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| Linda L.Scott, MA CACII LPC | ||||||||
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What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is a serious, often chronic, and life-threatening eating disorder defined by a refusal to maintain minimal body weight within 15 percent of an individual's normal weight. Other essential features of this disorder include an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea (absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles when they are otherwise expected to occur). In addition to the classic pattern of restrictive eating, some people will also engage in recurrent binge eating and purging episodes. Starvation, weight loss, and related medical complications are quite serious and can result in death. People who have an ongoing preoccupation with food and weight even when they are thin would benefit from exploring their thoughts and relationships with a therapist. The term anorexia literally means loss of appetite, but this is a misnomer. In fact, people with anorexia nervosa ignore hunger and thus control their desire to eat. This desire is frequently sublimated through cooking for others or hiding food that they will not eat in their personal space. Obsessive exercise may accompany the starving behavior and cause others to assume the person must be healthy. Who develops anorexia nervosa? Like all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa tends to occur in pre- or post-puberty, but can develop at any major life change. Anorexia nervosa predominately affects adolescent girls and young adult women, although it also occurs in men and older women. One reason younger women are particularly vulnerable to eating disorders is their tendency to go on strict diets to achieve an "ideal" figure. This obsessive dieting behavior reflects today's societal pressure to be thin, which is seen in advertising and the media. Others especially at risk for eating disorders include athletes, actors, dancers, models, and TV personalities for whom thinness has become a professional requirement. For the person with anorexia nervosa, the satisfaction of control achieved over weight and food becomes very important if the rest of their life is chaotic and emotionally painful. How many people suffer from anorexia nervosa? Conservative estimates suggest that one-half to one percent of females in the U.S. develop anorexia nervosa. Because more than 90 percent of all those who are affected are adolescent and young women, the disorder has been been characterized as primarily a woman's illness. It should be noted, however, that males and children as young as seven years old have been diagnosed; and women 50, 60, 70, and even 80 years of age have fit the diagnosis. What are the common signs of anorexia nervosa? The hallmark of anorexia nervosa is a preoccupation with food and a refusal to maintain minimally normal body weight. One of the most frightening aspects of the disorder is that people with anorexia nervosa continue to think they look fat even when they are bone-thin. Their nails and hair become brittle, and their skin may become dry and yellow. Depression is common in patients suffering from this disorder. People with anorexia nervosa often complain of feeling cold (hypothermia) because their body temperature drops. They may develop lanugo (a term used to describe the fine hair on a new born) on their body. Persons with anorexia nervosa develop strange eating habits such as cutting their food into tiny pieces, refusing to eat in front of others, or fixing elaborate meals for others that they themselves don't eat. Food and weight become obsessions as people with this disorder constantly think about their next encounter with food. Generally, if a person fears he or she has anorexia nervosa, a doctor knowledgeable about eating disorders should make a diagnosis and rule out other physical disorders. Other psychiatric disorders can occur together with anorexia nervosa, such as depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. What are the causes of anorexia nervosa? Knowledge about the causes of anorexia nervosa is inconclusive, and the causes may be varied. In an attempt to understand and uncover the origins of eating disorders, scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments, and biochemistry of people with these illnesses. Certain personality traits common in persons with anorexia nervosa are low self-esteem, social isolation (which usually occurs after the behavior associated with anorexia nervosa begins), and perfectionism. These people tend to be good students and excellent athletes. It does seem clear (although this may not be recognized by the patient), that focusing on weight loss and food allows the person to ignore problems that are too painful or seem unresolvable. Eating disorders also tend to run in families, with female relatives most often affected. A girl has a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa, for instance, if she has a sibling with the disease. This finding suggests that genetic factors may predispose some people to eating disorders. Behavioral and environmental influences may also play a role. Stressful events are likely to increase the risk of eating disorders as well. In studies of the biochemical functions of people with eating disorders, scientists have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine are decreased in those with anorexia, which links them with patients suffering from depression. People with anorexia nervosa also tend to have higher than normal levels of cortisol (a brain hormone released in response to stress) and vasopressin (a brain chemical found to be abnormal in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder). Are there medical complications? The starvation experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa can cause damage to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Pulse rate and blood pressure drop, and people suffering from this illness may experience irregular heart rhythms or heart failure. Nutritional deprivation causes calcium loss from bones, which can become brittle and prone to breakage. In the worst-case scenario, people with anorexia can starve themselves to death. Anorexia nervosa is among the psychiatric conditions having the highest mortality rates, killing up to six percent of its victims. Is treatment available? Luckily, most of the complications experienced by persons with anorexia nervosa are reversible when they restore weight. People with this disorder should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible because eating disorders are most successfully treated when diagnosed early. Some patients can be treated as outpatients, but some may need hospitalization to stabilize their dangerously low weight. Weight gain of one to three pounds per week is considered safe and desirable. The most effective strategies for treating a patient have been weight restoration within ten percent of normal, and individual, family, and group therapies. To help people with anorexia nervosa overcome their disorder, a variety of approaches are used. Some form of psychotherapy is needed to deal with underlying emotional issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is sometimes used to change abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Group therapy is often advised so people can share their experiences with others. Family therapy is important particularly if the individual is living at home and is a young adolescent. A physician or advanced-practice nurse is needed to prescribe medications that may be useful in treating the disorder. Finally, a nutritionist may be necessary to advise the patient about proper diet and eating regimens. Where support groups are available, they can be beneficial to both patients and families.
