such as teeth sensitivity, discoloration, and cavities)
Inability to regulate body temperature
Impaired immune system
2. Bulimia Nervosa
What is it?
Characterized by cycles of bingeing and purging commonly through self-induced vomiting. Some may also use laxatives or exercise excessively.
People with bulimia nervosa tend to have a period of bingeing on large amounts of food typically in private. This is usually triggered by anxiety and stress, or as a result of restricting food throughout the day. They experience a lack of control over eating and find comfort in food but feel an intense feeling of guilt after a binge episode.
Signs and Symptoms
Emotional and behavioral
Prefers to eat alone or in private
Strict food rituals (such as eating only particular foods or food groups)
Steals or hides food
Always goes to the bathroom after eating
Fear of eating with people around
Physical
Swelling of the cheeks and lymph nodes
Gastrointestinal complaints (such as abdominal cramps, constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
Nausea
Dental problems (such as teeth sensitivity, discoloration, and cavities)
Abnormal laboratory reports (such as electrolyte imbalance, low potassium levels, and slow heart rate)
Amenorrhea (abnormal loss of menstruation)
Substance abuse
Cuts/marks on finger joints (from inducing vomiting)
Sore throat
Fatigue
3. Binge-Eating Disorder
What is it?
Characterized by episodes of consuming large amounts of food without the use of compensatory measures such as purging, laxative use, and excessive exercise.
People with BED have intense feelings of guilt, shame, and loss of control during binge episodes.
Signs and Symptoms
Emotional and behavioral
Steals or hides food
Practices “fad diets” or “extreme diets”
Plans their day to fit a binge episode or multiple episodes
Have intense feelings of disgust towards their body shape and weight
Prefer to eat alone out of embarrassment of the amount they eat
Physical
Gastrointestinal complaints (such as abdominal cramps, constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
Weight fluctuations
Difficulties concentrating
Key Words: illness , diet, depression, anxiety, mental health, and symptoms
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