Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia Nervosa, or Anorexia, is an eating disorder where someone who is already thin or at a normal body weight, restricts themselves of food and has an obsessive fear of gaining weight. 1 in every 200 Americans suffer from this eating disorder. Anorexia is a very dangerous eating disorder that can result in many serious medical conditions such as slow heart rate, low blood pressure, muscle loss or weakness, reduction of bone density, dehydration, fatigue, dry hair or dry skin.

Warning Signs:

Some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa are,

• Dramatic weight loss.
• Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
• Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
• Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
• Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.”
• Denial of hunger.
• Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
• Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
• Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
• Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
• In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.

Treatment Options:

• If the patient's life is in immediate danger than hospitalization might be the best option. Hospitalization can be in a medical or psychiatric ward.
• Because of all the complications that come with anorexia, the patient may need frequent monitoring of vital signs to make sure that they are healing.
• The first goal in treatment is going back to a healthy weight a psychiatrist or doctor can help a patient to find the best way to do this
• There are two different kinds of therapy, family-based therapy and individual therapy. Family based therapy is best for teens because the family can help the child or teen see how much they should be eating. Individual therapy is best for adults and helps to normalize eating patterns
• Medicine is not an option for anorexia

Bulimia Nervosa:

Bulimia Nervosa is a potential life threatening eating disorder where there is a cycle of binging and then self induced vomiting to help loose weight. Bulimia can lead to many health consequences such as imbalance in electrolytes, inflammation or possible rupture in esophagus, tooth decay, chronic or irregular bowel movements and gastric rupture.

Symptoms:

• Frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food and then vomiting
• A feeling of being out of control during the binging episodes
• self esteem overly related to body image

Warning Sings:

• Evidence of binging
• Evidence of purging
• Excessive, Rigid exercise habits
• Unusual swelling in the cheeks or jaw area
• Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles
• Discoloration or staining on teeth
• Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.

• Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
• In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
• Continued exercise despite injury; overuse injuries.

Treatment Options

• Therapies like support groups, Cognitive behavior therapy, Counseling and other forms of therapy
• Medications
• Self Care like physical exercise
• Specialists like doctors and psychologists can help

Binge Eating Disorder:

Binge eating disorder is a eating disorder of episodes of binging until the point of discomfort where the person feels out of control. Binge eating can cause

Symptoms:

• Lack of control once one begins to eat.
• Depression.
• Grief.
• Anxiety.
• Shame.
• Disgust or self-hatred about eating behaviors

Warning Signs:

• Eating large amounts of food
• Eating even when full
• Eating rapidly during binge episodes
• Frequent dieting without weight loss
• Frequently eating alone
• Hoarding food
• Hiding empty food containers

Treatment Options:

• Psychotherapy like individual counseling that focuses on changing the behavior and thinking of the patient
• Medication
• Nutrition Counseling with a specialist can help get the eating habits back on track
• Group and family therapy is very important because it helps the family members understand what is going on

Symptoms:

• Lack of control once one begins to eat.
• Depression.
• Grief.
• Anxiety.
• Shame.
• Disgust or self-hatred about eating behaviors