Eating Disorders

What are Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are medical and psychological problems. They often have biological, psychological, and social causes. Depression, obsession with food, and a distorted body image are common in people who have eating disorders.

Over time, eating disorders will damage the body and are likely to have a major impact on mood and mental health.

The most common eating disorders are:

• Bulimia nervosa. This is when you eat large amounts of food in a short period of time. This is often followed by getting rid of the calories that were eaten (purging) by vomiting, exercising excessively, or taking laxatives. Bulimia may start as a way to control weight. Later, it may be triggered by stress or an emotional crisis.
• Anorexia nervosa. This is when you have an extremely low body weight from severe dieting or compulsive exercising or both. Losing weight or preventing weight gain becomes an obsession. Anorexia is often used as a way to cope with emotional problems.
• Binge eating disorder (BED). This is when you eat an excessive amount of food in a short period of time of two hours or less, and you feel that you have lost control over your eating. This kind of experience is called a binge. People who have BED eat too quickly, feel uncomfortably full, eat when they are not hungry, and usually eat alone. Typically, a binge happens three or more times a week.
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder. You may be diagnosed with this if you have some symptoms of BED, bulimia nervosa, or anorexia nervosa, but not enough symptoms to diagnose a specific disorder.

Eating disorders can lead to serious medical problems. These may include:

• Extreme malnutrition.
• Hormone imbalance.
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Organ damage.
• Obesity and related medical conditions.
• Damage to the teeth, jaw, and esophagus.

What are the causes of Eating disorders?

Eating disorders are often associated with emotional or psychological issues, including:

• Depression.
• Anxiety.
• Low self-esteem.
• Loneliness.
• Shame.
• Extreme self-judgment.

What increases the risk of Eating disorders?

Eating disorders are more likely to develop in:

• Women.
• People under the age of 30.
• People who have been teased about their weight.

In addition, people who participate in endurance sports or sports where physical appearance is emphasized may be at greater risk of developing an eating disorder.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of an eating disorder include:

• An obsession with food and eating.
• An obsession with body weight and appearance.
• Not eating or barely eating. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Binge eating.
• Vomiting after eating.
• Taking laxatives after eating.
• Exercising too often.
• Distorted body image.
• Absence or loss of menstrual flow (amenorrhea), if this applies.
• Self-esteem that is dependent on body image or weight.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a physical exam and a psychological evaluation. You may have blood tests, urine tests, or eating questionnaires.

How is this treated?

Treatment for an eating disorder may include:

• Psychotherapy. This may also be called talk therapy or counseling.
• Seeing a nutrition specialist (dietitian).
• Getting appropriate exercise.
• Medicines to help relieve anxiety or depression.
• Hospitalization or referral to an eating disorders program.

Follow these instructions at home:

Lifestyle

• Educate yourself and others about your eating disorder.
• Identify situations that trigger your symptoms. Develop a plan to help you cope with these situations.
• Resist weighing yourself or checking yourself in the mirror often.
• Seek out programs or resources that address eating disorders.
• Talk with an eating disorder specialist, therapist, or counselor about your eating behavior.

Activity

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and exercising.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.

General instructions

• Get regular dental care every six months.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have sudden weight loss or gain related to your eating.
• Your symptoms return.
• You abuse stimulants or diet aids.
• You have an irregular heartbeat.
• You have a constant fear of gaining weight.
• You take laxatives after you eat.
• You have eating, dieting, or exercising habits that you cannot control.
• You have irregular menstrual periods or you stop having menstrual periods, if this applies.

Get help right away if:

• You have blood or brown flecks (like coffee grounds) in your vomit.
• You have bright red or black stools.
• You have chest pain or pressure.
• You have difficulty breathing.
• You do not urinate every eight hours.
• You have serious thoughts about hurting yourself or have plans to do that.