Download Eating Disorders Study Guide

What Causes All Eating Disorders?
(Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating)
Eating Disorders may begin with preoccupation with food and weight. However, they are most
often about much more than food. People (both male and female) with eating disorders often use
food and the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that may
otherwise seem over-whelming. For some, dieting, bingeing and purging (remove something
undesirable) may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions and to feel in control of one’s
life, ultimately, these behaviors will damage a person’s physical and emotional health, selfesteem, and sense of competence and control. In addition, the way a person views their body,
also known as Body Image, may put someone at greater risk of developing an eating disorder.
Some people think they are too fat, too thin, or not muscular enough. People who are unhappy
with their bodies may take extreme measures to change their weight. This is not only unhealthy,
but very dangerous.
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Low self-esteem
Lack of control in life
Depression, Anxiety, Anger and Loneliness
Troubled family and personal relationships
Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings
History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight
History of physical or sexual abuse
Cultural pressures that glorify “thinness” and place value on obtaining the “perfect
body”
Cultural norms that value people on the basis of physical appearance and not inner
qualities and strengths
Scientists are still researching possible biochemical causes of eating disorders. In some
individuals with eating disorders, certain chemicals in the brain that control hunger,
appetite, and digestion have been found to be unbalanced. However, this remains under
investigation.
Preventing an eating disorder starts with developing a Positive Body Image
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All bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Your body depends on things such as
gender and heredity, things that you cannot control.
Focus on what you like about yourself.
Avoid comparing yourself to unrealistic ideals.
Spend time with people like an appreciate you.
Show that you value yourself by taking care of your body and mind. Eat well, get plenty
of rest and exercise, and do things that you enjoy.
Anorexia
A serious and potentially life threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and
excessive weight loss. This is often characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight.
Warning Signs/Symptoms of Anorexia:
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Dramatic weight loss
Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing restrictions against whole categories of food
(example no carbohydrates)
Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss
Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat”
Denial of hunger
Development of food rituals (example eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing,
or rearranging food on a plate)
Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen – the need to “burn off” calories taken in
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
Behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are
becoming primary concerns
Health Consequences:
Anorexia involves self-starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients its needs to
function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy.
This “slowing down” can have serious medical consequences:
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Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure. The risk for heart failure rises as
heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones
Muscle loss and weakness
Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure
Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness
Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common
Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an
effort to keep the body warm
Bulimia
Bulimia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle
of bingeing and behaviors such as self- induced vomiting (purging) designed to undo the effects
of binge eating.
Warning Signs/Symptoms of Bulimia:
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Regular intake of large amounts of food accompanied by a sense of loss of control over
eating behavior
Regular use of inappropriate behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative, or
diuretic abuse, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short
periods of time or the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of
large amounts of food
Evidence of purging (getting rid of), including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals,
signs or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
Excessive rigid exercise regimen
Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from vomiting
Discoloration or staining of the teeth
Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge and purge sessions.
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
Behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are
becoming primary concerns
Health Consequences:
Bulimia can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent binge and purge cycles can
damage the entire digestive system and purge behaviors can lead to electrolyte and
chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions.
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Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and
death. Electrolyte imbalances is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium
from the body as a result of purging behaviors
Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting
Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting
Binge Eating Disorder
People with binge eating often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel out of control.
Unlike anorexia or bulimia, binge eaters do not throw up their food, exercise a lot, or eat only
small amounts of certain foods. They often times continue eating even when they are not hungry.
Binge eaters are often overweight and obese.
Warning Signs/Symptoms of Binge Eating:
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Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time
Feeling out of control over eating behavior
Feeling ashamed or disgusted by the behavior
Eating when not hungry
Eating in secret
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder:
 High Blood Pressure
 High Cholesterol levels
 Heart Disease
 Diabetes
 Gallbladder disease
Treatment and Helping People with an Eating Disorder
(Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating)
Eating disorders are a type of mental health problem. People struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and binge
eating disorder need professional help. Treatment should be tailored to the individual and will vary
according to both the severity of the disorder and the patient’s individual problems, needs, and strengths.
Psychological and nutritional counseling is necessary. Early diagnosis and intervention may enhance the
recover. Eating disorders can become chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening.
How to Help Someone with an Eating Disorder?
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Encourage the person to seek help
Tell an adult
Get Professional Help
Encourage the person to join a support group
Remember that you cannot force someone to seek help, change their habits, or adjust their attitudes. It is
important to share your concerns, provide support, and know where to go for more information. People
struggling with an eating disorder need professional help.