New research findings are showing that some of the "traits" in individuals who develop anorexia nervosa are actual "risk factors" that might be treated early on. For example, low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, and dieting may be identified and interventions instituted before an eating disorder develops. Advocacy groups have also been effective in reducing dangerous media stories, such as teen magazine articles on "being thin" that may glamorize such risk factors as dieting. source: http://www.nami.org, National Alliance on Mental Illness
What is bulimia nervosa? Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder marked by a destructive pattern of binge-eating and recurrent inappropriate behavior to control one's weight. It can occur together with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance dependence, or self-injurious behavior. Binge eating is defined as the consumption of excessively large amounts of food within a short period of time. The food is often sweet, high in calories, and has a texture that makes it easy to eat fast. "Inappropriate compensatory behavior" to control one's weight may include purging behaviors (such as self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas) or non-purging behaviors (such as fasting or excessive exercise). For those who binge eat, sometimes any amount of food, even a salad or half an apple, is perceived as a binge and is vomited. People with bulimia nervosa often feel a lack of control during their eating binges. Their food is usually eaten secretly and gobbled down rapidly with little chewing. A binge is usually ended by abdominal discomfort. When the binge is over, the person with bulimia feels guilty and purges to rid his or her body of the excess calories. To be diagnosed with bulimia, a person must have had, on average, a minimum of two binge-eating episodes a week for at least three months. The first problem with any eating disorder is constant concern with food and weight to the exclusion of almost all other personal concerns. Who develops bulimia? Bulimia nervosa typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Like anorexia nervosa, bulimia mainly affects females. Only ten percent to 15 percent of affected individuals are male. An estimated two percent to three percent of young women develop bulimia, compared with the one-half to one percent that is estimated to suffer from anorexia. Studies indicate that about 50 percent of those who begin an eating disorder with anorexia nervosa later become bulimic. It is believed that more than five million individuals experience an eating disorder (bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa) in this country alone. It is ten times more common in women than men, with greatest prevalence occurring in adolescents and college-age young adults. This indicates a need for concern and preventive measures on college campuses across the country, especially for female students. How do people with bulimia control their weight? People with bulimia are overly concerned with body shape and weight. They make repeated attempts to control their weight by fasting and dieting, vomiting, using drugs to stimulate bowel movements and urination, and exercising excessively. Weight fluctuations are common because of alternating binges and fasts. Unlike people with anorexia, people with bulimia are usually within a normal weight range. However, many heavy people who lose weight begin vomiting to maintain the weight loss. What are the common signs of bulimia? Constant concern about food and weight is a primary sign of bulimia. Common indicators that suggest the self-induced vomiting that persons with bulimia experience are the erosion of dental enamel (due to the acid in the vomit) and scarring on the backs of the hands (due to repeatedly pushing fingers down the throat to induce vomiting). A small percentage of people with bulimia show swelling of the glands near the cheeks called parotid glands. People with bulimia may also experience irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in sexual interest. A depressed mood is also commonly observed as are frequent complaints of sore throats and abdominal pain. Despite these telltale signs, bulimia nervosa is difficult to catch early. Binge eating and purging are often done in secret and can be easily concealed by a normal-weight person who is ashamed of his or her behavior, but compelled to continue it because he or she believes it controls weight. Characteristically, these individuals have many rules about food -- e.g. good foods, bad foods -- and can be entrenched in these rules and particular thinking patterns. This preoccupation and these behaviors allow the person to shift their focus from painful feelings and reduce tension and anxiety perpetuating the need for these behaviors. Are there any serious medical complications? Persons with bulimia -- even those of normal weight -- can severely damage their bodies by frequent binging and purging. Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration can occur and may cause cardiac complications and, occasionally, sudden death. In rare instances, binge eating can cause the stomach to rupture, and purging can result in heart failure due to the loss of vital minerals like potassium. Do we know what causes bulimia? The current obsession with thinness in our culture certainly has a large influence. There is some evidence that obesity in adolescence or familial tendency toward obesity predisposes an individual to the development of the disorder. Parents’ anxiety over a chubby child can perhaps also be a contributor. Some individuals with bulimia report feeling a "kind of high" when they vomit. People with bulimia are often compulsive and may also abuse alcohol and drugs. