ANOREXIA NERVOSA Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self induced starvation or excessive weight loss, often related to control issues. The individual has a distorted body image. (Some of these criteria do not
apply to children who develop or who are developing eating disorders.) They see themselves as fat regardless of how thin they get. Some may feel fat all over and some see specific body parts (particularly the stomach and thighs) as being too fat. Their self worth is based on their body size and shape. They deny that their low body weight is a serious cause for concern and will lie to themselves, as well as others to explain their serious weight loss. The individual has an intense fear of gaining
weight or becoming fat, even though they are underweight. Anorexia Nervosa becomes a way to cope with personal distress and emotional pain. BULIMIA NERVOSA Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by bingeing and self induced purging often related to control issues. Bulimia Nervosa is an obsession with food and weight characterized by repeated overeating, followed by, such behaviors as forced vomiting, laxative use, enemas or excessive exercise. Bulimia Nervosa
also tends to dominate their thoughts, undercuts their self-esteem, and threatens their lives. Bulimia Nervosa becomes a way to cope with personal distress and emotional pain. BINGE EATING DISORDER Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by mass consumption of calories within a short period of time, without counter balancing it with physical activity or purging and is often a result of emotional eating. It is secretive and often done alone. Research is
scarce, but it suggests that approximately one-fifth to one-third of people who are obese meet the requirement for Binge Eating Disorder (DSM-IV, 2006). Though not all that who are obese suffer from BED. Binge Eating Disorder is a result of a lack of control. This behavior occurs as a result of depression, anxiety, emotional pain, among other things. It can also be characterized by eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry. Many of those with Binge Eating Disorder are more likely
to develop Anorexia Nervosa and/or Bulimia Nervosa. ORTHOREXIA Orthorexia is the new found obsession of Great Britain. "According to the experts, sufferers with the obsession for healthy eating tend to be aged over 30, and are middle-class and well-educated. The condition, which affects
equal numbers of men and women, is described as a "fixation on righteous eating". The condition, named by a Californian doctor, Steven Bratman, in 1997, involves rigid eating that includes not touching sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn, and dairy foods. It can leave some sufferers malnourished, lead to pressures in their personal relationships, and make them become socially isolated." * It is not uncommon for some to develop what looks like one type of eating disorder then flip to another. Eating disorders are a group of conditions marked by an unhealthy relationship with food. There are three main types of
eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa. This is characterized by weight loss often due to excessive dieting and exercise, sometimes to the point of starvation. People with anorexia feel they can never be thin
enough and continue to see themselves as “fat” despite extreme weight loss. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). This condition is characterized by eating very little and/or avoiding certain foods. It usually begins in childhood. People with ARFID may avoid certain foods because of their texture or odor. Bulimia
nervosa. The condition is marked by cycles of extreme overeating, known as bingeing, followed by purging or other behaviors to compensate for the overeating. It is also associated with feelings of loss of control about eating. Binge eating disorder. This is characterized by regular episodes of extreme overeating and feelings of loss of control about eating. Eating disorders tend to develop during the teenage and young adult years, and they are much more common in girls and women. No one knows the precise cause of eating disorders, but they seem to coexist with psychological and medical issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, trouble coping with emotions, and substance abuse. For some people, a preoccupation with food becomes a way to gain control over one aspect of their lives. Although it may start out as simply eating a bit more or less than usual, the behavior can spiral out of control and take over the person’s life. Eating disorders are a serious medical problem that can have long-term health consequences if left untreated. It’s common for people with eating disorders to hide their unhealthy behaviors, so it can be difficult to recognize the
signs of an eating disorder, especially early on. Keep in mind that you can't necessarily tell by how someone looks -- including their size -- if they have an eating disorder. Here’s a more detailed look at the symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.
People with anorexia nervosa have an extreme fear of gaining weight. They often diet and exercise relentlessly, sometimes to the point of starvation. About one-third to one-half of anorexics also binge and purge by
vomiting or misusing laxatives. People with anorexia have a distorted body image, thinking they are overweight when in fact they are underweight. They may count calories obsessively and only allow themselves tiny
portions of certain specific foods. When confronted, someone with anorexia will often deny that there’s a problem. The signs of anorexia can be subtle at first, because it develops gradually. It may begin as an interest in dieting before an event like a school dance or a beach vacation. But as the disorder takes hold, preoccupation with weight intensifies. It creates a vicious cycle: The more weight the person loses, the more that person worries and obsesses
about weight. The following symptoms and behaviors are common in people with anorexia:
Because people with anorexia are so good at hiding it, the disease may become severe before anyone around them notices anything wrong. If you think someone you care about has anorexia, it’s important to have them evaluated by a doctor right away. If left untreated, anorexia can lead to serious complications such as malnutrition and organ failure. However, with treatment, most people with anorexia will gain back the weight they lost, and the physical problems they developed as a result of the anorexia will get better. Signs of Bulimia NervosaPeople with bulimia nervosa have episodes of eating large amounts of food (called bingeing) followed by purging (vomiting or using laxatives), fasting, or exercising excessively to compensate for the overeating. Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia are often a normal weight. But they have the same intense fear of gaining weight and
distorted body image. They see themselves as “fat” and desperately want to lose weight. Because they often feel ashamed and disgusted with themselves, people with bulimia become very good at hiding the bulimic behaviors. The following are common signs of bulimia: If left untreated, bulimia can result in long-term health
problems such as abnormal heart rhythms, bleeding from the esophagus due to excessive reflux of stomach acid, dental problems, and
kidney problems. However, bulimia can be treated successfully through cognitive-behavioral therapy, certain anticonvulsant medicines, antidepressants, or combinations of these therapies. It’s important to seek help if you think someone you care about has bulimia. Rather than simply eating too much all the time, people with binge eating disorder have frequent episodes where they binge on large quantities of food. Like people with bulimia, they often feel out of control during these episodes and later feel guilt and shame about it. The behavior becomes a vicious cycle, because the more distressed they feel about bingeing, the more they seem to do it. Because people with binge eating disorder
do not purge, fast, or exercise after they binge, they are usually overweight or obese. Unlike other eating disorders, binge eating disorder is almost as common in men as it is in women. According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, the average age at onset for binge eating disorder is 25, and it is more common in people under age 60. Common signs of binge eating disorder include: Because binge eating leads to obesity, it can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Behavioral weight reduction programs can be helpful both with weight loss and with controlling the urge to binge eat. The stimulant drug
Vyvanse is FDA-approved for the treatment of binge eating disorder. Also, because depression often goes hand in hand with binge eating disorder, antidepressants and
psychotherapy may also help. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder is the first step toward getting help for it. Eating disorders are treatable, and with the right treatment and support, most people with an eating disorder can learn
healthy eating habits and get their lives back on track. What eating disorder is characterized by low body weight?Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh) nervosa — often simply called anorexia — is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight.
What eating disorder is characterized by starvation?Anorexia nervosa
Efforts to reduce your weight, even when underweight, can cause severe health problems, sometimes to the point of deadly self-starvation.
What is an eating disorder characterized?Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and associated distressing thoughts and emotions. They can be very serious conditions affecting physical, psychological and social function.
What eating disorder is associated with normal weight?But in 2013, a new category of eating disorder was formally recognized: atypical anorexia nervosa. Individuals with this condition meet all other diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa but have a normal body weight.
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