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia tend to run in families, and girls are most susceptible. Recently, scientists have found certain neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) to be decreased in some persons with bulimia. Most likely, it is a combination of environmental and biological factors that contribute to the development and expression of this disorder. During the early 1970s, before the prevalence of bulimia was more widely recognized, almost all persons with an eating disorder believed they had invented the behaviors and that no one else had such a problem. As in anorexia nervosa, the behaviors associated with bulimia provide temporary relief from tension and allow ill persons to focus less on problems perceived as unresolvable and to instead focus on body weight and food. Is treatment available for persons with bulimia? Most people with bulimia can be treated through individual outpatient therapy because they aren't in danger of starving themselves as are persons with anorexia. However, if the bulimia is out of control, admission to an eating disorders treatment program may help the individual let go of their behaviors so they can concentrate on treatment. Group therapy is especially effective for college-aged and young adult women because of the understanding of the group members. In group therapy they can talk with peers who have similar experiences. Additionally, support groups can be helpful as they can be attended for as long as necessary, have flexible schedules, and generally have no charge. Support groups, however, do not take the place of treatment. Sometimes a person with an eating disorder is unable to benefit from group therapy or support groups without the encouragement of a personal therapist. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, either in a group setting or individual therapy session, has been shown to benefit many persons with bulimia. It focuses on self-monitoring of eating and purging behaviors as well as changing the distorted thinking patterns associated with the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often combined with nutritional counseling and/or antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine (Prozac). Treatment plans should be adjusted to meet the needs of the individual concerned, but usually a comprehensive treatment plan involving a variety of experts and approaches is best. It is important to take an approach that involves developing support for the person with an eating disorder from the family environment or within the patient’s community environment (support groups or other socially supportive environments). What about prevention? Prevention research is increasing as scientists study the known "risk factors" to these disorders. Given that bulimia and other eating disorders are multi-determined and affect young women, there is preliminary information on the role and extent such factors as self esteem, resilience, family interactions, peer pressure, the media and dieting might play in its development. Advocacy groups are also engaged in prevention through efforts such as removing damaging articles from teen magazines on "dieting" and the importance of "being thin." source: http://www.nami.org, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Almost everyone overeats on occasion, perhaps having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal or scarfing down an entire bag of chips while watching a scary movie. You feel stuffed for a few hours and then resume your normal, healthy eating habits. For some people, though, overeating like this doesn't just become a way of life, it takes over their life. It's called binge-eating disorder, and although people with this condition feel embarrassed and ashamed about gorging themselves for what could be hours on end and resolve to stop doing it, they also feel a compulsion to continue. Because binge-eating disorder has only recently started attracting serious attention and there's still uncertainty over its definition, it's unknown how many people are affected. Most estimates say it's the most common of all eating disorders. Estimates suggest that about 0.7 percent to 4 percent of the U.S. population has binge-eating disorder, with girls and women slightly more likely than boys and men to develop the condition. Both children and adults can develop binge-eating disorder. -source: www.MayoClinic.com Signs and symptoms
People who binge may eat when they're not really hungry and continue eating even long after they're uncomfortably full. After a binge, they often try to diet or eat normal meals. But restricting their eating can lead to more bingeing, perpetuating the cycle. Physically, people with binge-eating disorder may show no signs or symptoms. They may be overweight or obese, but not always. Most obese people don't have binge-eating disorder, though. On the other hand, people with binge-eating disorder often have numerous behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms. These include:
Binge eating is similar to another eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and some experts think it may be a form of bulimia. But unlike people with bulimia, who purge after eating, people with binge-eating disorder don't try to rid themselves of the extra calories they consume by self-induced vomiting, overexercising or other inappropriate methods. That's why most people with binge-eating disorder are overweight. In fact, other theories say binge eating may be a type of obesity disorder. As in other eating disorders, in binge-eating
disorder people are often overly focused on — and unhappy with —
their weight, body shape and appearance. People with binge-eating disorder
often feel miserable about their lives and are at higher risk of serious
health complications than are those without the disorder
How
Personalities, Genetic and Environmental Factors and Biochemistry Combine
to Cause Eating Disorders -The Academy for Eating Disorders is an international transdisciplinary professional organization that promotes excellence in research, treatment and prevention of eating disorders. The AED provides education, training and a forum for collaboration and professional dialogue. -Renfrew Treatment Center and locations in the US
"The Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders is one of the largest, oldest and most comprehensive web sites available on the topic. It not only includes a lot of valuable information on Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and Compulsive Overeating, but online peer support forums and a large treatment finder." Something-Fishy.com  National
Eating Disorders Association 
- Referrals to treatment centers, doctors, therapists, support groups, and more - General Information about eating disorders and body image concerns - Educational curriculum, promotional items, videos, books, and more - Ways to help by volunteering, interning, and/or advocating |
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